Lagavulin 12 Year (2016 Special Release)

There's a meaty, umami quality to this that brings to mind a thick steak rubbed with salt and marinated in soy sauce. It's mouthcoating, perhaps permanently given that its drying embers are still humming away even though I've been nosing an empty glass for 30 minutes. Dive in, as the ABV is easily tolerated. Thanks to Pranay for the sample.

Well, for this year's Burns Night celebration I've decided to pop open the 2015 Lagavulin 12 year old cask strength and do a comparison with the 2016 version. Up next is the fresher vintage- the 200th Anniversary 2016: it's 115.4 proof and is also non-chill filtered. It's an even lighter straw color in the glass but seems a tad more oily than its predecessor. It still makes some nice, sexy legs in the Glencairn, too. The lemon and orchard fruits aren't as prevalent in the 2016 like the 2015- this one is more of your traditional Lagavulin. Sea spray, peat smoke and bacon. There's a hint of pine needles on the nose. It's amazing in it's own right, it just doesn't seem as lively as the 2015. On the palate, there's the typical charred oak, salted caramel, vanilla and black pepper spice. It is noticeably sweeter than the 2015 and is an excellent change of pace when doing them side by side. The big ABV is still all up in your face, as well. The campfire fades a bit quicker and the finish is shorter, too. The burn subsides and leaves you ready for another taste. It's equally as amazing as the 2015. Great stuff. These two examples of the 12 year old cask strength are wonderful. I think I prefer the 2015 just a tiny bit more because of the lively citrus notes on the nose. They are both solid 5 star drams and excellent examples of Lagavulin single malts when they are at their very best. Again, Happy Burns Night 2017, my friends. Thanks to my friend, Pranay, for providing this delicious sample. It allowed me an amazing chance to review both vintages side by side. It really was a win/win for me.

The best cask strength expression of lagavulin ! Bravo !

Have family over this weekend, so we just opened this 2016 Diageo Special release. I think "special" means "we'll charge you more for a lower age whiskey". The 16 is about $80. I paid $90 for this. Something wrong with that logic...but anyway, is it worth it? Let's see. From the nose, it's really the younger sibling to the 16. Stronger aroma. If the 16 gives a whiff of the briny splash of the ocean wave, this gives you a hard smack. Nothing gentle about this. First sip lemons and salt, followed really quickly by grapefruit and Kerala peppercorns. ( Kerala ones are fresh 'green' taste with heat). Wow---ends really strong. Like when you walk into a really cold room, and turn on a wood burning stove. You almost feel the embers in the back of your throat. This is good, but not for everyone. If you don't like the 16, you'll hate this. If you think the 16 is for acne pimpled Boy Scouts, this is right up your alley. Will grow some hair on your chest...even if your genotype is XX instead of XY...