Lagavulin 8 Years Old Limited Edition 200th Anniversary 48% NV

Professional reviews

Serge Valentin (90)

I think it’s very smart that whilst the whisky’s quite young, they have decided to disclose its age, and to go ‘transparent’. That’s true modern luxury if you ask me (relation plus story plus DETAILS), while other, ach, erm, brands are issuing innumerable new NAS bottlings with only stories these days, and are really starting to blur their image and reputation (which are tomorrow’s sales, remember). As always, my humble opinion, and after all, we’re here for the whisky. So… Colour: white wine. Nose: precision, that’s the first word that springs to mind. Bandages, cane juice, hay, and marzipan, then seaweed, oysters, and diesel oil, then ink, mezcal, grist, and wet wool. Plus one blueberry. Mouth: this is where it kills the IB. This is much better chiselled, purer, better focused, much more distillate-driven, and sharp. And it’s very ashy, sooty, smoky, you’d almost believe you just ate the ashtray. It surprises me a bit that they didn’t decide on a rounder and sweeter style, but for obvious reasons, I won’t complain. Love this style! It’s actually very dry. Also fresh walnuts. Salted fresh walnuts. Strength and body are perfect. Finish: long and austere, on pretty much the same flavours, but drops of orange juice are playing it a little sexier in the aftertaste. Perhaps a little ginger tonic? Comments: it’s really the words purity and precision that rule here, there’s no make-up, no Botox, no dye, and no silicone. Some pure, totally crystalline Lagavulinity (what?) that makes you want to take the next flight(s) to Islay and to go kiss the Distillery Manager on both cheeks. Huge quality/age ratio. Happy 200th, Lagavulin!

Gal Granov (88)

Nose: sea breeze salt and moss along fruity notes of apple peel and a citrus note , mix nicely with wood smoke and pears. Young but not overly so. Fresh.

Palate: starts hot and spicy with chilly, pepper and soot , then getting smokier with wood smoke , tar and a nice bonfire , we’ve gotten to associate Lagavulin with, a bit of mezcal and toasted cereal , vanilla and a touch of tobacco, bitter with crushed voter beans

Finish: long , salty and getting very dry with hints of fruit, tar and ash.

Whisky Notes (86)

ose: there’s a bit more youth in this version. Whereas the bicentenary version is fairly balanced, this one is slightly rougher, with more hints of peanut butter, popcorn and the scented (new-makeish) notes of candyfloss. Slightly more alcoholic punch as well. Smoked meat. Lemon and pickle brine. Tarry ropes, but less earthy and less balanced than it predecessor. Mouth: more of a young, mezcal-y character again, it seems its profile has shifted a little towards the 12. White pepper, big peat – and quite some heat. Sweet vanilla toffee and smoky oak in a second wave. Even more distillate-driven? Sooty, ashy, coastal. Smoked kippers. Still a bit of this nutty side. Finish: long, warmer now, on roasted nuts, hints of chocolate, warm ashes and black pepper.