Lagavulin 12 Special Release 2022

As the legend goes, one extraordinary day the King of Islay was reborn. A spark of sunlight fell from the sky, and set the land ablaze. When the flames subsided, the scorched earth was veiled in thick smoke. Suddenly, new life rose from the ashes in shimmering feathers of honeyed gold and rich crimson. A regal Phoenix soared above its wings of fire powering the stills of Lagavulin, amplifying its spiced intensity.

Nose: Dry, with an immediate powerful smokiness; much more so than is usual with Lagavulin, with charcoal and fragrant peat massively to the fore, backed by a clean fresh base-note that suggests sea air and mineral scents. Much reduced, aromatically, with even a little water, it remains essentially unaltered.

Palate: The smooth lightly oily texture shines with sweet richness; the taste is sweet to start, then takes off with a soaring lemony acidity and a sprinkling of sea salt to add freshness. Mid-palate the fire dries the taste, which flies still higher now in its salty-smoky intensity. A dash of water rounds and sweetens but it’s the smoke that dominates.

Finish: Long, with great waves of peat-smoke, and new- fired heights of spiced and smoky intensity that last wonderfully in the aftertaste.