Lagavulin Offerman Edition Guinness Cask Finish

I missed out on this one previously when it was garnering praise and sold for $89.99 in my area. The suggested retail was supposedly $10 less, but Lagavulin in PA is typically higher than SRP, you know? It reappeared: five bottles, online purchase only, for $99.99. Despite not having bought any whisky that month, I was still hesitant. I bought the second-to-last bottle. Then I got an email from the store showing a bottle that broke during shipping and asking if I still wanted it. Mine was fine, but the label was stained! I took a moment to lament the situation and told them I absolutely still wanted the bottle. What do you think? Someone who cares if a great bottle of scotch has a stained label? I put it away in my collection in May for a later date. Father's Day seemed fitting to share with my dad. The Offerman cask felt thematically appropriate. You get me? My sisters had already invited my dad to brunch, so we couldn't do it in the afternoon. After that, he needed a nap, and my mom had dinner plans with him, so I had to wait, even though I enjoy a Father's Day afternoon drink. A few years ago, we shared a bottle of Balvenie 12, and it was a pleasant afternoon. I've been hoping to repeat that, but the following year, our family beach vacation coincided with Father's Day week. The year after that, we had him over with my mom and brother-in-law, which was great because I enjoy family get-togethers, but sometimes, I just like sitting outside with my dad, drinking whisky and discussing man stuff, right? Regardless, this is excellent whisky. It possesses the Lagavulin character, as far as I understand it. I've only tried the Distiller's Edition, which is the 16-year finished in PX Sherry. The base, as I've always understood, is peated, salty, oceanic, and what sets it apart from other Islay peated whiskies is its meatiness. The saltiness and meatiness combine for a bacon-like quality, and who doesn't love bacon? I was a vegetarian for ten years and never stopped thinking bacon was delicious. And now, having returned to eating fish, I still find bacon appealing. My reasons for not eating it are a separate discussion and not the point here, but this whisky has that meaty quality in abundance. The Guinness adds chocolate malt, so imagine salted bacon, grilled over a peat fire, coated in dark chocolate, about 75% dark since it's not overly bitter, but definitely not milk chocolate. The palate actually shifts the dark chocolate notes to milk chocolate, and that's where the Guinness truly stands out. There's a pleasant, sweet overall tone that provides a creamy mouthfeel, softening the peated edge and making it taste like a peated egg cream, with the peat being very subtle, almost like drinking your egg cream near a fireplace. The finish is also sweet. It's not spicy or smoky like many Islay whiskies, which is another welcome departure from a typical Islay cask, and lacking experience with the flagship 16 Year Lag, I'd say this is also due to the cask finish. This is how a cask-finished whisky should be. The finish shouldn't overpower or ruin the original spirit but should add extra dimension or depth. I do regret not getting this the first time when it was more affordable. I don't regret buying it when it reappeared with its stained label. I'm not sure I'd rush to buy it again, though ask me again in a year or two if it reappears. The 2023 Distiller's Edition is available now, and I'll be checking it out soon. There are around 300 bottles in stock online and they aren't selling out rapidly, so it might be another month or two before I purchase it, and I hope they don't increase the price in the interim because at $108, it's about my spending limit. This was a treat, a splurge, but one that was worthwhile, and my dad agreed. I finally got to share that drink with him at the end of the night, sitting on the back deck, chatting for about two hours as it got dark and Father's Day concluded. One day we'll have an afternoon to forget our troubles like we did that day a few years back. And there will certainly be a great bottle like this to share between us when that occurs.

Typically, a celebrity endorsement has no impact on my purchasing decisions, and this is no exception. However, what prompted me to try this was that the initial Offerman 11 Lag was excellent. Let's see what a few months in Guinness casks do for this one. Nose: Citrus notes of lemon and grapefruit, sea salt, brine, and seaweed. Vanilla custard and fudge. White grape, blueberry, and jam. Ripe banana. Almond. Campfire smoke, hookah smoke, peat, and a medicinal note. Sun-dried tomato. Croissant. Strong black pepper. Spicy red pepper black bean chili. Cinnamon. Oak. Palate: Intense campfire smoke, followed by sea salt, brine, and salinity. Lemon, grapefruit, and vanilla custard. Caramel, milk chocolate, peanut butter, and toffee. Blueberry, pomegranate, Gala apple, and raisin. Agave. Cinnamon and black pepper. Spicy red pepper black bean chili. Oak. Finish: Sea salt, seaweed, brine, campfire smoke, and peat. Almond and peanut butter. Custard, milk chocolate, and caramel. Spicy red pepper black bean chili. Sun-dried tomato. Cinnamon, black pepper, and oak. The finish is long. This is a superb whisky. The Lagavulin character is consistently present. The contribution from the Guinness is less noticeable. This is a minor drawback. The nose and palate are solid. The finish is the most impressive aspect of the entire experience. Overall, I prefer the original Offerman 11 to this one, but that doesn't detract from this bottling. $70 is a reasonable price for an age-stated Lag (which I believe all of them are.) I haven't had a disappointing release from this distillery. Excellent product. Rated 4.25 out of 5.

