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Lagavulin 12 Year Old bottled 2013 13th Release

Blame it on the Lag

3 790

@cricklewoodReview by @cricklewood

23rd Aug 2017

0

Lagavulin 12 Year Old bottled 2013 13th Release
  • Nose
    22
  • Taste
    23
  • Finish
    23
  • Balance
    22
  • Overall
    90

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Distribution of ratings for this: brand user

Much like Ardbeg and Laphroaig, Lagavulin is one of those distilleries that has the ability to turn grown men into fanboys. Unlike the latter examples, it does so by releasing very few whiskys and with little fanfare.

Don't get me wrong I don't think Diageo has any trouble with their marketing budget, yet I have to admit that the austere range of Lagavulin resonates with my personal aesthetic.

I first tasted this as the second to last whisky in a line-up of heavy hitters (Bunnahabhain Toiteach, Ardbeg Corry, Bowmore Tempest, Amrut peated CS) so singular was it's delivery, I instantly knew I needed some of this in my life. Much thanks again to @robert99.

Nose: Smoked fudge (this should totally be a thing), burnt chaff, butter, hot tarmac, a slight touch of vanilla. A feeling of Vicks vaporub and alpine liqueurs/bitters, earthy and mineral.

Palate: Sooty, a coal fire, bitter herbs and plants (cardoons?) there is also  little sweetness, It reminds me of mezcal in some ways, fresh almonds and grapefruit pith, salty and a slight creaminess.

Finish is long, all on puer eh tea (that earthy, vegetal side), light tobacco smoke, fading sweetness and lingering oiliness. It's so balanced and most quaffable undiluted.

A good reference when one wants to discuss distillery character or quality of distillateur. There are similarities with other Islay whisky but there is this elemental qualities in Lagavulin that are hard to find elsewhere and there doesn't seem to be so much wood doing the heavy lifting.

 

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7 comments

@MadSingleMalt
MadSingleMalt commented

@cricklewood , that's a nice lineup of big peaters you had this with. The one that stands out to me is the Amrut—how did that compare to all those Islays? Just another peaty bruiser, or was it distinctive?

7 years ago 0

@Nozinan
Nozinan commented

Oh, I expect the Amrut was pretty distinctive, especially if they used the Ashok manoeuvre.

7 years ago 0

@cricklewood
cricklewood commented

@MadSingleMalt, by the end of the night I suffered from a little palate fatigue, so my appreciation was dampened somewhat by this. The Amrut was distinctive though, I remember spice (an Amrut trademark to me) and musky fruit notes, the peat intensity was rather surprising also.

haven't been able to land a bottle or sample of it since. Gotta put it higher on the list.

7 years ago 0

@cricklewood
cricklewood commented

@Nozinan, I have used this manœuvre for cognacs before but never whisky. I will try that, do you use it on any specific styles of whisky in particular?

7 years ago 0

@Nozinan
Nozinan commented

@cricklewood come to Toronto, there is lots of Amrut Peated CS (assuming it survives the move)

7 years ago 0

@Nozinan
Nozinan commented

@cricklewood The Ashok Manoeuvre or its modified form (using computer fan) seems to work best with Amrut. not surprising, as Ashok was (is?) the brand ambassador. It in't as useful for others, though I try it with some CS peated malts on occasion.

7 years ago 0

@Robert99
Robert99 commented

@cricklewood We need do that kind of tasting again. For me there is no other whisky as buttery as Lagavulin 12. I love the fact that you can have highlights among the flavors and that it is still incredibly balance. To be honest, the more I taste it the more I like it. It is now part of my shortlist of whisky to buy again and again. Anyway, I find that you nailed it with your review, great job.

7 years ago 1Who liked this?