Origin: Isle of Islay (Scotland)
Type: Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Strength: 43%ABV
Ageing casks: Ex-Bourbon
Chillfiltered: Yes
Added colouring: Yes
Owner: Diageo
Average price: € 80.00
Official website: www.malts.com
Nine years after the introduction of the 8yo, at the beginning of 2026 Lagavulin launched a new permanent bottling in its core range, created with the clear intention of expanding the audience of peat enthusiasts.
The name itself presents a softer and gentler approach to the scents of the Islay distillery, opting for a classic (and sweetening) maturation in first-fill ex-bourbon casks. In short, a Lagavulin for everyone, also in terms of price (and the adulterations for mass production), to attract those who wish to approach peated whiskies but fear their aggressiveness.
It’s noteworthy to mention the choice of age, which recalls the Offerman Edition.
Tasting Notes
The nose honors its name, with a delicate sweetness that almost makes you forget you have a Lagavulin in your glass. Burnt marshmallows over the fire and crème brûlée lead to fruity impressions that slide into sweetness (grilled pineapple, caramelized pear, apple fritters), alongside citrusy and candied tones. In the background, toasted grains and wood with a hint of coastal nuances. Not particularly intense and deep, but enjoyable as intended.
Even on the palate, it confirms the choice to keep the peat in check, present more as a backdrop than as a defining characteristic, with a spicy (black pepper, ginger, nutmeg) and herbal (rosemary and burnt thyme) sip that returns to the fruity and confectionery notes, although it lacks a certain oiliness. Baked apples and pears, digestive biscuits, roasted peanuts, vanilla sugar, candied orange, and canned pineapple.
Long enough finish of extinguished embers, saline and iodized notes, cereals, toasted wood shavings, faint spicy flashes.
Review: Pleasing as expected, it lacks personality and substance, where everything tends to blend into a generic sweet and smoky pastiche that sacrifices the essence of the distillery in favor of approachability. Considering the price, it’s not a bad thing, quite the opposite, but for those who love Lagavulin, it may not be exactly the first choice.
Vote: 83/100