Tastes

My last Lagavulin tasted at the distillery, was on a second tour to the premises. I returned because i love Lagavulin and you can never get enough of it. Well, i did another tour where i had the chance to taste another exclsuive; a single malt that might never hit the shelves of retail stores: a 7 year old, Cask Strength Lagavulin, poured at 59.6%abv straight from the cask. On the nose, this is a raw peaty Lagavulin, and i like it. Red fruits, a pair of cotton socks; acetone. Coconut and earthy peat. Vanilla fondant. After a few sips, the aroma turned into gooseberries and an nice vanilla cream. It is like almonds with vanilla. On the palate, i really like the punch of it. Vanilla. Creamy sweetness and cigarrette ashes. Black pepper. After the first sip, it gave me a spongy vanilla cake and a "Tres leches" dessert. Aftertaste has a nice bite to it. Tar. Oily and lovely. Maritime and smokey. Overall, this is a proof that Lagavulin spirit is incredible. It hasn't yet reach an old age, and you can feel how the peaty spirit has their unique DNA print. Obviously this has been matured in ex bourbon cask, you can tell by the type of vanilla notes to it, and i feel like the whole distillery is heading in that direction, leaving some of the sherriness behind, which i would not like i lot, since i am a sherryhead as well as a peathead. My score for this fantastic sample is 93 over 100.

Now that i am in a Lagavulin streak, let me tell you about one that i was looking for some time, and i found it on an specialized bar in Scotland, The Lagavulin Islay Jazz 2019, a 21yo expression. Bottled at 50.9%abv, this beauty was a limited release of 2004 bottles; matured in Refill & Recharred American Oak Hogsheads. It is important for you to know, that this Islay Jazz expressions are always outstanding, and if you can find one, you should buy them no matter what it takes. On the nose, it starts beautifully; Bacon, Bbq sauce and a great lemon note. Citric, peaty. Very complex dram; Blood oranges; Peaty orange peel. Lovely aroma, it might be the best orange aroma ever. On the palate, it is a full and complex dram. Orange acidity, lots of chocolate and cream; Oranges and chocolate. It has a sweet peatiness. Aftertaste is the epitome of a wonderful experience. Aromatic peat smoke from "Palo santo". Sweet peat. Bonfire. Overall, after 989 whisky reviews, i can identify some distillery as the gods of whisky. One of them is Lagavulin, who holds a special throne in the Uisgebeatha Olympus. Others like Glendronach, Talisker and Ardbeg govern the whisky heaven, but Lagavulin is definitively in the top spots. This is an incredible, flavorful dram that is just amazing. My score for it is 96 over 100.

Remember mi last review where i had the incredible pleasure to taste the Lagavulin 25yo, 200th Anniversary edition? Well, i must be a very lucky man, because this review is for another Lagavulin 25 years old, but this time, straight from the cask to my glass, poured by no other than the legend himself Ian McArthur. In the distillery warehouse tour, this was the final dram, and it came from a cask that in words of Ian, the whole barrel costs around 500k pounds. The experience couldn't be any greater... you might think... but we were served not one, BUT TWO DRAMS FROM THIS MAGNIFICENT WHISKY. Poured at 52%abv, from an unique sherry butt. On the nose, quite amazing. Cherry cold thick syrup, lovely red fruitiness and a salty breeze. Caramel. Maritime and sweet. Oranges. After a first sip, the aroma changed into berries and red fruits; chocolate milk. Smoke puffs have risen. Tangerine. On the palate this one is very elegant, a little watery though. Oranges, very easy drinkable; Sawdust. It is like and oaky water, very elegant and easy to drink. Not too powerful. Orange and orange chocolate. Coconut. Aftertaste feels like a once peat kiln has tamed over the years. It feels like it has an "echo" or a ghostly smokiness. Very smooth. Salt. Warm. Sawdust Overall, this was a fantastic whisky, which is not better as the 200th anniversary one. I feel like i have no right to rate something like this, but since i am an unashamed bastard, i will give it a score. For me, it had 23 over 25 points in all four of whisky criterias: nose, palate, aftertaste and overall balance. Having said that, i never score a whisky for how much does it cost. My rate for it is a well deserved 92 over 100. My inner organs are bathed in gold after drinking the two pours. Sláinte!!!

