Jose-Massu-Espinel
Lagavulin 25yo, Straight from the Cask at Lagavulin Warehouse, single Sherry Butt
Single Malt — Islay, Scotland
Reviewed
July 17, 2022 (edited December 22, 2023)
Remember mi last review where i had the incredible pleasure to taste the Lagavulin 25yo, 200th Anniversary edition?
Well, i must be a very lucky man, because this review is for another Lagavulin 25 years old, but this time, straight from the cask to my glass, poured by no other than the legend himself Ian McArthur.
In the distillery warehouse tour, this was the final dram, and it came from a cask that in words of Ian, the whole barrel costs around 500k pounds. The experience couldn't be any greater... you might think... but we were served not one, BUT TWO DRAMS FROM THIS MAGNIFICENT WHISKY.
Poured at 52%abv, from an unique sherry butt.
On the nose, quite amazing. Cherry cold thick syrup, lovely red fruitiness and a salty breeze. Caramel. Maritime and sweet. Oranges. After a first sip, the aroma changed into berries and red fruits; chocolate milk. Smoke puffs have risen. Tangerine.
On the palate this one is very elegant, a little watery though. Oranges, very easy drinkable; Sawdust. It is like and oaky water, very elegant and easy to drink. Not too powerful.
Orange and orange chocolate. Coconut.
Aftertaste feels like a once peat kiln has tamed over the years. It feels like it has an "echo" or a ghostly smokiness. Very smooth. Salt. Warm. Sawdust
Overall, this was a fantastic whisky, which is not better as the 200th anniversary one. I feel like i have no right to rate something like this, but since i am an unashamed bastard, i will give it a score. For me, it had 23 over 25 points in all four of whisky criterias: nose, palate, aftertaste and overall balance. Having said that, i never score a whisky for how much does it cost. My rate for it is a well deserved 92 over 100. My inner organs are bathed in gold after drinking the two pours. Sláinte!!!
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Spectacular whisky. I just returned from a warehouse tasting with Iain McArthur and also got to sample the 25. An incredible dram.
Wow I’m surprised this was bested by the 200th anniversary one !