Lagavulin 2001 Distillers Edition (43%, OB, lgv.4/506, 2017)

• ABV: 43%
• Age: 16 Years Old
• Bottling: OB
• Category: Islay single malt scotch whisky
• Cost: £74.50
• Origin: Lagavulin Distillery
• Vintage: 2001

What they say

Official tasting notes:

• Appearance Golden treacle.
• Nose Intense peat and vanilla. A raisin sweetness checks the smoke. Iodine-edged peat and crisp, roasty malt. Satisfying and enticing.
• Body Full bodied and rich in texture.
• Palate A clear, grassy malt, then the peat lands – smoke filling the mouth. A very salty tang, the middle offers coffee, vanilla and fruit.
• Finish Incredibly long, even by Islay standards. Fruit, peat and long-lasting oak. Very chewable.

What I say

The final in our trio of Lagavulin Distillers Editions spanning 1999-2001 vintages, Bottled 2015-2017 respectively.

My tasting notes:

• Appearance Ruby amber (14/20), medium tears leave medium-fine legs
• Nose Even more distant smoke, cleaner, vanilla, strawberry marshmallow, sugary vanilla fudge, almost perfumed heathery honey, wet bog/moss and earthen peat.
• Taste Sweet and nutty, nutella, maple and pecan plait, cherry lips sweeties, chocolate-dipped strawberries, vanilla, clove, a little peppery spice, crystal malt, charred oak, seaweed and smoked sea salt.
• Finish Long, salt and sweet, cask char, mint leaf and rum-soaked cherry, drier mentholic peat.

Overall

Despite overall revealing similar flavours this one seems different again, a little less well integrated, cracks are beginning to show here, the smoke is muted and also a little more menthol crystal accompaniment makes it less well suited to what is essentially less sweet, more dry nut and saltier – if any malt is present it is more in the Custard cream biscuit range than the thick, heavy malt extract I’m used to from Lagavulin.

Score 83/100

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