Lagavulin 12 Year Old Cask Strength 2018 Release
Lagaaaaaaaahvulin
4 191
Review by @RianC
- Nose~
- Taste~
- Finish~
- Balance~
- Overall91
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Whenever I receive a sample parcel I'm always a little excited to open it and see what treasures are inside. Often, Mr. D sticks one in that really gets the juices flowing. I'm not amending that last sentence even though I now see how 'Carry On' it sounds ... titter! Well, this one certainly fits into the 'gets yer whisky juices flowing' category. Will it live up?
Review is with a wee splash of water. I added too much on my first taste and ruined the palate, but I did feel it needed a little to really open her up.
Nose - Damn! This is one clean and sharp whisky. A gorgeous dark lady in a tight alluring dress kind of nose. Tonnes of sweet smoke, iodine, and salty seaweed notes but so precise and articulate in their delivery. Mossy and slightly vegetal with it too.
Taste - Sweet and smoky on arrival - Like a smoked pink shrimp sweet that are in pick n mix. Becomes more sour with a range of subtle lemon and lime notes and some under ripe banana, eventually becoming drier with smoky tea and liquorice torpedos. This is a 'big' whisky but the silky mouth-feel caresses rather than assaults.
Finish - Long with Lapsang Souchong and remnants of the sweeties.
Yes, this works, boy does it! I can't help thinking of a more punchy and yet refined version of the 8 year old. It's an elegant peat monster that delivers a beautiful sweet smoke note that is so uniquely Lagavulin. The best Lagavulin I've had. It was genuinely unintentional, but the rather 'fruity' nature of the review is perhaps indicative of my enjoyment levels ;)
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As I've mentioned to you @RianC I think the 12CS is the best of the standard Lagavulin range. Pricey but worth it.
The best Lagavulin I've had was the large dram @Markjedi sent me of the cask strength 18 year old bottling from feis Isle. That was amazing. But let's face it hard to get hold of and outside of my spending capacity! But the 12 is such a step up on the 16. Ralfy loves the DE Lagavulin. I've found it so so to be honest.