Lagavulin Islay Jazz Festival 2017

Review by: The Muskox

An oldie but a goodie – I tried this whisky a little while ago from a friend, much closer in time to when it was actually bottled.

Distillery: Lagavulin.

Bottler: Official bottling.

Region: Islay.

ABV: 57.6%. Cask strength.

Age: No age statement. Bottled in 2017.

Cask type: Refill American oak hogsheads and refill European oak butts.

Price: N/A, sample.

Color: Natural Color. Non-chill-filtered.

Nose: Peaty, peppery, and briny. Some ash, white pepper, sea salt, and a distinct oyster note. There’s barley sugar and a touch of caramel tucked underneath the wall of peat. Some richer savoury notes emerge after another moment: hoisin sauce, peanuts, and smoked pork. It’s actually reminding me a bit of the homemade smoked pork in Alabama-style vinegar sauce that we ate for dinner earlier in the evening! Just a touch of raisin way in the back, as well as a vaguely soapy note.

Palate: Medium texture. A blast of peppery peat right up front. It’s more savoury and vegetal here than on the nose, with more of that smoked pork as well. More black pepper on the development, along with salt, earth, ash, clay, herbs, lemon, and burning grass. There’s also a little bit more of that sherry sweetness here. Some cooked strawberries perhaps, as well as some toffee.

Finish: Medium-length and peaty. Ash, brine, pepper, and more smoked pork. It does turn sweet towards the end: there’s some subtle pear, honey, and a hint of vanilla.

Conclusion: Quite good! Loaded with classic Lagavulin flavours. I love the briny and pork-y notes in here. The slight hint of sherry helps elevate the whisky a step or two. It’s hard to spot, but definitely adds a nice richness to support the brine. The palate is nice but falls a bit short of the nose and finish, as it’s quite peppery. Still, a flavourful and very enjoyable peaty whisky.

Final Score: 85.

Scoring Legend:

  • 95-100: As good as it gets. Jaw-dropping, eye-widening, unforgettable whisky.
  • 90-94: Sublime, a personal favorite in its category.
  • 85-89: Excellent, a standout dram.
  • 80-84: Quite good. Quality stuff.
  • 75-79: Decent whisky worth tasting.
  • 70-74: Meh. It’s definitely drinkable, but it can do better.
  • 60-69: Not so good. I might not turn down a glass if I needed a drink.
  • 50-59: Save it for mixing.
  • 0-49: Blech.

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