Lagavulin 19 YO - Feis Ile 2019
Lagavulin 19 YO - Feis Ile 2019, 53.8 %
This is the special release for the Lagavulin Open Day during the Feis Ile festival 2019. The box states that this whisky has been matured in sherry-treated American oak casks. The release was limited to 6000 bottles.
This bottling was only available to buy at the distillery on Islay. I’m pretty sure many fans feared it would sell out on the Lagavulin Open Day during the festival, but that was not the case. It was quite easy to get a bottle.
Nose: Oooooh? Oooooh. Oooooh! Let’s just say fantastic. Review done! OK, I will try to explain why this is such a great dram. Quintessential Lagavulin on the nose - tempered wood smoke, BBQ-notes, smoked bacon and sausages, rich caramel sauce, and hints of salt and citrus. Freshly baked bread, vanilla, soft notes of oak, malt and dried fruits. I could keep going, but suffice to say it is perfectly balanced, complex and so, so rewarding. I don’t even need to drink this, I can just keep nosing it. But I will of course drink it!
Taste: Yes! The palate matches the nose. Very happy about that. Full bodied like a Texan BBQ enthusiast. Full flavoured and rich. Thick wood smoke mixed with the loveliest notes of smoked bacon, smoked sausages, sweet ashes, grilled citrus, vanilla and dried fruits. Lots of pepper here, and it works. Ginger and cinnamon.
Finish: Long finish. Peppery honey. Vanilla ice cream sprinkled with smoky bacon and dark, dark fudge.
Comment: Wow! Sooo happy to have a full bottle on the shelf. Should have bought two..
Score 93/100
Sláinte!
-Thomas
