Lagavulin 12 Year Old (Special Release 2014) Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

Note: Product has come from a private collection and as such has some minor scuffing/scratches/handling marks. Actual product not pictured.

If the sheer ubiquity of the 16 Year old has rendered it less visible in a market grown accustomed to notice the novel and exciting, Lagavulin's annual 'vintage' releases are reason enough for many to revisit this distillery. The 12 Year old represents a departure from its more heavy handed, sherry-influenced sibling, being exclusively American oak matured and bottled at natural strength.

Tasting note: Pale straw gold. Fresh sea breeze, salty lime, cocoa, then later, lanolin, pepper and deep vanilla. Third inspection reveals mild iodine / elastoplast-like notes. Excellent complexity. Choc fudge and salty, smokey mezcal-like entry gains in concentration and pepper-heat but remains well balanced. Finish is dry, peppery, oily with smouldering pine needle, lanolin, salt and cocoa in the aftertaste. Terrifically complex. Some tasters preferred last year's release, others considered this to be the finest limited edition to date. You be the judge! 54.4% Alc./vol.

Other reviews... The component whiskies in this release were distilled during 2001 and 2002 and matured in first-fill American oak casks which yielded 31,428 bottles. Smoked haddock in butter on the nose, sweet peat, brittle toffee, iodine and developing brine. The palate offers sweet spices, citrus fruit and smoky peat. Dried fruits, drying peat and chilli in the finish. 4/5 Stars - www.whisky-pages.com