56,1°
Distillery : Lagavulin - Islay
Moscatel Casks
Original Bottling
Limited Edition
Single Malt
Bottled in 2017
Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength
Peated around 35 ppm
Since 2007, the distillery has delighted us each year with a special new bottling in honour of Feis Ile, Islay's great spring festive event. In 2017, a wave of dread swept through the small community of enthusiasts with the news that this year's edition would be matured in Moscatel casks. This is a sweet white wine, often compared to Muscat, produced in Portugal and southern Spain. This type of wine often gets a bad press, as it is feared to sweeten the whisky too much. Yet this is the finish used for the Caol Ila Distillers Edition, with some success. Be that as it may, this bottling had no trouble selling out. The 6,000 bottles disappeared fairly quickly.
Let's Taste It :
Icing sugar laces, with a few white plums, mirabelles and Frécinette bananas. Then the smoke joins in, vaporous, enticing, grainy peat that is very well integrated. Frosted lemon. Vanilla and whipped cream. Very fine balance. Slight sweetness, genoise, chestnut macaroon. Melting caramel. Meringue tart. A pinch of dust. On the palate, lemonade, then full-bodied spices, cumin, clove, ginger, black pepper. Nutmeg, walnuts. Fortunately, a dash of vanilla milk softens things up. Very long, powerful finish, grapefruit, lychee and sparkling water, almonds, cola, milk chocolate. A touch of clementine. Argan oil.
In Short,
As always, Feis Ile bottlings are swell at Lagavulin, and this
one is no exception. The sugar is not overpowering, tempered by a nice
smoke and a very engaging lemon. It's quite tasty. Only flaw in my
opinion: a bit too much spiced in the mouth. But the nose and the
finish are magnificent. Moreover, although it is sold out, it can still
be found on the secondary market at a price, let's say, acceptable. If I
had made my career in the financial world, I wouldn't hesitate.
Score : 90
To Be Listened While Sipping :
Sandrayati - Found
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