Wednesday, 19 December 2018

Trio of Lagavulins: Lag 12 57.8% (bottled 2018), Lag Jazz Fest 2016 54.5% and Lag Jazz Fest 2015 55.4%

Home video tasting tonight.

Lagavulin 12 yo (bottled 2018) 57.8% - annual release matured in refill American oak hogsheads. 

Nose: whiffs of mash (would be good to open the bottle and let it oxidize for a few weeks), then you get some sea air and hints of peat.  

Taste: powerful, sharp and salty (pure sea water), clean and precise as a blade. Love it. 

Finish: long, salty, mineral, fresh and tad pharmaceutical. 

Overall: chiseled young Lagavulin, I'm sure it will get even better after a few weeks after opening. 

Score = 21.5 22.5 22.5 22.5, 89/100!



Lagavulin Islay Jazz Festival 2016 54.5% - 6000 bottles released, matured in refill American oak & 1st fill ex-bourbon casks. 

Nose: starts on wood, salt, grass, burnt bakery. Peat and malt tinges. 

Taste: sweet peat, lemons, all kinds of sea stuff. 

Finish: long, salty and kippery, soft smoke and saltiness. 

Overall: definitely better nose comparing to 12 yo CS, finish I liked notch more in 12 yo. I'd say they are equally good. 

Score = 22 22.5 22 22.5, 89/100!



Lagavulin Islay Jazz Festival 2015 55.4% - 3500 bottles released, matured in refill American & European oak bodega casks. 

Nose: salty bacon, seaweed and peat. 

Taste: salty and lemony, sweet barley and kippers, essence of Lagavulin.

Finish: long, salty, notes of tar, peat and bacon (again!). 

Overall: bourbon and sherry casks are nicely balanced, do they organize Islay Bacon Festival?.. 

Score = 23 22.5 22.5 23, 91/100!


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