@LagavulinWhisky 16, my “aha!” Islay whisky moment.
This dram, given time to open up, reveals immense complexity on both the nose, and palate. 🤤
APPEARANCE: warm, golden amber… glorious!
NOSE: wow, complexity! After aerating, this dram revealed its hidden components of iodine, mint, coastal salinity, fresh milled wood, walnuts, old cut grass, and of course, the famous, Islay peat smoke. Pleasantly surprised by this Islay brute!
PALATE: just as complex as the nose, this tipple has a thick and rich mouthfeel. Sweetness and spice of Dundee Cake, mellow peat, malt, concentration of mixed nuts (including shelled hazelnuts), kelp, and iodine. Unlike some blended whiskies, this dram has a pleasant warming sensation, as opposed to burning. Engaging lengthy finish, lots of nuts, peat and Scottish Oat Cakes.
The lesson here is; always stay open minded, and (I can’t stress this enough) let this these drams (Islay’s in particular or cask strength offerings) aerate, they deserve it!
This southern Islay dram is presently one of my favourite tipples of the region. As Arnold Schwarzenegger once never said, “Islay be back!”.
Sláinte! 🥃
Maid of the Malt 