Lagavulin 16 Year Fèis Ìle 2017

The best part of our recent journey to western Scotland was visiting Islay and taking a warehouse tour at Lagavulin. After arriving by ferry at Port Askaig near the Caol Ila distillery in the north, we journeyed inland toward Port Ellen. The road, just wide enough for one car, wound through a spectacular, mostly flat landscape of rust colors. Our drive included many crossings of pheasants and sheep, who seemed unbothered by our presence, and highland cattle grazed freely on the farms. The island's sole golf course, Machrie Links, was also stunning, with its green, rolling hills and ocean views. It's newly built around the old course, and walking the fairways felt like strolling on the finest carpets. With a new course hotel planned, Machrie Links is poised to become a prime spot for golfers who enjoy whisky. Lagavulin sits east of Port Ellen on the island's southern end, along the same road as Laphroaig and Ardbeg. Since the main distillery was closed for its annual maintenance, we booked a warehouse tour without knowing what to anticipate. The event was led by a longtime Lagavulin employee with 47 years of service, and it took place in one of their old storage buildings among famous whiskies. The tasting consisted of five cask strength expressions, aged from 5 to 35 years, all matured solely in ex-sherry barrels. These whiskies are only sold at the distillery and were handpicked by the host for the warehouse tours. He has also selected casks for several annual Fèis Ìle releases. The tour samples included a 5-year-old at 61.6% ABV, a 13-year-old at 52.1% ABV, a 19-year-old at 52.4% ABV, a 24-year-old at 49.8% ABV, and a 35-year-old at 53.5% ABV. The host was quite the performer, known for his antics. He playfully "punished" a few guests wearing gear from rival distilleries with his signature whisky head-scrub. With a valinch in hand, he moved from cask to cask, pouring generous amounts for the roughly 30 people present. He also found time to repeat his "torture" on those individuals, much to the amusement and delight of the well-lubricated crowd. Following the performance and some pictures, everyone rushed to the distillery shop to buy the 2017 Fèis Ìle exclusive bottling. The excitement definitely encouraged spending. I managed to get a sample before buying bottle #4496 out of 6000. My souvenir somehow survived the trip back to the US. This 16-year-old, double-matured whisky, bottled at 56.1% ABV, was finished in Moscatel wine casks, which are rumored to have been used by Caol Ila previously. Despite some haziness in my memory, I had a "Wow!" moment; this expression was noticeably better than the ones tasted during the tour. The high proof didn't mask an elegant nose, a mix of the briny, savory smoke we expect and love from Lagavulin. The first taste was exceptionally smooth and pleasing. Sadly, that's mostly what I recall, along with its natural color, which seemed several shades lighter than its 16-year-old counterparts. I'll definitely review this properly someday, but for now, I'm giving the overall experience 5 stars! Many thanks to the wonderful host for his years of service and the unforgettable memories.

Nose: Salt, mineral smoke, pears, lemon zest, golden raisins (with water) unchanged. Taste: Intense smoke, salt, golden raisins, moscato-like sharp sweetness that quickly fades, sweet cured meats (with water) Muted smoke, less sweet, adds cracked black pepper, early lemon curd, candied bacon. Finish: Golden raisins, salt, drying mineral feel, earth, sweet cured meat (with water) More minerals/earth/dirt, salty sweet, dirt-covered lemons, golden raisins. Score: 84/100 Final Thoughts: This performed much better without water. It's far more lively and engaging without water, as the sweetness is prominent and there's less of an earthy/dirt/mineral sensation. The Moscato finish is noticeable here (I probably wouldn't have identified it as Moscato) but I would have guessed a sweet white grape finish or a lighter, sweet spirit finish. Lots of golden raisins mixed with salty smoke and cured meats are dominant. Delicious, but you definitely need to be in the mood for this one. Would I drink it if offered? - Yes Would I specifically order it? - Perhaps Would I buy a bottle? - No NOTE - All reviews are done without factoring in price.

Live updates from Feis Ile 2018. We sampled this dram at Islay House Hotel on the opening night — a wonderful hotel with welcoming, exceptional staff. This dram was the first we tried, and it was enjoyable, but it was a slight letdown due to its resemblance in flavor and finish to the standard 16. The nose is saltier and more acidic, reminiscent of tart fruits like lemon that I more commonly associate with Ardbeg. This is a quality dram, but it also costs three times the price of the 16, which is the best value in scotch.

The first of eight Feis Ile specials we tried this evening at the New York Whisky Jewbilee masterclass, and it was my least preferred. This is a cask strength rendition of the 16-year-old, proving too much when tasted neat, but it offers a touch of sweetness on the finish with a few drops of water. Despite the finish, I found little distinction from the standard release. However, those who appreciate that bottling might find pleasure in this minor variation, particularly if they can handle the initial impact it delivers straight from the bottle.

This was the very first single malt scotch I tried and it was an amazing experience. The smoke and peat were unlike anything I had encountered. This will forever hold a special place for me

I acquired this during Feis Ile, and while it's not a significant departure from the other excellent scotches in the Lagavulin range, I genuinely enjoyed this one.