Jose-Massu-Espinel
Lagavulin Offerman Edition 11 Year
Single Malt — Islay, Scotland
Reviewed
March 17, 2020 (edited May 5, 2020)
A new Lagavulin is always wonderful news. But this time they got into the pop culture by releasing this "Offerman" edition, in honor of Nick Offerman a tv series famous character who is widely known for drinking Lagavulin.
Lagavulin even made a series of "Offerman's documentaries" that you can find in youtube.
But the real conclusion that this whisky left me is that this is the second recognizable whisky in the world. What do i mean by this? Well, i have often said that we, whisky enthusiasts, are not as wine master sommeliers, that can recognize a wine and its vintage year with a blindfold; but if you have 10 whiskies in a table and one of them is a Macallan, you probably wouldn't guess which expression it is, but you would definitively recognize the macallan, because Macallan always smell like a Macallan.
That has happen to me with Lagavulin.
Lagavulin's prefumed peat aroma is recognizable easily. It is different from the "tar" of Ardbeg, the "Fresh can of tennis balls" from Laphroaig, the heather from Highland Park and the toffee/salt from Talisker. Therefore, you can guess that a whisky is a lagavulin by only perceive its aroma.
Having said that; lets get into business.
Bottled at 46%abv, golden color.
The Nose is perfection. Complexity. It starts with a Heathery peat. Then i got Fire; actual fire, this is the first time i got this in a whisky.
Fondant; That lagavulin tar/ peat.
There is a sweetness to it
After the first sip, it becomes meringue, AMAZING. In has become sugary in a beatitul way. The vanilla cake note is so accurate and clean. Lemon pie.
But the palate fails to deliver, without been bad. Sour prunes, a little watery (strange for 46%abv), vanilla and some saltiness.
Aftertaste is great. Amazing and mild,
Not overly peated but the aftertaste sensation of peat and ginger is beautiful. Mild ¿¿gunpowder??; Grassy peat, hay.
Overall, Lagavulin did a great job here. Most new markets will buy this just because the "Offerman" marketing strategy, and then, they will be hooked. Great dram, 92 over 100. Sláinte!
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