At last it's raining after a week of summer heat, nice occasion to have a few drams of Islay. Thanks to Andrii and congrats!
Lagavulin Lg5 Elements of Islay 54.8% - matured in refill hogsheads, exact age isn't stated, should be around 7-8 years.
Nose: youngish age is quite evident, mash notes are there, with water it becomes more quiet developing on malted barley, mineral smoke and seaweed.
Taste: much better, powerful, both sweet and smoky with fresh garden fruits.
Finish: medium-long, lots of sea water, white pepper and spices at the very end.
Overall: quite pleasant young Lagavulin, would prefer this one if were to choose between Lg5 and Lagavulin 08 yo (200-th anniversary).
Score = 20 22 22 21, 85/100!
Lagavulin Lg6 Elements of Islay 53.7% - matured in refill hogsheads, similar colour, WB states age of 8 years.
Nose: this one seems more mature compared to Lg5, camphor and bandages, sea water, lemons and peated barley.
Taste: a bit monodimensional compared to Lg5, sea water, ashes, barley and citrus mixed together.
Finish: long and powerful on salt, ashes and smoke.
Overall: same score, notch better nose in Lg6, notch better taste in Lg5, strictly in my opinion of course.
Score = 21 21 22 21, 85/100!
Laphroaig Lp7 Elements of Islay 52.8% - vatting of 4 first fill bourbon barrels and we can immediately see the difference in colour.
Nose: one more step ahead, peat smoke, hospital corridors, sea air and water (looking for fire and earth also), oak and spices.
Taste: sweet peat, touch of antiseptic, salted liquorice and vanilla.
Finish: long waves of sweet peat, bitter ashes, surgery cabinet and delicate nutty/umami touch that drives me crazy.
Overall: just wonderful despite its relatively young age and high price.
Score = 22 22 23 22, 89/100!
Laphroaig 10 yo CS batch #009 58.1% - most recent batch released in February 2017.
Nose: peat and medicine (eternal classic for Laphroaig), lots of wood flavours (someone is throwing barrel staves into the fire), lemons, sea water, hints of wet stones.
Taste: dense and thick, sweet peat, sea salt, touches of menthol and pepper.
Finish: long, ashy, sweet and salty, all Islay features are there in order to bring joy and happiness :)
Overall: very good, a must for the friends of Laphroaig.
Score = 22 22 22 22, 88/100!
No comments:
Post a Comment