Nose: Sweet smoke, leather, tar, ash, sea salt, coffee, nutmeg, toffee, vanilla, cocoa, black pepper, honey, apple, pear, lemon zest, smoked meat, orange, tobacco, walnut, mint, mild to moderate alcohol burn. Taste: Tar, sweet smoke, leather, chocolate malt, coffee, smoked meat, nutmeg, salted caramel, toasted coconut, vanilla cream, marshmallow, honey, ginger, lemon zest, chili pepper, ash, pecan, baked apple, moderate alcohol bite, finishing medium length with chocolate malt, sweet smoke, ginger, and baking spice flavors. Next in my Lagavulin exploration is this new Offerman Edition finished in Guinness casks. To be honest, I don't think that character would approve. He's a traditionalist, and the idea of his cherished Lagavulin being ruined with Irish beer would likely enrage him. Joking aside, the aroma is classic Lagavulin, but much sweeter with prominent chocolate, marshmallow, and coffee scents. The taste is similar. The Lagavulin smoke, tar, and leather flavors are there, but there's a nutty, toasted coconut chocolate taste that reminds me of those Starbucks frappuccino drinks. Overall, it's tasty, but I prefer the standard 16 year. As anticipated, this bottling is younger, and the sweetness is almost excessive. Nevertheless, it's an interesting experiment. The beer finish works quite well. Many thanks to a friend for giving me his bottle. It's like a dessert Lagavulin.

Can one ever encounter a subpar Lagavulin? Of course, this viewpoint stems from a devoted Lagavulin enthusiast. It's akin to the beaches in Tahiti—we visited two decades ago for our anniversary; no Tahitian beach was disappointing. They were either good, or exceptionally good. I hold the same opinion regarding Lagavulin. This is likely the only celebrity-endorsed spirit that truly aligns with the celebrity's persona. It's not a marketing ploy, but genuinely reflects the personality. When I consider the type of whisky Ron Swanson would appreciate, Lagavulin immediately comes to mind. Consequently, I don't detect the Guinness notes, which is a positive for me as I'm not fond of it. What I do perceive are smoldering embers, with a taste of chocolate enjoyed by a campfire. It's as if chocolate was infused with smoke and enjoyed by the sea, around a campfire. I enjoyed this one more than the initial release, particularly for its chocolate notes. Highly recommended. My thanks for the generous serving!

As someone who enjoys both fine scotch and stouts, the Lagavulin Offerman Edition 11 Year Guinness Cask Finish is a must-try. The whisky's aroma brings to mind toasted campfire s'mores – gooey biscuit and malted chocolate with wisps of smoke. Over time, this pale straw-colored pour reveals notes of juicy pear, yeast, banana, and nutmeg. A lightly sweet malted chocolate flavor transitions to pepper and a grounding savory smoke. Faint tannins and tobacco emerge through a long finish. Its creamy smoke lingers on my palate indefinitely, reminiscent of roasted classic Guinness foam. The Lagavulin Offerman Edition Guinness Cask Finish is accessible and enjoyable without being overly complicated. I see it as a welcoming, slightly sweet option for those not seeking intensely peated drams but are curious about smoke. My main complaint is that the bottle will be emptied too quickly. 8/10

Aroma: Faint wisps of smoke alongside the scent of dark roasted coffee brewed in a Bialetti Mokapot. A gentle sweetness of milk chocolate is present. Taste: The sensation of warm, slightly sweet hot cocoa. A strong espresso coffee flavor is prominent in the middle. Towards the conclusion, an unexpected hint of spearmint emerges. Finish: The Guinness Cask finish becomes apparent here, offering an interesting mineral dryness and a full, earthy stout character. This is nicely complemented by a lasting, comforting campfire warmth. It's smoky yet smooth like Cadbury chocolate. I am genuinely impressed. I've anticipated obtaining this bottle for quite some time and found the perfect moment to pour a measure. Well executed by Nick Offerman and Lagavulin. You've somehow created a spirit that combines my preferred elements: peated, smoky Scotch with stout/porter/dark beer characteristics, yet also features spearmint and Cadbury milk chocolate.