Jason_Hall
Lagavulin 2005 Distillers Edition (Bottled 2020)
Single Malt — Islay, Scotland
Reviewed
January 23, 2021 (edited May 15, 2022)
I’m a fan of the standard 16yr and have been waiting to try this one, which is supposed to be a finished version of the 16. However this one says “Distilled 2005 and Bottled 2020”, which adds up to 15 years, not 16 like it normally states. Oh well, 2020 was a strange year anyway.
The nose is very Lagavulin as expected, nutty, black pepper, a little salty smoked meat, some iodine, and then wonderful round dark cooked fruit and/or raisin.
The palate is sweet and very oily with tons of raisin, and plum with also a lot of iodine/peat smoke. I also get the nuttiness and black pepper from the nose as well as some jalapeño and pickled ginger.
The finish is long with lingering iodine and sweet cooked stone fruit and some sweet vanilla buried in there. This fades into a nice campfire smoke note that just hangs out in the background for a while.
Wow, this is very good. Of course I had to do a side-by-side comparison with the Lagavulin 16.
The lag 16 is also wonderful, but is way brighter (in color and taste) and a little more rough around the edges when directly comparing it to the Distiller’s Edition. The DE is just thicker, darker and rounded with some dark fruit notes, which are to be expected given the finishing it went through.
Both are great, but I am definitely leaning towards the DE over the standard 16. And for me the DE was about $30 cheaper, not sure why that would be. Maybe I just lucked out.
85.0
USD
per
Bottle
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Just got this today for 89, only ever saw it for 105-115. This is the only of the Lagavulin core range I haven’t had, other than the GoT edition which I chose to not buy. Super excited to try it!
Wow Jason where did you buy your bottle?
@Skymecca I remember when most places had the 16 for around $85, but since the tariffs it has gone through the roof.
@Jason_Hall Near me, Lagavulin 16 has been $65 for years at Costco and total wine and only inched up due to the tariffs. DE is generally $120 minimum.
@ctbeck11 I guess I need to go back before they wise up. They had the 16yr at $110, which is normal for Nashville
Wow, $85 is a total steal! Think I paid close to $130 over here in the Democratic Republic of Virginia. Completely agree with your rating; this one is delicious. I’d buy a case if they were $85 near me.
@Skymecca Right, I think I lucked out. I’ve seen it elsewhere for a little more than the 16. Around here, the 16 goes for $115, which is quite a jump from where it used to be. If the DE was twice as much, I would have to pass as well. It’s very good in every aspect, and better than the 16 in my opinion. Even if it is only finished in those casks for a few months, it does something very special it it. But not for twice the $$
$30 cheaper? I’ve only ever seen it here in the Bay Area priced up to $50 more than the 16. You got a crazy deal. I like the DE but when it is almost twice as much as the 16 for a few months of finishing it is completely unjustifiable. But if it was $30 cheaper I’m not sure I’d drink anything else!