- 91
2008 Lagavulin 12 Year Old (Special Release 2021) Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)
"...totally splendid. Whichever the price, which I don't know about at time of writing, it's B-F-Y-B whisky." - whiskyfun.com
Other reviews... On the nose, this is pretty peaty, redolent of baked lemon, smoked fish, fragrant roasted spices, salt water-lashed boat decks, and scorched earth, with faint citrus and cream notes in the background. Spices and chile pepper combine with lemon curd on the palate, the citrus sweetness breaking through, with a late contribution of Oreo cookies. Adding water only makes this tempestuous dram even spicier. 91 points - whiskyadvocate.com, reviewed by: Jonny McCormick 2021
...Exclusively refill, a legendary age and a solid strength, I can't see what could go wrong. Maybe a stork making a low pass over WF's terrace and stealing my glass? Well, let me first get my old riffle and we shall then proceed… Colour: white wine. Nose: Lagavulin 12 CS always feels like home. Astounding mineral, tarry, slightly terpene-y arrival on the nose, then flints, peat, smoked turnips (why wouldn't one do that) and smoky grist. Very compact. With water: no one can beat a manzanilla-like profile. Please pass the langostinos! Mouth (neat): sends shivers down your spine, looks like they finally managed to smoke lemons. Then they added fresh almond paste and just sea water. Absolutely awesome. With water: all right, all right. Sublime saltiness, oysters, manzanilla indeed, flint smoke, drops of lime juice, a drop of Andalusian olive oil (obviously)… Have I written that I find this sublime? Finish: long, tight, greener, lemony, fresh. In the aftertaste, a feeling of having wolfed down a whole jar of pickled samphires. Comments: Lagavulin 12 CS may be like the iPhone, every year they raise the definition. The good news is that you don't need any cables to make it work. Seriously, this new one is totally splendid. Whichever the price, which I don't know about at time of writing, it's B-F-Y-B whisky. 92 points - whiskyfun.com