January 19, 2024 - Always like Lagavulin distinctive notes of smokey, toast, charr wood, nutty.
May 31, 2023 - Pours amber with intense aromatics of smoked peat, campho, toffee, shoe leather, caramelized apricot puree and smashed pecan. Silky on the tongue with a nice smoky lingering finish with a touch of spicy ginger. A delicate beast of a dram.
January 30, 2023 - The original smoke powerhouse
Still the most visceral response I've ever had to any spirit--the big campfire and bacon nose grabbed me right away and instantly convinced me 20+ years ago that I not only loved scotch, but had found one I could instantly cite if anyone asked whether I had a particular favorite. It's probably still my all-time favorite whisky. The smoke hits from arm's length, if not from across the room. The alcohol is quite subdued in comparison to other smoke-bomb whiskies, though it warms you within seconds after a sip. I wish I could always have this on my bar, but I'm too tempted to drink it all the time, and the price is just beyond reach for an everyday drinker.
October 12, 2022 - Delicious! Plenty of flavor without a strong alcohol kick.
June 2, 2021 - Nose - bonfire, ocean air, seaweed. Palate - intense peat smoke, oily mouthfeel, anchovy, iodine, barley, pepper, ginger, faintly sweet. Finish - pepper, pipe tobacco.
April 8, 2021 - paired with the 1st round of The Masters
February 3, 2021 - I am writing this enjoying my last dram of a whole bottle I consumed over the past few months. My overall assessment remains the same as in my TN from 2016 below although the nose isn't so far ahead of the palate anymore. The notes contained in it would be the same regarding the nose, except for he addition of "halva" and a stressing of the iodine. But the intensity of it is not as I remember it, and so one has to do quite a bit of nosing to tease out all of these notes.
In direct comparison with the 2005 Talisker Distiller's Edition, I would definitely prefer this here due to its iodine profundity and its not so overly sweet appeal.
December 15, 2020 - Wonderful nose and smooth pallet
October 30, 2020 - astringent and medicinal, if you like that. I do.
May 1, 2020 - Nose: Campfire smokiness, rice wine, apple, chlorine.
Palate: Peaty, spiced fruit, ginger, compost, iodine.
Finish: coals, graphite, peanut.