Lagavulin 12 Year Fireside Tales (2024 Special Release)

Lagavulin 12's lineup has been a favorite of mine within the whisky world. This marks my eighth encounter with this annual release. Unfortunately, the most recent iteration was my least favorite. The tequila finish only detracted from what I appreciate about the core expression. Let's hope this year's version, featuring ex-bourbon and refill cask aging for the first time, can improve things. Nose: Heavy campfire smoke. Also, hookah smoke. Some charcoal and sun-dried tomato. Iodine and ash. Black bean, red chili pepper. It's a smoky, spicy experience. A prominent hazelnut note, accompanied by toasted almond. Some sugar cookie is faintly present. Prune notes as well. Palate: Custard. Grapefruit, lemon, orange citrus. Black bean, red chili pepper. Quite heavy campfire smoke. Hazelnut and almond. Cinnamon and black pepper heat. Tennis ball and bandaid. Salted caramel. Peanut butter. Finish: Black bean, red pepper chili. Charred meat and brisket. Cinnamon, black pepper, and oak are intensely prominent here. Peanut butter. Almond. As long a finish as you can get. Lagavulin has returned to form with this bottling. This is an astonishingly bold, intense whisky; and I believe it's precisely what this brand has been lacking lately. The distillery has been producing some decent, but ultimately uninspired limited editions recently, and I haven't felt the same connection to Lagavulin, which has long been a staple in my collection. This is the one. Lagavulin aptly named this Fireside Tales. It delivers intensity and quality. You could say it drinks like the finest venison jerky you've ever had—and ever will have. At $170, it was well worth the admission price. 5/5.

Smell is grass, hay and wet campfire ashes. Not boring, but also not intriguing. Palate is slightly thin but mouth-coating, with the smoke leading and followed in short succession by wet straw, ash and barrel tannins. Finish is all campfire smoke, and lasts longer than the main taste. No discernible peat, iodine or salt…fairly flat and one-note. Not bad, but certainly not special, and there are far better offerings for less cash.

Nose: Sweet vanilla, ripe cherry, and a touch of cinnamon mingle with earthy notes, cilantro, and the savory aroma of roasted carrots. Palate: A sweet, oily mouthfeel gives way to peppery spice. Finish: Lingering warmth with peat, hints of orange, and the comforting taste of apple pie.

Lagavulin fireside tales 12. Smells like a swamp, with seawater and peat. Tastes sweet, like sweet sawdust, leather, a burning log, ash, and citrus.