Lagavulin 12 Year Old Special Release 2022 Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky 700mL

The King of Islay reborn as a shimmering, flame-garlanded phoenix, fit to power a soaring, deeply smoky expression. An elemental Lagavulin from virgin oak and our smokiest reserves, in which rich, peaty casks lead saltiness, spice and smoke on their eternal dance with deep sweetness.

Tasting Notes:

Appearance: Gleaming, iridescent gold.

Nose: Dry, with an immediate powerful smokiness; much more so than is usual with Lagavulin, with charcoal and fragrant peat massively to the fore, backed by a clean fresh base-note that suggests sea air and mineral scents. Much reduced, aromatically, with even a little water, it remains essentially unaltered.

Palate: The smooth lightly oily texture shines with sweet richness; the taste is sweet to start, then takes off with a soaring lemony acidity and a sprinkling of sea salt to add freshness. Mid-palate the fire dries the taste, which flies still higher now in its salty-smoky intensity. A dash of water rounds and sweetens but it’s the smoke that dominates.

Finish: Long, with great waves of peat-smoke, and new- fired heights of spiced and smoky intensity that last wonderfully in the aftertaste.

"Aromas of hot cocoa, grapefruit zest, and rosemary mingle with scents of briny, slightly medicinal ocean breezes. The palate is rich and chocolatey at first, then fills with warm spices — clove, cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamom — then flits back to chocolate mixed with golden apple and pear. The flavors continue to undulate on the tongue, leading to a spicy/fruity finish with rich BBQ-like smokiness." - Amanda Schuster, Distiller (92 Points)