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Lagavulin 12 Year Old bottled 2011 11th Release

Complexity, control, intensity...

0 895

@hunggarReview by @hunggar

11th May 2014

0

Lagavulin 12 Year Old bottled 2011 11th Release
  • Nose
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  • Taste
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  • Finish
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  • Balance
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  • Overall
    95

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For my 100th review on this site, I thought I’d opt for something special. While I don’t like to toss around the term ‘favorite,’ I consider this to be among the cream of the crop when it comes to single malts. It ranks so highly on my “Holy-sh!t-that’s-good”-o-meter that it took me a few drams before I even WANTED to start sipping it analytically. Now that I have, here are my notes for the 2011 release. It’s been open for two months, is half full, and was sampled with a small amount of water.

Nose: The usual suspects of peat, seaweed, brine, and citrus are immediately apparent. Sea air, leather, mustard seed, ginger, glazed ham, damp leaves, and a juicy, rich barley note. This is potent and very structured.

Palate: Medium-light mouthfeel. True to Lagavulin form, the arrival is very controlled. We aren’t blasted with flavours, we’re steadily guided into them. But these flavours are BIG. There’s a very intense, clean, crisp peat here. More of that juicy barley kicks in, as do lemon lozenges, tea, sea salt, glazed ham, green apple, mint, sponge cake, and rum balls.

Finish: The crisp, clean, intense peat carries on. Tea, twigs, barley, brine, pastry crust, lemon tart, cinnamon, allspice, Jamaican jerk spice, jerked beef, minerals, menthol, ginger, and something faintly reminiscent of curry.

Well, there’s no getting around it; this is brilliant. As I mentioned in my review of the 16, the Laga house style is defined by a delicate balance of restraint and force. So it comes as no surprise that this whisky is characterized by complexity, control, and intensity. It won’t disappoint those who want to experience the elegance and balance of the 16 with the raw force of a peated cask-strength whisky. This comes greatly recommended. It’s beautifully balanced, wonderfully rich, and a truly delicious whisky through and through.

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8 comments

@Victor
Victor commented

Great pep talk and great review, @hunggar! I've been loving my 2010 release for a couple of years now...looking forward to that bottle of 2011 release I have tucked away.

10 years ago 0

@Volks
Volks commented

totally agree, this whisky is a beauty!

10 years ago 0

@teebone673
teebone673 commented

Great review. Lagavulin 12 is a straight winner. You describe the Lagavulin style perfectly, the perfect balance of restraint and force. Nailed it. Thanks again, man.

10 years ago 0

@hunggar
hunggar commented

@Volks @teebone673: thanks for the kind words. Definitely one of the better ones to be found out there.

@Victor: I've read your review of the 2010, and I'm glad to see you think highly of it. There's a lot of noise out there about which years are better/worse, but they all seem to score pretty well anyway. I haven't tried any other releases, but I'll definitely want this one again regardless of which year it is.

10 years ago 0

Rigmorole commented

Hunggar, your reviews have been making me more jealous lately. Well done. This bottle is a terrific chance to dig in. I really like reviews when a smart reviewer especially appreciates a bottle. Very fun to see, and I don't doubt your ability to gauge this very special Lag

10 years ago 0

@hunggar
hunggar commented

@rigmorole: Thanks man. I've been keeping tabs on your stuff as well. I'm liking the vlogs. Opinionated, insightful and fair. Keep em coming!

10 years ago 0

@vanPelt
vanPelt commented

Happy 100, hunggar! I knew this was coming after the 16yo review comments, but missed it while away. As of today I'm still a "16 > 12" person, so I was curious about your stance. Well expressed as always, and... we'll be looking forward to the next 100! No pressure.

10 years ago 0

@hunggar
hunggar commented

@vanPelt: Thanks for the encouragement. 100 more? I'll drink to that!

10 years ago 0