Lagavulin 12 Year (2020 Special Release)

Diageo really let me down when they decided to make the 2019 edition of their 12-year cask strength release a European exclusive. I’m somewhat of a completionist, and I’ve had and loved each release from 2016-2019. Which brings me to this 2020 release. My streak has been snapped at 3. So now this 2020 vintage serves as the first installment in what is hopefully a much longer run with this line. Nose: Sea salt, seaweed, and brine. Campfire smoke and ash. Moss and peat. Band-aid. Grapefruit and lemon. Almond and chestnut. Custard and nougat sweetness. Blueberry as well. Cinnamon heat. Red pepper and black bean chili. Oak. It’s all over the place, as one would expect of any great Islay nose. Palate: Sea salt, seaweed, brine, and campfire smoke. Band-aid. Grapefruit and lemon. Red pepper and sun-dried tomato. Black bean and red pepper chili. Glazed ham and ribeye steak. Chestnut and almond. Peanut butter. Blueberry. Milk chocolate with some vanilla cake. Custard and nougat as well. White pepper and oak. Delicious. Finish: Sea salt, seaweed, and brine. Campfire smoke. Band-aid. Cilantro. Grapefruit. Chestnut and almond. Black bean, red pepper chili. Black pepper, cinnamon, and oak. Long as they make a finish—as one would expect of a 56.4% whisky. New streak, same story. 2020 delivers in full—from start to finish. I’m happy to see that the flashy packaging hasn’t distracted from the quality of the product. And while I can’t say I’ve had them all—which is fine, because they made this stuff before 2016–I can say without reservation that this expression can carry the mantle of one of, if not the greatest annual release in all of whisky. 5/5.

Nose - briny peat, ash, hay, rich malt, seaweed, almond, clove, tar, pineapple, earthy vegetal notes, light caramel, lemon pith, pencil eraser, apple, dry vanilla, musty grape, cocoa, leather, powdered sugar, moderate to high ethanol burn. Taste - lemon oil, smoky peat, leather, orange blossom, mint, underripe banana, yeast, almond, vanilla cream, chili pepper, toffee, milk chocolate, cereal grain, tar, brine, iodine, bitter herbal notes, decaying grass, moderate to high alcohol bite, finishing medium length with deep citrus, bitter peat, cocoa, and chili pepper flavors. The final Lagavulin of my tasting series, and it’s one I’m sure isn’t worth the purchase price. But hey, it comes in a fancy black tube that lets you know it’s special and you’re special for owning it. The nose is full-bodied Lagavulin, but earthier and mustier than the 16 year. Almond, pencil eraser, and a nice rich maltiness are present as well. The palate is deeply citric, with well rounded peatiness and some grassy, underripe banana notes. This is really nice, great even, but the juice isn’t worth the squeeze. I paid around $160 for it, and there are malts I enjoy just as much or more for half the price. Honestly, I’m not even sure whether I like it more than the 16 year. It’s richer, thicker, and hotter, but I think the citrus notes on the palate are overdone and detract from the overall experience. I recommend trying this at a restaurant or snagging a sample, but don’t purchase a bottle at the going rate unless you’re a diehard Lagavulin enthusiast.

Lagavulin meaty, roasted, smokey, thick, high peps, nail polish 2.75 intense lemon zest, pear, fruity, red grapes berries, cherry, bitterness in the aftertaste but bareable and its an interesting contrast 3 long sustained oaky 2.75 2.75 Malty thick creamy texture sweetness pungent damp earthy 3.5 Burn and strong young whisky. Much complexity and oily nutty richness medicinal 2.25 Kong Smokey 3 2.75 in spirit of lagavulin, powerful statement at the start with a strong mix of smoked salmon + campfire peat, tobacco, for a high abv of 56% you dont feel the hit on the nose, slight chocolate, nearer into the dram and you will get quite hard hit of pep, no detection of sweetness or floral notes... mjuch more of a smoke and spice hit 3 damnnnnnnn, powerful powerful complexity and oiliness coats your mouth from front to back you get a kick of nuttiness, tea, earthy forest floor, campfire, bitterness, ccreramy, rich texture, finish is long - a little heavy on the bitterness towards the tail end with heavy influence of oak 2.5 you will get a hit of long campfire sustain, bitter aftertaste though 2 2.5

Moving up the age scale of the 2020 special releases from Diageo we arrive at the annual crowdpleaser, the Lagavulin 12. The nose brings a classic mix of creosote and burnt brisket, with a drop of water unleashing aromas of petroleum. In the mouth it starts sweet and turns savory, with lots of green olive and vegetal notes. The long finish evokes black licorice chews. An on-point Lagavulin, though of the recent releases I much prefer the 11.

Really nice dram. The cask strength gives some nice kick, but it feels much lighter than it is, and it’s surprisingly drinkable. It’s much lighter bodied and colored than the 16 for instance. The nose is floral, smoky, smoldering, a bit oceanic, and has some fruitiness. Pleasant flavor with some sweetness, a lot of oily texture and taste, some ash, and spice.

Lemon drop, peat smoke, hearty burn going down. Really pleasant dram, and the cask strength is nice. It's quite good, but it doesn't blow me away. Was really looking forward to this one, so maybe expectations were a little too high. All the same, it was a joy to be able to try. Thanks to @ctbeck11 for the generous sample.