Lagavulin 12 Year Old Bottled 2002 2nd Release

Lagavulin 12 Year Old bottled 2013 13th Release

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...

Score 90/100

Lagavulin South Shore 8 Year Old 2008 Islay Malt

Valinch & Mallet, the young independent bottler with Italian roots, but founded in London, released this South Shore Islay Malt in 2016. It is a single bourbon cask of very young and pale Lagavulin. Davide Romano – the strong man behind this bottler – knows his stuff, that much is clear. The nose starts fairly soft and introvert on autumn...

Score 83/100

Lagavulin 21 Year Old

From a purchased sample: Nose: Rich, golden, and decadent. Dense and complex. Most obviously sticky sweet (heavy molasses, honey, and oily toffee), without being over the top. The sherry influence gives off subtle tobacco and echoes of fruit. The peat emerges and recedes. At times it's like kippers and the most perfect sardines (canned and freshly...

Score 94/100

Lagavulin 8 Year Old

I confess, when I first heard that Lagavulin would release an 8 years old whisky for their 200th Anniversary, I was quite sceptic. Especially with Lagavulin 16 being such a classic… and cheaper than this new kid on the block. 20% more expensive, but only 50% of the age? And to call a release of 30.000 bottles a limited edition? Anyway… the whisky...

Score 86/100