Lagavulin 21 Year (2012 Special Release)

Nose- Earthy peat smoke; guava paste; beef jerky; sea salt; milk chocolate; lemon oil; dried apples; sherry sweetness Palate- Wave of tropical fruits (think guava, mangoes, and a bit of pineapple); Subtle peat smoke; a touch of tar; rich vanilla; waxy oranges; sea salt; dark honey; sweet oak Finish- Long, spicy and rich finish; Vanilla bean; earthy peat; nutmeg and cinnamon Well that was amazing. A first fill-sherry cask Lagavulin that’s 21 years old? How could you go wrong? The answer is, you can’t. Through and through, this is fantastic, and I don’t have a single complaint. I could drink it all day long. It’s drinks much more like 46% than 52. The list goes on and on with all the wonderful flavors this whiskey has to offer. The nose is insanely good, the palate is insanely good, and the finish is rich, long, and just the right amount of spicy. $1000 is $1000 though, I feel lucky to have tried this.

Phenomenal pour. Has the best of all worlds with a combination of sweet sherry, tropical fruit, and lagavulin smoke. Nose: Raisins, Smoke, Sultanas, Pineapples, Golden Syrup, Christmas Cakes, Brown Sugar, Maple Glazed Bacon, Barbecue Glazed Ham, Coal, Mackerels, Salted Cod, Chili, Mexican Hot Chocolate, Raspberries, Lemon Meringue Pie Palate: Raspberries, Dark Chocolate, Dates, Papayas, Figs, Pineapples, Raisins, Sultanas, Honey, Treacle, Mangoes, Brown Sugar, Barbecue Pork Ribs, Maple Glazed Bacon, Leather, Ashtrays, Tobacco, Grapefruit, Apricots, Cinnamon, Hazlenuts, Cloves Finish: Raisins, Bacon, Christmas Cakes, Pork Ribs, Gingerbread, Golden Syrup, Apricots, Orgeat, Peaches, Honey, Pineapples, Butterscotch

This is a tasty dram. Peat, jerky, and apple on the nose. Sweet peat, fruits (passion fruit or papaya) on the palate. More peat and some sweet spice on a medium-long finish.

I don't believe I've ever seen 'crushed bugs' as a tasting note before. Well played, Stephanie.

Nick: "one of the best I've had"