Lagavulin 8 Years Old to start 200th anniversary
The Islay distillery releases a young limited edition
This year is an anniversary year for Lagavulin: the distillery looks back on a history of 200 years. Several events are planned during the next months but the start is marked by a special anniversary release. A Lagavulin 8 Years Old has been announced. Many whisky fans may have hoped for an older and longer matured release to honor this anniversary but the price would probably have been unobligingly high and caused displeasure.
Lagavulin keeps age statement
With its 16 years old standard release Lagavulin is very well-positioned regarding the age statement. The Lagavulin Distiller’s Edition has always lots of friends and those who prefer a very old whisky can choose the Lagavulin 21 Years Old. A step towards younger Lagavulin editions was gone by Diageo when they presented a 12 year old Lagavulin in cask strength as a Special Release bottling. Now follows a distinctly younger single malt. This should satisfy all critics of NAS whiskies (whiskies with no age statement) or flavor led whiskies as they are called by Diageo, because Lagavulin doesn’t follow that trend. An illustrious fantasy name is not favored over a young age statement.
Lagavulin 8 Years Old chosen in memory of Alfred Barnard
But storytelling is nevertheless part of Diageo’s marketing for the Lagavulin 8 Years Old: to prepare the anniversary the history of the distillery had received a thorough examination. As a result this anniversary Lagavulin was chosen to honor the famous whisky travel writer Alfred Barnard. Visiting Islay in the 19th century he was delighted by an eight year old Lagavulin. This limited Lagavulin anniversary edition was matured in refill American oak and bottled at 48 % ABV.
The tasting notes according to Diageo on malts.com:
Nose: Immediately quite soft with clean, fresh notes, faint hints of milk chocolate and lemon – developing fragrant, tea-scented smoke alongside nose-drying, maritime aromas.
Body: Light, growing pleasantly oily. Palate A magnificently full on Lagavulin taste that’s somehow even bigger than you expect, and charred, with minty, dark chocolate.
Finish: A clean, long and smoky finish – subtle, minted smoke, chocolate tannins and finally warming, leaving the palate dry as sweet smoke lingers on the breath.
