Lagavulin 12 Year Old

The King of Islay reborn as a shimmering, flame-garlanded phoenix - fit to power a soaring, deeply smoky Single Malt. In this deep expression, a combination of American and virgin oak casks with smokiest reserve bring forth crackling spice, rising into a smoky intensity.

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.