Lagavulin Distillers Edition

Lagavulin Distillers Edition 4/508 Distilled 2013 Bottled 2019 Nose: white grapefruit, dark chocolate, burned sugar, very mild wet ash Appearance: Color - bourbon, thin tears in glass Mouth: raspberry on back of tongue salt on the sides and center of the tongue, just a hint of smoke, modestly peaty. Oak for certain, not much on the sherry notes as expected. Heat like from white pepper, and slight clove Finish: not too long but has some vanilla, salt water, very faint Lagavulin smoked meat - that leaves quickly. It’s probably a good entry point for those new to Islay. I found it a bit weak, but’s good every day/every one type scotch. Probably will not buy again, but would recommend to a new Islay explorer. I’ll stay with 16, or Ardbeg Uigeadail.

Where to start? Tastes just like our regularly beloved Lagavulin 16, except you will get an extra layer of vanilla sweetness added to the complexity!! 5/5

1995 Distiller's Edition, bottled 2011

I'm really conflicted with this one. I love Islay. I love Lagavulin...although the Offerman offering really bothered me. The standard 16 is up there with Ardbeg Uigedial for my favorite single. I'm also not a fan of most sherry forward scotch. With that background I'll say the Distiller's was disappointing while at the same time also great, since I unfortunately have to compare it to the 16 and Uigedial as reference points. This edition is a toned down version of the 16 when it comes to smoke, earthiness, salt, and meat but it brings up the lightness of fruit and some sweetness. The initial taste is light and almost empty until some of the barrel kicks in with faint wood and high quality sherry. The sherry influence thankfully does not drown anything out but unfortunately also does not build huge depth and sophistication like it does in Uigedial, playing off the peat and smoke. In Distiller's, it helps highlight some plum, figs, and chocolate notes and really eases the dark, rich smoke. I just wish that it happened at first sip and lasted throughout. There's a caramel or marzipan richness that is present towards the end as you exhale. In this one the smoke builds up at the finish and lasts a bit longer than the 16, in a good way. It's like a small peat fire was extinguished with plum juice and still smoldered a bit. Overall, I really wanted this to blow me away but it didn't. I almost see this as an amazing alternative for someone who drinks the 16 and says, "that's too Islay" (I've never heard someone say this but would never drink with that person again if they did). I appreciate the sherry mellowing the smoke and peat but still long for what makes Lagavulin....Lagavulin. It's a delicious, complex sipper that is definitely worth a try. Honestly, right now I'd still take the 16 over this one, especially at $30-$40 less a bottle. This is the fruitier, less bold version and that might be appealing to many people. I will happily continue drinking this bottle and will gladly update my impression as I look forward to working through it. I'm giving it a 4.25 for good reason, but for my taste, this doesn't deliver in the elite range for me.