Independent bottlings of Lagavulin are not overly common (although there’s probably more of it out there in unnamed bottlings than is known), as Diageo is loath to part with casks of Lagavulin for independent bottlings and has been for quite a while. Everything the distillery produces, some 1.4 million liters a year, will go into the distillery bottlings or the increasingly sparsely distributed White Horse blend.
Photo Credit: Whisky.com
Nevertheless, indies do pop up here and there, and this Elements of Islay is a classic, if somewhat young, Lagavulin.
Photo Credit: islay.com
Elements of Islay Lg5 – Lagavulin from Two Undisclosed Vintages, Matured in Refill Hogsheads (54.8% ABV, NCF, NC)
Appearance: Light gold, thin slow legs, with a long lasting necklace.
Nose: Young and briny, with fresh green fruit, vanilla and a smoky freshness. It’s farmy, with hard candy and a bit of minerals.
Palate: Big hit of peat, grapefruit rind, and a hint of sweetness on the palate.
Linger: Citrusy and peaty for a long time, with ash and white pepper.
Conclusion
Not a complex dram, it’s very fruity and light, with an underlying hit of the sea. Unmistakably Islay.
Part of the July 2017 tasting flight of our MMI – Malt Mongers Israel Whisky Club.