Lagavulin The Ink of Legends (2023 Special Release)

A bit of agave, lots of smoke

Nose: floral, minerality, brine, citrus zest, when you back off a bit you get the vegetal agave. Strong hammy peat throughout, vanilla. As i sit with it, i get more smoke/campfire. 5 drops of water brings out agave more and mutes some of the sugary elements as well as some more bitter citrus element. Malt complexity comes out more here. Palate: tequila barrel/agave is prominent but very well balanced, crystalline brown sugar. Vanilla, classic lagavulin elegant peat. Theres a floral element, grapefruit peel as it transitions to finish. Salty. After water, i feel like the peat and salinity comes out more. With a little bigger sip i get a nice robust agave note. Finish: light, floral, briny and vegetal. Nice classic lagavulin peat. Like youre inside the dank musty hull of a pirate ship.

I will spoil this review right from the beggining by saying that this is, in fact, another perfect whisky made by Islay's king, Lagavulin. Lagavulin Ink of legends, is Diageo's 2023 Special Release, matured in Don Julio's Tequila Casks, and it tells the story of Aztec and Mayans tattoos. Bottled at 56.4%abv. On the nose, it starts with an obvious tequila profile. Gooseberries, leather shoes, school glue, liquid paper. It is a burnt pineapple. I can only describe the next note as bug fumigación. Merthiolate. After a first sip it gave me a lit cigar note. Floor detergent and pear peel. On the palate, it starts with chocolate, herbal notes, green tea and grass. The second sip was a little dimmer. Smoke herbal; Tequila and also Jaggermeister. Aftertaste is all about smoke, bbq wings. Long and salty. Tequila. In conclusion, this one really was out of this world. The previous Diageo Special Release was not as impressive, but this one was truly a home run. The power, complexity and overall balance of this dram is out of this world. My score is, of course, a 100 over 100.

Smooth, a bit of smoke. Very faint hints of tequila

Felt the tequila cask imparted some cooked agave, bright fruit, and green pepper notes but didn’t meet up to the level of the 2021 Jazz Festival Mezcal Cask. Nose: Vanilla, Jalapeños, Marshmallows, Brisket, Blueberries, Raspberries, Cooked Agave, Eucyptalus, Bananas, Peaches, Pineapples, Honey Palate: Smoke, Bacon, Vanilla, Strawberries, Jalapeños, Raspberries, Tangerines, Cooked Agave, Peaches, Caramel, Iodine, Pineapples Finish: Strawberries, Roses, Cooked Agave, Jalapeños, Marshmallows, Bananas, Toffee, Vanilla, Raspberries, White Chocolate

I don’t get it. Why were tequila casks even used for this finishing? It had nothing to add. I couldn’t even smell or taste even a hint of tequila’s grassy herbal flavor. Was it because the original Lag was just subpar and they had to bandaid it up? Or was it that they used really week 3rd or 4th fill tequila barrels? Was it done to fix a bad original Lag or too add a marketing twist to claim “ look, a new finish” without pissing off Lag fans with too much a finish? Either way, this is just cask strength Lag. The finish does nothing. Actually takes away from being a truly great CS Lag. But with that said, it’s still a good Lag. Fatty mouthfeel, saline and brine, earthy peat smoke and citrus. It’s a good Lag that I’d have anytime any day. But, I can’t justify the price. I bought only a 200ml version, and I don’t think I’d be a buyer of the 700 or 750. It’s too pricey for what it offers. You’re paying for a CS version and a premium for the finishing, but the finishing does nothing to this. Final verdict: skip this. Waste of money. It’s a pour to have at a bar or restaurant, or from a friend that happened to buy a bottle. Instead opt for the CS version in bourbon barrels. That is pure Lag, rough and tough.