Lagavulin 18 YO Feis Ile 2016 (Bicentenary Edition)

Lagavulin 18 YO Feis Ile 2016 (Bicentenary Edition), 49,5 %

You are probably well aware that Lagavulin Distillery celebrates its 200th Anniversary this year. They have releases a new 8 YO earlier (not yet reviewed) and during the Islay festival (the Feis Ile festival) they released this Lagavulin 18 YO Feis Ile 2016 expression. This is a limited release of 6000 bottles. The whisky has been matured in American oak refill hogsheads and European oak sherry butts.

The price for the bottle is (or was) around € 160 at the distillery.

Nose: Vanilla, mild sherry or wine notes, soft oak and soft wood smoke. Hints of citrus after a few minutes. A bit 'nice' on the nose, really, but I am not complaining.

Taste: Rich and full bodied. I get a lot of apples, caramel, black pepper, wood smoke and ashes. Lingering in the background there are soft medicinal notes, rich barbecue sauce, warm spices, menthol and minty vanilla ice cream. A medium sweetness, I would say.

Finish: Long finish, warming and fine all the way. It does become drier towards the end. The ashes, the pepper and the more oaky notes come more to the fore. I pick up something green here as well, not sure if it reminds me more of grassy notes or herbs o some kind, possibly more grassy.

Comments: Wow! This is a stunner! I really love this dram! Too bad I had only bought a 3 cl sample.

Score (91/100)

Image from Hard To Find Whisky.

Sláinte! - Thomas