Lagavulin 12 Year Fireside Tales (2024 Special Release)

Lagavulin 12 handling been one of my favorite lines in all of whisky. This is my 8th go at this annual release. Unfortunately, the last iteration was by far my least favorite. The tequila finish only served to detract from what I enjoy about the core expression. Let’s hope this year’s edition, a first ex-bourbon and refill cask-aged expression, can turn things around. Nose: Campfire smoke. Heavy. Hookah smoke as well. Some charcoal and sun-dried tomato. Iodine and ash. Black bean, red pepper chili. It’s a smoky, spicy affair. A heavy hazelnut note, accompanied by toasted almond. Some sugar cookie hidden somewhere in there. Prune as well. Palate: Custard. Grapefruit, lemon, orange citrus. Black bean, red pepper chili. Some pretty heavy campfire smoke. Hazelnut and almond. Cinnamon and black pepper heat. Tennis ball and bandaid. Salted caramel. Peanut butter. Finish: Black bean, red pepper chili. Charred meat and brisket. Cinnamon, black pepper, and oak are absolutely bursting here. Peanut butter. Almond. Long of a finish as they make ‘em. Lagavulin is back to form with this one. This is an unbelievably brash, scorcher of a whisky; and I feel like it’s exactly what this brand has been missing of late. The distillery has been putting out some decent, but ultimately dull limited releases lately, and I haven’t felt quite the same way about Lagavulin, considering it’s long been a staple in my collection. This is it right here. Lagavulin was apt in naming this Fireside Tales. It brings the heat, and quality with it. You could say it drinks like the best piece of venison jerky you’ve ever had—and ever will have for that matter. At $170, this was well worth the price of entry. 5/5.

Nose is grass, hay and wet campfire ashes. Not boring, but also not intriguing. Palate is slightly thin but mouth-coating, with the smoke leading and followed in short succession by wet straw, ash and barrel tanins. Finish is all campfire smoke, and lasts longer than the main taste. No discernible peat, iodine or salt…fairly flat and one-note. Not bad, but certainly not special, and there are far better offerings for less cash.

Nose: Vanilla, Fruity, Cherry, Cinnamon , Earthy, Cilantro, Roasted Carrots, Sweet Palate: Pepper, Sweet, Oily, Spicy Finish: Warm/Hot, Peaty, Orange, Apple Pie

Lagavulin fireside tales 12, Smell like swamp, sea water, peat , taste sweet sweet saw dust . Leather, burning log , ash, citric