Lagavulin 7 Years Old

The Islay Jazz Festival, an annual event in which the Lagavulin distillery takes part, has been welcoming visitors for many years. Each year, a limited Lagavulin natural cask strength is released to mark this special occasion. This years festival release has been matured for 7 years in a mix of refill & ex-bourbon hogsheads, which hones the flavour and adds a touch of sweetness without dampening any of its vibrancy. It’s a fairly straightforward and uncomplicated whisky.

• NOSE

A mild nose with light prickle despite the strength. The top-notes are both maritime, suggesting a briny, fresh sea breeze with a trace of iodine, and citric, backed by a chalky mineral note on a faintly medicinal base, with little peat-smoke so far.... though adding a drop of water soon brings up that subject.

• PALATE

At natural strength, a smooth and gently oily texture. The taste is lightly sweet, rounded and citrus-fruity while also notably salty, then smoky, growing more and more so, as threads of pungent wood smoke lead straight to white pepper heat late on. Water softens and calms the flow; the balance now is poised between softer sweetness and ever-present smoke.

• FINISH

Quite long, smoky and drying, as more than a little of the spicy heat entwines with the smoke in a pleasing and warming finale. Similar with water, when there is a mouth cooling aftertaste.