Review #204 - Lagavulin Distiller's Edition
Like a number of the Diageo distilleries that have a core range, Lagavulin releases an annual 'Distiller's Edition' single malt. This generally incorporates an additional finishing cask into the maturation process; in this case, it's Pedro Ximenez-seasoned sherry casks, on top of the usual American and European oak casks. This was first released in the late 1990s, and previously had an age statement; new editions continue to be released.
Unfortunately, this doesn't come with a higher strength than Lagavulin's usual releases - this is still bottled at 43% ABV. Lagavulin's famous 16 Year Old whisky already has some amount of sherry cask maturation involved - how will this additional PX finish change the final product?
Lagavulin Distiller's Edition
Scotland/Islay - Single Malt
Price Paid: USD 126 (2023)
Current Locally Available Price: USD 126 (2024)
Age Statement: NAS
Strength: 43% ABV
Cask Makeup: Refill American and European oak casks, recharred PX cask finish
Details: 2022 release
Tasting Methodology: Reviewed 3 times over 3 months; bottles at 70%, 60%, and 50% fill levels at times of review. Tasted in a Glencairn glass each time, rested 10-15 minutes
Nose: Rubbery and musty - the smoke can be smelled a few feet away. Despite that, this is a bit restrained when you dig in - sweet red fruit likes cherries or other berries, mild orange, a slightly mossy character, a bit of wood smoke with the peat. The complexion is dark, and after a few minutes, the peat is more of a mild to medium strength.
Palate: The mouthfeel is medium-thin; the peat level is medium, and it's still musty, maybe slightly woody. Fruits arrive in the form of orange, cranberry, and other red berries, while darker flavors like brown sugar sit in the background. The smoke takes a slightly sharp and ashy character; overall, still a bit restrained, and lacking a bit of 'oomph.'
Finish: Lots of orange and blood orange, with just hints of mild red fruit; it's a bit tangy, with some chocolate on the back end. The smoke is still medium, but quickly trails off to a mild influence, and there are just hints of brown sugar sweetness and wood smoke. It's a medium length finish.
Final Note: Pleasant enough to drink, with a nice fruity character coming from those casks; the smokiness is a bit mild for a Lagavulin, a standard which is already milder than that of Islay south coast siblings Laphroaig and Ardbeg. The flavor is there, but just isn't delivered with any punchiness - the strength is definitely lacking, which forces this to be more restrained and subtle.
We settled on a rating of 6.5 out of 10, but if we were framing this score based on our expectations of a PX-matured Lagavulin, it would be more like a 4 out of 10 compared to what we hoped for. And because this is a 'special release' Diageo product, the pricing isn't favorable - we think this is too expensive for the flavor you get.
Our Average Rating: 6.5 / 10
In the current whisky landscape of increasing prices and variable quality, we've added a value rating to our reviews that relates to the score and the available pricing of each whisky. This roughly equates to a 0-10 scale; no reviews so far have exceeded a score of 10, although it is technically possible for the formula to produce a value rating higher than 10 with a high enough score and low enough price.
Value Rating: 5.19
