Lagavulin’s popular limited edition Distiller’s Edition, distilled in 1995 and finished in Pedro Ximinez sherry casks. An extra layer of sweetness soothes the rough edges of this much-loved dram. The distillery sources water from the nearby Solum Lochs exclusively and the barley is malted at nearby Port Ellen. The distillery has four stills and it produces several well-regarded expressions across three main series. The “standard” bottling is the 16 year old, which has won several international competitions and is regarded as one of the finest malts available by many critics.
Tasting notes:
It’s a brave person who tries to persuade a malt like Lagavulin to go into a different direction. Indeed, even PX casks, from the sweetest fortified wine of all, can’t fully obscure the distillery’s character, just give it a raisined coating. The creosote turns to tar and licorice, while there’s Syrah-like sootiness, and damson. This release is slightly less sweet than in the past and is the better for it.
