Lagavulin 12 Year Old Diageo Special Releases 2024 'Fireside Tales' Limited Edition 1st Fill Bourbon Matured Cask Strength Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky (2024) 70cl
Lagavulin 12 Year Old Diageo Special Releases 2024 'Fireside Tales' Limited Edition 1st Fill Bourbon Matured Cask Strength Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky (2024) 70cl This is Lagavulin character made...
Lagavulin 12 Year Old Diageo Special Releases 2024 'Fireside Tales' Limited Edition 1st Fill Bourbon Matured Cask Strength Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky (2024) 70cl
This is Lagavulin character made sweet under the command of active oak. Bold smoke quietened to a hush, matured in first-fill ex-Bourbon and refill casks for a lush and glazed aroma. Experience a 12-year-old expression with thick toffee, vanilla, and coconut notes, unfurling with aromatic spice.
Known for its intense smoky aroma, Fireside Tales skillfully balances peaty notes with a deep, malty sweetness and subtle fruit nuances. The name "Fireside Tales" evokes images of cozy evenings by the fire, where the whisky can unfold its full complexity and warmth. This limited edition is not only a feast for Islay whisky lovers, but also a testament to the distillery's craftsmanship.
TASTING NOTES
Nose Nose in and... Boom! A cloud of oil with a vanilla explosion meets cold smoke. Not that aggressive, medicinal Ardbeg smoke, but rather the subtle campfire flavour with a warming undertone. There is also a mineral flavour - almost as if someone had walked through a pine forest with a tropical fruit salad. Pineapple? Check. Peach? Check. A hint of banana? That's right. And somewhere in the background, a sea breeze blows past, reminiscent of salty spray. Sounds exciting? Yes! Are expectations rising? Oh yes!
Palate Then the first sip - and oops, the fairy tale takes a sudden turn. Instead of sweet fruit, there is a good dose of ginger and bitter spiciness. This is joined by white pepper and, of course, the typical Lagavulin smoke - but this time cooler than usual. Fruit? Hardly at all. Instead, a curious mix of grilled vegetables, especially peppers, with a pinch of seaweed.
Finish This is where the whisky comes into its own. Suddenly the pineapple reappears, as if it had got lost for a moment. Fruity, long-lasting and warming. There is also a light tar note and a hint of black pepper. Voluminous, intense - exactly what you want from a good Islay whisky.
About Lagavulin
When Lagavulin 16 Year Old joined the Classic Malts portfolio in 1989, the belief within owner UD [now Diageo] was that it would be the single malt which only the most dedicated – even crazy – drinker would attempt to conquer. Smoke, it was felt in those early days of single malt, was a step too far for most people. Glenkinchie and Dalwhinnie, softer and easier going, would be the big sellers.
What actually happened was that Lagavulin became the runaway success, to the extent that it had to be put on allocation. That its growth coincided with a period where mature stock was limited (the bad old days of the 80s and early 90s) didn’t help. Today, it runs 24 hours a day, seven days a week, just to try and keep up with ever-growing global demand. The world has fallen in love with smoke and Lagavulin’s complex mix of seashore and moor, pipe smoke, Lapsang Souchong, bog myrtle and rich dark fruits is a destination for many.
Though fermentation times have been cut, introducing a cereal note to the new make, the second distillation remains extremely long, maximising reflux. Ageing is predominantly in refill casks, but in recent years some ex-Sherry casks have appeared as part of a controlled programme of small batch releases, while a small amount of a higher strength 12-year-old is released annually for the real peat heads.
Founded on Islay’s south [Kildalton] coast and situated between Ardbeg and Laphroaig, legal distilling was started at Lagavulin in 1816 by John Johnston. A second distillery shared the site which was first bought by the same family in 1825, before production was absorbed into Lagavulin in 1837.
It came to wider public awareness in 1862 when blender John Logan Mackie bought the distillery. His nephew Peter J. Mackie made the first of many trips to Islay in 1878 to learn the secrets of distilling and eventually take over production of Lagavulin. Sir Peter Mackie, as he became, was one of the pre-eminent figures of late 19th century whisky. He created the White Horse blend in 1890, co-founded Craigellachie distillery and was noted as a great innovator.
In 1908, irritated by the loss of the agency for Laphroaig, Mackie built a replica distillery at Lagavulin which he called Malt Mill. It ran until 1962 and though it was set up to produce the same character as Laphroaig – which is only two miles away – it never did. Neither did it make Lagavulin. A (fictitious) cask of Malt Mill played a central role in film director Ken Loach’s comedyThe Angel’s Share.
The distillery floor maltings shut in 1974. They now form the visitor’s centre and admin offices.
57.4% ABV
70cl
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