Lagavulin Tasting

[Lost Pollito]

So last night I was lucky enough to taste a wide selection of one of my favorite Malts. On tap were :

Lagavulin 12...bottled '04

Lagavulin 12...bottled '05

Lagavulin 16

Lagavulin Distillers Edition 1991...bottled '07

Lagavulin Distillers Edition 1991...bottled '08

Lagavulin 21 Year Old

Lagavulin 30 Year Old

Lagavulin / Murray McDavid Mission 1979...24 Year Old.

For me, the 30, and 24 year old were ridiculously good. Peat was present,but so was some very nice fruit and pepper spices. Both very well integrated and well developed. The 21 and 16 are both classics, and did not disappoint. The 21 had the sort of sherry I crave. Burnt rubberish but in a very nice subtle way. In contrast, the D.E. '07 had the type of Sherry that I dis-like....the overly sweet distract and not meld with the malt kind of sherry. The D.E. '08 is a little better than the '07, but in this company did not really comand my attention. The 16 is the 16, and is pretty damn good. I wish we could have a un- chillfilterred cask strength version. That would rival the 21 and 30. Fingers crossed. The 12's were both nice, but just to young. Some young Islay malts drink great at a young age...Caol Ila and Laphroaig come to mind, while others don't. Ardbeg and now Lagavulin come to mind. Not to say the 12's were bad, they just tasted a little boring. Loads of honey, vanilla, and chocolate, but not really close to were the 16 ends up. All and all, I really liked the Mission and the 30, and it goes back to the depth they end up with. Go figure, I like the 1 I can't afford, and the 1 I can't find. Cheers.:cool: