Review #17: Lagavulin 2018 Feis

Tasting Notes

Nose: I have now tasted it under several conditions. If I haven’t had any whisky, it comes off as musty tea leaves, Chinese medicine store, meat, and seaweed. But after you get used to the smoke (or you have been drinking) it becomes a lot sweeter – and the lemon and vanilla meringe come through, with some anise and raisins.

Palate: It is surprisingly light at first (after resting for a few minutes), with vanilla and lemon meringue, before an envelope of smoke, soy sauce, and wet rock quickly surrounds the tongue. There’s a smoked and nutty (walnut) aftertaste with a whiff of herbal caramel and pepper. Tried it once with water and I just wrote down “vanilla and sweet” but I was also fairly… into my whisky drinking…

I’ll be honest – at first I liked the Lagavulin 16 better because it’s oilier and sweeter. But this is far more smokier and more complex, with a very long and dry finish. It’s really a dram you can spend hours with and keep writing down pages (and I mean it!) of tasting notes.

Overview

TLDR: “Smoky Umami Lemon Delight.” Overview: Complex smoke that turns more lemon meringue as you sip. Makes the Lagavulin 16 taste almost saccharine in comparison.

Bought for: ~£130/bottle at the distillery