Bottled in 2012, this is a 12 Year Limited Edition single malt from Lagavulin. It is aged in refill American oak and is bottled at just over 112 proof. The Special Release Collection is a yearly release of bottlings from some of Diageo's many holdings, which often will include bottlings from closed distilleries, cask strength releases, and/or special finishing for their single malts.
Measured across 14 flavor axes. Tap a note to find other bottles that lead with it.
Showing the most detailed of 18 parsed reviews.
I like cask strength bourbons (Stagg, Craig, Bookers) and I like cask strength scotch (Uigeadail, A'bunadh) ... but, this doesn't work quite as well for me. Some of the smokeyness & smoothness I love in the 16 is lost in this expression. (I've now had more from this bottle and my impression has improved since my first tasting but I still won't be replacing this bottle when it's gone.)
I'm a sucker for Lagavulin & their annual special releases are no exception. This cask strength version is four years younger than the standard 16 year release. I'm not sure if it's the same mashbill or it's just different because it's younger. It's very very smooth for barrel proof. Not at all over whelming. I'll take Lagavulin any kind, any time.
As you would expect the nose is incredibly peaty, notes of sea salt, iodine, and deep burnt earth creep up. There is a small note of tasted nuts/cocoa. The palate is flooded with a heavy peat, full of earth and ash. Slightest bit of sweetness at the end.
[Whiskey Live New York 2016] - Takes it a step further than the 16 year and the Double Barrel. Tastes like straight up grass, but heavenly, deliciously fruity, sense tingling grass. I would absolutely love a bottle of this for my shelf!
A new fave! Intense taste-it-in-the-nose sweet smoke start. It quickly softens to a clean pipe smoke mixed with slight butterscotch. A briney natural light lingering finish, slightly sweet, with a light leather smoke.
Pure Black Cavendish and Latakia. If you are a pipe smoker you know what I'm talking about... amazing robust smoker flavor. For special occasions to sip slowly in front a fireplace. Stuff of dreams
12 more reviews were collected for this bottle. The longest ones are shown first.
Closest flavor profiles across the whole catalog.
