Origin: Isle of Islay (Scotland)
Type: Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Strength: 57.4%ABV
Ageing casks: Ex-Bourbon
Chillfiltered: No
Added colouring: No
Owner: Diageo
Average price: € 170.00
Official website: www.malts.com
A stable presence of Special Releases, almost always with only the twelve years old, this time Lagavulin is offered in a very classic version in first-fill and refill ex-bourbon casks, obviously at cask strength, so not such a special release after all. Let’s see what these tales around the fire are like.
Tasting Notes
Fireplace smoke and slightly medicinal tones immediately arrive on the nose, followed closely by baked apples, warm bread, spices (nutmeg, black pepper, cloves), burnt plum cake, grated lemon peel, a hint of aniseed. Over time the acidulous component increases along with the medicinal one, appearing almost younger than it is.
In the mouth, it becomes fresh and pungent, with a vegetal soul with floral traits creeping in between the spicy and full-bodied smoke. The fruity part veers towards citrus (grapefruit, lime and blond orange) pushing the white fruits (baked apple, pear, peach) and confectionery (vanilla, sugar paste) into the background, leading the cohort of nuts (almonds, walnuts), chestnut honey, liquorice root and aniseed. Saline inflection in length.
Fairly long finish of unlit fireplace, citrus, spices, liquorice, vegetable notes, salt.
A bittersweet, scratchy whisky that is anything but pandering, with a complex and multifaceted approach that deserves time and attention. Despite the premise, a Lagavulin that proves to be truly special and different despite its classicism.
Vote: 87/100