Tag: Lagavulin

[52.9%・Distilled in 1993・Bottled in 2008・Official Bottling・Cask No. 1403・ Single Cask Release]

Nose:

Endearingly rounded, gently Sherried and with an elegant sea breeze following through. This is this certain creamy tone with a soft umami touch.

Palate & Finish:

Delicious and gooey, immensely creamy for a Lagavulin with red fruits infused to the dense red tea before the earthier wave arrives.

Leather and chocolate powder with an oaky brush of herbs to even things out.

Thoughts:

Would love a bottle of this to help with the cabin fever.. makes for a perfectly cosy few days.

☆☆ [Highly Recommended]

-Nicholas

[43.0%・16 Years Old・Bottled Circa 1990s・Official Bottling・General Release]

Nose:

Quite a spirited nose, the peat is fiery but not at all invasive, medicinal with green fruits and coal smoke combining really well together.  Iodine and campfire as it progresses, quite thrilling in a manageable manner.

Palate & Finish:

The soft fruits provide this pleasing sweetness and when combined with notes of plastic and dry twigs makes for an unexpected harmony.  Coal smoke side by side with lollies.

The peat extends softly in the finish.

Thoughts:

This one is a slightly earlier bottling to the other White Horse Distillers Bottling previously reviewed.

It’s a testament to the distillery that releases these days are not drastically compromised like many of its fellow key distilleries that were thriving a few decades ago.

But of course in saying that this White Horse is just finer and more special..

☆☆ [Highly Recommended]

P.S. Thank you Raf, thank you for this dramming experience my friend.

-Nicholas

[53.9%・18 Years Old・Bottled in 2018・Official Bottling・Limited Release of 6,000 Bottles]

Nose:

Surprisingly quite dirtily peated, the oak also comes on quite strong.  Powdery sugar sprinkled atop of dried fruits.

Palate & Finish:

Jammy fruits and oily toffee, the fiery and tarry peat punches through, a heap of black pepper atop of a slightly waxy underlay with some ripe fruits in the mix.

A mild brine-y finish, pepper casually sprinkled on oyster shells, with a thrilling oomph of peat.

Thoughts:

Slightly a bit on the brute and relentless side for me, just faring somewhat harsher than I would have hoped for even at 53.9%; may be it’s just me though, it’s probably a fittingly thrilling release for the festivities..

☆ [Recommended]

-Nicholas

[48.7%・23 Years Old・Distilled in 1995・Bottled in 2018・Official Bottling・Cask No. 9001・Single Cask Release of 396 Bottles]

Nose:

Surprisingly mellow, a relaxed setting of oyster shells, seaweed and iodine. A soft charcoal smoke ropes in plums and can pineapples as minerals run gracefully underneath.

Palate & Finish:

Bold entrance with the green fruits, the creaminess of the peat combines with the creaminess of the Sherry wood creating a comforting mouthfeel, the mellow tropical fruits make way for dark cocoa and leather as the vibrant citrus returns and intertwined with the spices.

Lingering finish of creamy oysters, ashes and minerals laid out in a refined manner, a decent barley crispness combines with the drying oak as the fruits spread out.

Thoughts:

A graceful Lagavulin that is actually much more approachable and comforting than what I had expected. There’s this relaxed demeanour with the dram, perhaps it’s the harmonious come together of ex-Sherry casks at a fitting strength, not overly exerting cask influence, a subtle confidence for a flawless whisky.

To some this may not be enough but I found myself quite attracted to the moreish nature and the maritime produce style of the dram and as such I think the two stars is earned.

Well picked Vincent and Rex!

☆☆ [Highly Recommended]

-Nicholas

[56.3%・20 Years Old・Distilled in 1997・Bottled in 2017・Official Bottling・Cask No. 0002・Single Cask Release of 240 Bottles]

Nose:

Mothballs and band-aid plasters, seaweed and diesel coming across as a tad muddy.  White fruits unfold in time with some smoked bacon getting baked in the background.

Palate & Finish:

Soft fruits poached in molasses, a nice dose of mushed pineapple chutney and thereafter it turns rather vegetal and leathery with the coastal influence setting in, pepper and iodine being carried by the sea breeze.

An earthy, peaty finish of copper coins and ashes, salty and herbal.

Thoughts:

This is a Cask of Distinction bottled for China, a rawer and dirtier take on the distillery, pretty darn good overall but perhaps not really an unique take, or am I being really picky right now? Anyhow, the world is a better place with this being released as a single cask than it going into a blue label..

☆ [Recommended]

-Nicholas