Probably a very large batch. Lagavulin 12 is a kind of Porsche 911 of whisky, everyone loves it, for good reasons. Yes, fast and reliable. It’s to be noted that this baby is another one that celebrates the distillery’s 200th anniversary. Colour: white wine, so refill wood. No complains. Nose: I think it’s even simpler than its predecessors, but that simplicity is exactly what we’re looking for here. Bauhaus whisky? Peat smoke, tar and burnt rubber, sea spray, artichokes, and Islay mud. With water: exceptionally almondy and waxy, with a perfect tar. Mouth (neat): elementary, straight, direct, uncomplicated, and perfect. Bacon, smoked fish, bitter oranges, thyme tea, bitter almonds. I find it seriously drier than last year’s SR, but I haven’t got that one in my hands just now, so please forget about these aimless ramblings. Now, the peat is huge. With water: lemons! Finish: very long. How did you like this cigar that you just chewed? Comments: I don’t know, in a way, this baby’s akin to some young Port Ellens that we could try in the past, even if there isn’t any feeling of brown coal this time. Do they have a secret programme? Recreating PE at Lagavulin? And it’s integrally distillate-driven and mature. My preferred way and style. One of the must buys of the year, together with that perfect Kilkerran 12, remember?
Gal Granov (90)
Nose: Bacon chips, lovely wood smoke (quite the Lagavulin trademark), a hint of brine, and sea spray, creamy vanilla and toffee, as well as spices. kerosene lamps, and a hint hessian, wet bandage and tar, does not feel very young at all. nice touch there!
Palate: Pepper, ash and peat, with a nice sweet side to it as well, smoky caramel, sprinkled with sea salt, lots of wood smoke, more of the tarry rope (from the nose), and the hessian, a touch of mezcel-y smokiness, then off to malty sweet, creamy barley juices.
Conclusion: Slightly better than last year’s 12 year old, feels quite rounded, and lovely with enough medicinal / coastal notes, and the smoke. oh, Lagavulin style, which I adore. As always, a great buy, and good VFM. Get one, if you’re an Islay fan. period
Words of Whisky (87)
whiskynotes:
Nose: it seems to be getting more fierce (some would say more focused) year after year. Entirely on minerals, smoked kippers, pickled gherkins and a fair dose of sweet rubber. Some sweet almonds. Wet forest floors. Chilli. A little lemon zest. Fair enough, although I never had the rubbery side so loud in previous editions. Mouth: hugely tarry, maritime and ashy, followed by a second wave of sweet citrus, big pepper and a rounder, creamy side. Some hints of salted caramel too. Seemingly a little sweeter than previous editions, but then it goes back to tarry ropes and liquorice. Hints of ginger and bitter orange too. Finish: long, on tar and toffee, with some peppery oak.
Very straightforward – definitely the peatiest Lagavulin. On the other hand there’s something bothering me this year, but I can’t really put my finger on it. I think it’s the rubber.
