57,6°
Distillery : Lagavulin - Islay
Refill American Oak Hogsheads and Refill European Oak Butts
Original Bottling
Limited Edition
Single Malt
Bottled in 2017
Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength
Peated around 38 ppm
Lagavulin has been an official sponsor of the Islay Jazz Festival since 2010, and since 2011 a special bottling has been available for this three day event held in the whisky capital. This one was released during the 2017 festival and is ageless, but that's not to say it's very young. Aged in American and European oak casks, it is likely to have been influenced by Sherry and Bourbon. 6,000 bottles were produced, each selling for £99 at the distillery at the time. Today they are worth more than three times that amount.
Let's Taste It :
Thick, molasses-filled peat, salted butter caramel, melting toffee, quince jam, juicy mirabelle plums. Mountain honey, mineral notes, a generous pinch of salt. Noble woods, cedar, wild cherry, a few ivy leaves. On the palate, creamy vanilla and cinnamon, loaded with fat, maritime peat, coal, tar, dust. Not too strong spices, nutmeg, black pepper. Not very ripe greengages. The finish is long and explosive, still peaty and tarry, but with more and more fruit, shortbread biscuits, apple crumble, lemon pie, hot chestnuts.
In Short,
I wouldn't be surprised to learn that this is a blend of a rather young whisky and another that is considerably older. There is a tension throughout the tasting, between a powerful, mineral and salty peat, and a racy elegance, intense and sweet fruits. That's what makes this bottling so interesting, captivating and unique. It's obviously long sold out, but because it's ageless, it's not overly expensive, so it's definitely something for fans to try.
Score : 90
To Be Listened While Sipping :
The Underground Youth - One of the Dreamers
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