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Lagavulin 12 Year Old bottled 2014 14th Release

Lagavulin In The Afternoon

0 684

@talexanderReview by @talexander

24th Oct 2015

0

  • Nose
    21
  • Taste
    21
  • Finish
    22
  • Balance
    20
  • Overall
    84

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Distribution of ratings for this: brand user

Here we have last year's 12 Year Old - always a fun dram! Note that this bottle has been open for almost a year:

The colour is an extremely pale yellow. As you can imagine, there is very little oak on the nose; but we have heather, wet campfire, bandages, green apple skins and white pepper. Quite briny, with cereal notes. Maltier with water. The smoke is upfront but is a little acrid with a petrochemical scent. Interesting, and a little challenging.

On the palate this is fruitier than you might think - underripe apples and bananas, lemon juice, pear and orange pith. Rather acidic. More medicinal notes - bandages and antiseptic. Prickly and peaty. I like it but for some reason, I don't love it - needs something to bring it down to earth. Water helps tie it together but still needs some balance.

The finish is mouth drying, full of salt-and-pepper, citrus and more cereal. I remember liking other editions more, but this is totally fine for a peathead like myself. A little goes a long way though - pour yourself a smaller dram than you might otherwise.

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6 comments

@Cunundrum
Cunundrum commented

I agree with this rating. Tasted the 2014 recently and it did not impress. I am a peathead for sure but not merely for the sake of strong lackluster smoke with less than impressive depth and complexity. This bottle costs $138 in my state. Price is a factor for me as well

8 years ago 0

@talexander
talexander commented

I have an issue with the price of this annual bottling. I know it is cask strength and comes out in limited quantities, but if memory serves there were over 13,000 of this one and given it's youth it should be a lot cheaper.

8 years ago 0

@Victor
Victor commented

@talexander, that's good old Diageo pricing, for you.

I'm always sorry to hear about weaker editions of what should be a stellar whisky. Sounds OK for sure, but way too expensive to chase it down. That's 2 bottles of Laphroaig 10 Cask Strength or 3 bottles of Ardbeg 10 or standard Laphroaig 10, for that price here.

8 years ago 0

@Cunundrum
Cunundrum commented

I just bought another 006 for the apocalypse bunker. Zombies or not ;)

8 years ago 0

indynoir commented

This has been regularly reviewed as one of the strongest 12's since 2009 or 2010. I have the 12, 13, & this 14. I prefer the 14 to the others, it seems like the least rich and fruitiest of the bunch. I think it's reasonably priced at $100 but I've come to realize these big hot peppery whisky's balanced with the acidic lemon citrus are not everyone's thing. Very nice review, I tasted much the same, seems I enjoyed it a little more.

8 years ago 0

@talexander
talexander commented

Thanks @indynoir! Yes, I liked it a lot - just didn't love it.

8 years ago 0

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