Lagavulin 14 year Fèis Ìle 2023

Imagine owning a fantastic modern home on a cliff overlooking the Pacific. You decide to repaint it from white to sky blue. The house remains stunning, the paint neither enhancing nor detracting. Some might question the change, while others praise how it complements the scenery. Regardless, it's still an incredible home in a prime location. This pour is similar. I tried a small 3cl sample out of curiosity. It’s a 14-year-old spirit, costing around £250 ($300 USD), matured in American and European oak, then finished in Armagnac. A first for the distillery. It has a very full body. The nose offers smoked ham and a hint of grape skins. The taste is savory and salty, with a grape-like sweetness and the smoke – it's warming, smoky, and has an earthy sweetness. It's genuinely good, even damn good. However, it's only slightly better than their other Feis Ile or Jazz releases, or any other bottling from the distillery. Each release is distinctive, and fans will find it either "really good" or "wow." Did the Armagnac finish make a significant impact? Not really. You start with an excellent distillate and merely altered its presentation. Is it worth $300? For me, no. In terms of value for enjoyment, I'd be equally happy with the Offerman edition at $90. A bottle from this distillery is what it is. Repainting the cliff house blue doesn't change the fact that it's still an amazing cliff house.

Feis ile marks a special occasion where Islay distilleries host a festival, leading to the release of rare expressions. Lagavulin bottles are highly sought after by collectors and whisky lovers due to their unique festival creations. This 2023 special release featured a 14-year-old Armagnac cask finish at cask strength. With an impressive 58.4% ABV, this was a bottle I had to have. On the nose, it was incredible. Lime, lemon pie, and meringue. It's like a lemoncello with smoke. Very citrusy and fruity. Grapefruit, mango, and medicinal notes. After the initial taste, the aroma diminished slightly but still delivered some tropical fruit notes. Apricots. The palate presents three distinct notes, yet it feels exceptionally balanced. Like a sweet 'Alfajor' pastry. Lemon and pineapple. Absolutely delightful. The finish is where the peat resides. Smoky, like ashes and ginger. A long lingering taste. Overall: this isn't an overly complicated Lagavulin, but it comes very close to perfection. It lost two points because the aroma faded significantly after a sip; otherwise, it would have received a perfect score. My rating for this remarkable single malt is 98 out of 100.

A beautiful plummy and jammy flavor profile. Nose: Plums, Jasmine, Dark Chocolate, Sultanas, Hazelnuts, Violets, Red Grapes, Rosewater, Luxardo Cherries, Pineapples Palate: Iodine, Raisins, Dark Chocolate, Band Aids, Violets, Blueberries, Maple Glazed Bacon, Plums, Hogo, Coconuts Finish: Plums, Dark Chocolate, Raisins, Coconuts, Hazelnuts, Bacon, Iodine

A standard Lagavulin featuring brandy notes, a sweet finish, and the characteristic peat.

Smoky with a slight, agreeable bitterness