Lagavulin 8 Year

Here I find myself again on my annual Lagavulin purchase. I was real close to buying the Distillers Edition after my delightful experience with the Talisker DE, but I opted for this younger (and less expensive) bottle instead. I must say, this is quite unlike any whisky from Islay I've tried so far. Complex yet approachable. Peaty yet fruity. Young yet full of layers and vibrancy. Let's get started, shall we? I commend Lagavulin for putting out a single-digit age statement expression. Not a lot of places have the stones to do that, but rather opt for NAS releases. Pansies. The nose on this one is unmistakably Lagavulin. Rich, meaty smoke that isn't cloying or acrid at all. Beneath that is a layer of aromas that show off the youthfulness of the spirit. Notes of pear, light sea spray, and peaches. There's a savory note that reminds me of new make spirit I try when I visit local distilleries, showcasing just how slow maturation in Scotland is. While the smoke is reminiscent of its older brother Lag 16, this younger sibling is clearly trying to stand on its own. As you sip it, the spirit is light on the palate. Not the smoke bomb of the 16, nor the fiery, temperamental peat of Ardbeg 10 or Laphroaig 10. The smoke eases in gently, and reveals layers of malt, sultana, apricot, and a dry white wine quality. The smoke lingers through the mid-palate and coats your throat in a warm, drying effect. At 48% ABV, while perhaps the sign of a brittle spirit, the warmth lingers for some time. Lovely! As y'all work through your bottles of Lagavulin 16, and want to try something different yet within the same ballpark, check this one out. I may leave this one on the shelf through the winter and break it out again as a summer dram. It's light yet complex, and easy to drink. Try a bottle for yourself! Cheers!

1/6/20 N: vanilla, peat, peach rings P: cedar, pine cones F: honey dew, cedar

Eye: straw colored. Thin tears on the glass. Nose: slight peat fire, caramel, lemon, white pepper Mouth: no viscosity, bitter heat to start, decrease to mild heat, very short finish. Taste: slight sweet (with bitter/tart on front of tongue), faint eucalyptus, black pepper, slight smoked meat - bacon, campfire ash, short finish, saltiness/brine last longer than anything.