Tastes

Sweet honey nose, with malt and grain notes in the background. Tickles the nose even though only 40 ABV. A faint citrusy note as well. On the palate also initial sweetness, but not thick. Quickly replaced by nutty flavors, dominantly walnut with the bitter note of the thin skin as well. Not complex and nothing outstanding, but better value compared to the regular 12y.

Quite a difference from the 16y old standard bottling. The smokiness is there, but subtle. Sweet and fruity nose. Really pleasant. Even though bottled at high strength, its 20 years of maturation mellowed this scotch beautifully. Complex layers of flavors including dark fruits, marzipan sweetness, all wrapped in gentle smoke. I love the thick mouthfeel. Really impressed with this bottling. Perhaps disappointing for the die-hard 16y old Lagavulin fans, but I really appreciate this more gentle and complex expression that still clearly bears the Lagavulin signature. Well done!

Really interesting on the nose: salty, smokey, herbal, fruity, meaty, ... all blended together nicely once you get beyond the initial sharpness. On the palate it is the sweetness that hits first, caramel and vanilla. Then comes the peat and smoke, but those too must make room for the big punch of freshly crushed black pepper. More sweetness and pepper on the finish.

Pleasant sipping dram, but the honey sweetness is quite dominant for me. Some orange zest aroma’s, raisins, milk chocolate. Medium to short finish with a dark roast coffee note. I wish it was bottled at a little higher proof. But price-quality very appealing.

Blended malts can be very enjoyable when done well. Master blenders deserve praise when they consistently produce a quality scotch. Green Label fits the bill. Sweet and sour on the nose, like green apple dipped in honey. And then seasoned with a tiny pinch of salt. On the palate, light smoke and peat come forward together with a touch of pepper. The finish is the least exciting part of this dram. Some sharpness and no more layers. Good scotch nevertheless.

Not complex and rather uninteresting. Some floral notes and mostly honey sweetness with the bitter notes that you sometimes get in cheap honey. If I drink it again, it will probably be on ice as an aperitif. Not memorable, but still better than a cheap blend.

I can only confirm what’s already said plenty of times about this whisky: it’s good value for money if you like smoke! Smokey sweetness wrapped in a smooth blanket that will keep you warm for a while even after your last sip. But I find it more challenging to find individual flavors. I guess that confirms this is a good blend and I can only appreciate the skill it takes to create this same flavor consistently for each bottling. No bad words for this very enjoyable scotch.

Nose: sweet, vanilla, almond, but also some fruitiness, mostly lime. Palate: still sweet, like vanilla pudding, but also oaky bitterness, faint smoke, and some spicy notes, like ginger, anis, and mint. Medium finish. Adding just a few drops of water lengthens the finish.

It seems smooth and simple at first, but gets more interesting and layered if you give it time. Honey and vanilla with notes of green apple on the nose. Sweet and sour continues on the palate, like golden kiwi. Then some spice and oaky notes appear. Fresh apricot and some nutty flavors as well. Not simply a “light” Lowland as some reviews claim, there is certainly variety of aromas and flavors. Give it time and you will appreciate its delicate complexity.

Pleasant, but not as good as the classic Highland Parks. Some smoke and spice, but doesn’t last very long. A whiff of tobacco leaves, like smelling an empty cigar box. Still, could be drinking much worse...