A whisky only seen in rich people's instagram, the incredibly rare, unique and unattainable, the Lagavulin 25 years old , 200th anniversary. In my visit to Lagavulin, i went to the distillery bar, i closed my eyes, and i said to the bartender: "here is my credit card, don't tell me how much cause i'll cry, but pour me a glass of the Lagavulin 25yo 200th anniversary". She did. I will never regret this. (My bank does). This epic single malt was bottled for such an incredible distillery birthday, at 51.7%abv amd was fully matured in Px sherry casks. On the nose, it is super sherried. Dark fruits, red fruits, blackberries. Some maritime feeling is rising. THE WORLD FAMOUS BLACKBERRY MARMALADE. After a first sip, the aroma became just out of this planet. Plums, berries, syrup. Coffee beans and toffee. Outstanding. Om the palate it is very winey in a lovely way. Red fruits, blackberries and coffee. Wonderful dehydrated fruits. Aftertaste had a proper finish for a perfect dram. Tamed smoke, super elegant sherriness. Warm toffee and coffee. Punch of salt and pepper. The peat has tamed into elegance and sherry beautifulness. Overall, i have to say that this is why i came to Scotland. You have to go as a whisky enthusiast to find the rarest, craziest, amazing single malts of the world. And the good part, you can have a glass without having to mortgage your house by buying a full bottle. This Lagavulin is the pure perfection. This should be rebranded as a "single heaven" and not a single malt. My humble score for one of the greatest whiskies i have ever had, is obviously 100 over 100. Slàinte!

Ok, games are over, lets review some seriously old Lagavulins i had the pleasure and luck to taste at the distillery. I will start this series of critics with a super good looking, limited expression, the Lagavulin 26yo Lion's Jewel 2021 special release. This is one of two of Diageo's Special Releases; the other one, the 12yo Cask strength wasn't super impressive, but i was eager to try this very expensive 26 years old one, which is still to this date the oldest "Laga" i have ever had. Bottled at 44.2%abv, matured in first fill PX casks and Oloroso sherry seasoned butts. The legend of the Lion's Jewel goes as follows: "hidden within his den on Islay bay, The King of Islay guarded a gem of precious worth. The resplendent stone glowed ruby red, glistening with lustre. Won through decades of fire and ferocity, it reflected an alluring warmth and smouldering intensity – the captivating nature of Lagavulin.” On the nose, quite attractive: Ashtray and tangerine. Coffee beans, cigarrtetes. Very appealing. Oranges. On the palate it was very good but a little dim. Vanilla water, pepper, ashes, Gooseberries, coconut. Oranges. Aftertaste was good, not mind blowing though. Smokey and citric. Grapefruit, it actually has a fruity finish. Gooseberries, citric. Cigarrette finish. Overall, for a $2.400 dram which i believe it was the original retail price, you are not getting what you are paying. Don't get me wrong, i am the one who believes that any whisky over $450 is demential, but if i have the chance to try a glass or two for the fraction of the price i will go for it. Good whisky, not incredible, my score for it is 88 over 100.

The Scottish Ballet is one of only 5 ballet schools in the UK. They were founded in 1969 and for their 50th anniversary, Highland Park decided to commemorate them and their artistic plays, with a special whisky release. The Highland Park Scottish Ballet, was bottled at 40%abv, has been matured in first-fill sherry seasoned American oak casks and a smaller quantity of refill casks. On the nose, quite interesting. Sweaty clothes, a clean bath towel. Orange and orange cake. Chocolate, exactly as a "Kinder Bueno". After a couple of sips, the aroma changed into a cinammon apple pie; Brie / camembert cheese and coffee with milk. On the palate, it started nice, bit it got dimmer with each sip. Italian vanilla "Gelatto". Oranges, peppery. On the second sip it became very watery with a slight vanilla. It fell dramatically. Aftertaste is all about salt. Cigarrettes, salt and pepper. Remarkably salty. Overall, this wasn't impressive, but i guess for the price (55$) you are getting more than what you paid for. Not a bad dram, some interesting notes here and there but fairly normal. The nose was the best part. My score for it is 81 over 100.

