Lagavulin 9 Year Old
Game of Thrones - Part IV of IV
4 189
Review by @talexander
- Nose21
- Taste23
- Finish22
- Balance23
- Overall89
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Our final GoT malt (at least until July when the LCBO finally brings in the other four) is my favourite distillery of the four. This one is aligned with House Lannister, which has a lion for the insignia. This comparison is apparently because, like Lagavulin, Lannister has been 200 years in the making (c'mon, Diageo - that's a stretch). Unlike the other three I've written about, this one has an age statement.
The colour is a yellow gold. Briny on the nose with soft vanilla, light butterscotch, creme brûlée and wisps of peat smoke. More subtlety than the typical Lagavulin. Touch of cinnamon and clove. Slightly floral. Water lessens the impact. Quite nice but I could use a bit more power.
On the palate the peppery spice kicks in, with more peat and brine. Strawberries. White chocolate. Panna cotta. Salted caramel. Water adds an oiliness to the mouthfeel, which I love, and dials up the smoke. Again, quite subtle and needs more power - but hey it's still yummy Laga.
The finish is medium-length, a bit chalky and features light milk chocolate, brine and slight peat. This seems much more bourbon cask than the standard 16 Year Old (and so closer in profile to the 12 Year Old); although it has more subtlety than what I like from my Laga, it is still very very good. Now, shall we try it side-by-side with a 12? On to the next review....
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I bought a bottle of the Laga 9yo GoT edition but have not opened it yet. My simple assessment based on a 1.5oz restaurant pour: its a better than average Islay single malt but its definitely dumbed down compared traditional Lagavulin (i.e. made for people that have never had a heavily peated whisky).