Lagavulin 12 Years Old Diageo Special Releases 2019 56.5% NV

Professional reviews

Serge Valentin (91)

The 2020 is a single vintage (2007) but it seems that the 2019 was a multi-vintage. Colour: pale white wine. Nose: I agree the 2020 is a little sweeter and fruitier, whilst this one is just a blade that cuts you in half as Uma Thurman would in Kill Bill. Smoked mercurochrome, concrete dust, porridge, cigar ashes. Well well well, we’re extremely far from the 16 and the SR 2020 almost feels like tangerine juice now (of course I exaggerate)… With water: grist, tincture of iodine, elastoplast, charcoal. Mouth (neat): the differences are a little less obvious on the palate, but this is more pungent indeed, more mineral, creosote-y, with lemons that are greener than those in the 2019. Sends shivers in your spine, I’m thinking of the driest dry chenins. With water: more greenness. Do they make green lapsang souchong too? Finish: long, very dry and ashy. Cold cigar ashes – I agree, better have them cold. Comments: love them both, it’s a thrill to compare them, even if you could down 50cl of each trying to find all the nuances. Do not. Now it is absolutely true that the 2020 is sweeter and fruitier, but do not expect pomegranate juice.

BOW (89)