Lagavulin (2018 Islay Jazz Festival)

The third fantastic whisky I sampled on the Lagavulin distillery tour, from a collection I adore. The 2018 Islay Jazz Festival is the name of this glorious dram; I just hope it's as good as the 2017 release, a single malt that ranks among my all-time top ten. Bottled at a potent 58.5% ABV for enhanced flavor, this whisky was matured in Refill American & European Oak Puncheons. On the nose, it's earthy and fruity. Moss, green fruits, red fruits, and coconut. Tar, dirty rainwater; malted barley and earthiness. After a few sips, some chocolate notes emerged. On the palate, it was very well-made; you don't even notice the high alcohol content. Coconut, vanilla, gooseberries. Smoky and chocolaty. Subtle pepper and green apples. Aftertaste was incredible, earning a perfect score here. Ginger and smoke explosion. Salty, a very pleasant tongue-scorching sensation. The finish is amazing. Tobacco, cigarettes, hay. Elegant and smoky, with truly beautiful wisps of smoke. Overall, I believe the safest choice for any whisky is Lagavulin. They are incapable of producing bad single malts, even if they tried. That said, the Islay Jazz Festival expressions are consistently top-tier, whiskies I wouldn't even share; I want them all to myself. My score for this superb "juice" is a solid 92 out of 100.

The nose is malty and sweet with hints of fruit. Upon tasting, it's significantly more impactful than the 2017 release, delivering intense and rich character. The peat isn't aggressive, but rather a strong butterscotch sweetness complemented by the proof's impact. A subtle pepper spice emerges on the finish, which is exceptionally prolonged. The sweetness persists beautifully, allowing one to savor the taste indefinitely. Masterfully crafted.