Brace yourselves, a perfect whisky is coming. It seems that Lagavulin, back in 2018, which i believe is a great year for that distillery, released a distillery exclusive single malt, double matured, in a first fill and a re-charred oak cask.  It was bottled at 53.5%abv which is a nice strength and sold for about 110 pounds in the shop. Little did they knew, that this humble servant was going to try it, decode it into wonderful notes and write this proud review. And as i said before, fasten your seat belts, this is a perfect whisky. On the nose, peat and sweet. Caramel and chocolate; milk and coffee. Ashes, gooseberries. Medicinal notes, but also coconut. Incredible aroma. The white oak can be felt here and is doing a great mixture with the peatiness. On the palate, oh my friends, this is delicious. Vanilla, coconut, pepper and sulphuric notes. Powerfully and elegantly spicy: Chilli and wasabi. Fantastic. Aftertaste is simple, but perfect. It just has three notes; very important, clean notes that are so rewarding that you feel absolutely happy: Smoke, pepper and vanilla. Overall, i can say this one is not too hard to find, i believe it is always present in some auctions and specialized whisky retailers websites. You have to grab one. Or two. Or three. Maybe all you can. Great whisky, it will be on my top ten this year. My score is 100 over 100

The third wonderful whisky i had on the Lagavulin distillery tour, came from a collection that i love. The 2018 Islay Jazz Festival, is the name of this glorious dram, i just hope it is as good as the 2017 expression, a single malt that is in my overall top ten ever. Bottled at wonderful 58.5%abv for extra flavor, this whisky as have been matured in Refill American & European Oak Puncheons. On the nose, earthy and fruity. Moss, green fruits, red fruits and coconut. Tar, dirty water from a road; Malted barley and earthy. After a few sips, some chocolate notes have risen. On the palate, it was very well crafted, you don't even feel the high abv at all. Coconut, vanilla, gooseberries. Smoky and chocolaty. Dim peppee and green apples. Aftertaste was incredible, perfect score here. Ginger and smoke explosion. Salty, very tongue scorching super pleasant. The finish is amazing. Tobacco, ciggarrettes, hay. Elegant and smokey, really beautiful puffs of smoke. Overall, i believe the safest bet you can go on any whisky is Lagavulin. They can't make bad single malts, even if they try. Having said that, the Islay Jazz Festival expressions are always top of the line, whiskies that i wouldn't even share; i want them all for me. My score for this great "juice" is a solid 92 over 100.

Welcome friends to my second review of my Lagavulin Warehouse Tasting Tour, this time, a younger whisky, one that is a living proof that age means nothing. This is an 8yo Straight From The Cask Lagavulin, served at 56%abv, drawn from an ex-red wine european oak cask. Of course this was also poured by the legend, Ian McArthur. On the nose, a wonderful experience. Coconut, tar; smells like a pond. Gooseberries; Lightly peated and lightly ashy. Grapefruits. The aroma is exactly as water with added salt to make gargles when you have a soar throat. It is like a vanilla cream dipped in an ashtray. The palate was just perfect. Coconut, grapefruit, pepper and ashes. Very elegant for a very young cask strength. Dim saltiness, everything well delivered. Aftertaste is simple but incredible. Beautiful Smokiness, ashes. It is like a bonfire on a cold night. Overall, this was quite surprising. It is amazing how an 8yo single malt can achieve this level of well delivered flavors and aromas. The palate and aftertaste were simply perfect. I am completely overwhelmed by it, my score for it is 96 over 100.

I have arrived to the most holy land of whisky... i have stepped over the most important piece of land in the isle of Islay, the one and only LAGAVULIN DISTILLERY. Arguably the King of Islay, (let the internet backlash begin in the comments), Lagavulin was my first love for peaty whiskies and their 16yo expression has become indestructible against any critics. I have had a lot of "Lagas" in the past years, but now i am here for the ultimate experience. Drawn from 4 incredible casks, i am about to taste some incredible Lagavulins. Did i tell you that the Mythical Ian McArthur is the one pouring the whiskies? (He draws them from the cask using his mouth, i believe this enhances the experience, lol). My first Warehouse tasting was this 12yo, Straight from the Cask, a single second filled european oak barrel, served at 51%abv. On the nose, it is quite sweet! Brownies, chocolate, vanilla, hay. Less complex that other Lagavulins but very sweet. Lots of chocolate notes. Malted barley. On the palate, deliciously sweet. Chocolate milk, dim nice pepper. Super elegant vanilla and earthy notes. Gooseberries. Aftertaste is where the peat was hiding: Smoke, tar, and all the bautiful stuff from Lagavulin, herbal, bonfire. Overall, this was an enormous dram to start the tour. I loved the sweet twist that this whisky has, it confabulates with the peatiness in a great way. My score for this beauty is 92 over 100.