Lagavulin 13 Year (2021 Islay Jazz Festival)

This is my ninety-ninth whisky review, and I've decided that the next ten critics will be memorable drams, after which I will publish a book. My aspirations can materialize, and I've journeyed a significant whisky path to arrive at this remarkable milestone. I'm commencing this series with a remarkable and unforeseen single malt, a 13-year-old Lagavulin from the Islay Jazz festival in 2021, which was aged in... brace yourselves... mezcal casks. If you're unfamiliar with mezcal, consider it the progenitor of tequila, as tequila is a type of mezcal. It's derived from a plant known as agave or "Maguey." While tequila and mezcal have distinct flavor profiles today, fundamentally, tequila is a variety of mezcal. This limited release, bottled at 54.8% ABV, consists of 3000 bottles. I genuinely have no idea what to anticipate. The nose presents a highly perfumed, fragrant peat. It evokes the scent of lotion for scorched skin. Floral. It gives the impression of Valentine's Day. Margarine. Cough syrup. Following the initial taste, the aroma shifted to Hawaiian Pizza, specifically the kind with charred pineapples. Hershey's Kisses chocolate. Further sips unveiled a swampy character. It's sharp on the nose. Astonishing. On the palate, I can truthfully state this is beyond extraordinary. Hershey's dark chocolate. An explosion of pepper and the essence of pineapple. A subsequent sip felt like seawater; it transformed considerably. Now it's all about cigarettes, ash, and some sweet notes. So intricate and captivating. The finish provides the ideal conclusion to this whisky adventure. Smoke, agave, cotton, and medicinal gauze and tape. More sips brought forth an ashtray, saltiness, and tar. Red chili. What an experience! In summary, this dram is essential for any collection. Even the empty glass carries the aroma of a sawdust workshop. Exceptionally complex, well-balanced, and delightful. It pushes your sensory limits. I was truly doubtful about the mezcal cask finish, but now I want every distillery to attempt this experiment. Incredible whisky, a perfect score: 100 out of 100. Cheers!

My initial experience with this Lagavulin is from a rare purchase. I've sampled many, and I recognize these can be inconsistent. I've had this particular bottle a few times, though not as my usual go-to. And mezcal? Seriously? Nose - It presents a Lagavulin character with a touch of sour herbs and vegetables. While some might desire more complexity, I find it sufficient. There's smoke, hints of unusual peppers, oak, and mint, complemented by that signature Lagavulin malt that offers vanilla, cream, and a quality that just builds. Taste - I'm uncertain if the purpose of a tasting is solely to review or, in this case, to explain its uniqueness. The initial taste mirrors Lagavulin 12, then shifts to a vegetal, slightly different profile. This leads to an incredible finish. It's smoke, but a different kind of smoke. It incorporates elements of smoked oak, but also something else... it's like we smoked something lacking oak character, and that's present here too. This is where the mezcal element isn't clear to me, yet that's the flavor detected. Across a few pours, I even detect some buttery notes. Ultimately, it's quite good, astonishingly intricate. However, my personal feeling is that this isn't a whisky I'm passionate about or adore. I am, though, intrigued by what's in this bottle. Scoring this is challenging... the finish length and quality earn a 5. The initial taste is a 2 or 3. The mouthfeel is good. The aroma doesn't resonate much with me. So, a 3.5. I'm considering an 87-89 when I review it with a friend. I spent just under 400 with all costs to get this into the states. For that price, it wasn't a worthwhile purchase, but it's not an exorbitant price for a Lagavulin of this caliber.

Experienced during a master class. Impressed by the blend of cooked agave smoke with a peaty barbecue smoke. Aroma: Vanilla, Smoke, Jalapeños, Cooked Agave, Papaya, Mangoes, Cactus, Grass, Green Chili Peppers Taste: Vanilla, Barbecue Smoke, Coal, Cooked Agave, Butterscotch, Honey, Dark Chocolate, Pork Ribs, Tar, Anise, Cinnamon Finish: Dark Chocolate, Cooked Agave, Grass, Jalapeño, Anise, White Chocolate, Almonds