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Lagavulin 12 Year Old (2011 Release)

Lagavulin 12 Year Old (2011 Release)

57.5%

70cl

About

** This product comes with a FREE Islay Malt Whisky Calendar 2012 **

(for a limited time only)

Lagavulin 12 Year Old (2011 Release) is a limited edition, natural cask strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky.
From the essential Islay distillery, Lagavulin, on Islay’s rocky south coast. Tenth of a series of special 12 year old releases from the original distiller’s stocks. Vatted from refill American Oak casks, each at least 12 years old.

On Lagavulin Bay, overlooked by Dunyvaig Castle, ancient stronghold of Lords of The Isles.
Founded 1816 by John Johnston on site of earlier illicit stills.
Peter Mackie takes over 1890. Opens a second distillery on site, Malt Mill, 1908.
Lagavulin closed for one season 1918. Mackie & Co. becomes White Horse Distillers 1924.

Appearance: Pale gold. Good beading, with oily legs.
Nose: Glorious. Mild nose-feel. Starts oddly rounded and well-mannered. Soon grows increasingly complex. A waft of linseed oil, then newsprint splashed with vinegar, and fragrant, sweet wood smoke, with carbolic notes rising, then falling. Struck matches. Later, beeswax polish meets rich fruit mincemeat and coal tar, as chocolate and cumin tease. With water: more of the same, but greater clarity, a fabulous subtle interplay of tastes, and a little more smoke.
Body: Rich, firm.
Palate: Pleasing texture, lightly oily. At natural strength, the taste starts sweet, and is then dominated by wood-smoke. Charred newspaper and aniseed balls. Red berry notes. More powerful, with a dusting of pine shavings, then cooling, carbolic and herbal. With water the texture is smoother still; the taste long and slightly sweeter, with some fresh acidity; still herbal, with notes of aniseed and wood; so savoury, great to enjoy with juicy meats (sausage, kebab).
Finish: Warming. Char-grilled fennel with lashings of peppery olive oil; powerfully bitter-sweet. Lengthened by adding water: drying and warming, with elegant savoury notes again and a late whiff of lingering, fragrant smoke.

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