Lagavulin 12 Year Old, The Flames of the Phoenix

As their legend goes, one extraordinary day the King of Islay was reborn. A spark of sunlight fell from the sky, and set the land ablaze. When the flames subsided, the scorched earth was veiled in thick smoke. Suddenly, new life rose from the ashes in shimmering feathers of honeyed gold and rich crimson. A regal Phoenix soared above its wings of fire powering the stills of Lagavulin, amplifying its spiced intensity.

Lagavulin has long been the home of legends. Its rocky bay was crowned with a castle by Lords of the Isles who ruled long ago. The distillery rose in succession; deeply respected, a king born to power. Made in the birthplace of distilling, this iconic Islay malt is intense and smoky, steeped in history and lore for over two hundred years.

In this deep expression from virgin oak and our smokiest reserves, peaty casks lead spice and smoke on their eternal dance with deep sweetness. The smooth, oily start shines with sweet richness, before lemony citrus and sea salt add freshness and an explosion of spice to savour. Mid-palate, the taste becomes more drying, its smoky intensity ever-growing. Great waves of peat wreathe the long, smoky-spicy finish. New-fired, Lagavulin soars to fresh heights of spiced smoke.

Tasting notes:
APPEARANCE: Gleaming, iridescent gold.

BODY: Medium.

NOSE: Dry, with an immediate powerful smokiness; much more so than is usual with Lagavulin, with charcoal and fragrant peat massively to the fore, backed by a clean fresh base-note that suggests sea air and mineral scents. Much reduced, aromatically, with even a little water, it remains essentially unaltered.

PALATE: The smooth lightly oily texture shines with sweet richness; the taste is sweet to start, then takes off with a soaring lemony acidity and a sprinkling of sea salt to add freshness. Mid-palate the fire dries the taste, which flies still higher now in its salty-smoky intensity. A dash of water rounds and sweetens but it’s the smoke that dominates.

FINISH: Long, with great waves of peat-smoke, and new-fired heights of spiced and smoky intensity that last wonderfully in the aftertaste.