LAGG Inaugural 2022 Release Batch 3 (Ex-Red Wine Charred Cask)

A favored Scottish distillery has realized a long-held ambition: establishing a sister distillery focused on peat and producing smoky expressions. This new venture, named LAGG, has launched its inaugural releases. I sampled the "No. 3," purportedly heavily peated, bottled at 50% ABV, and limited to 10,000 bottles. It was aged in ex-bourbon casks for 30 months, with a final six months in ex-Rioja red wine Firkin casks. The nose immediately presents peat, with notes of ash, aromatic stewed pineapple, and BBQ sauce. Meringue is a dominant aroma, alongside herbal spiciness and sweet meringue notes. The palate is intensely spicy, with red chili and a strong pungent sensation, characteristic of a young spirit. It strongly resembles Tabasco sauce. Upon a second tasting, it shifted to a sugary water and milk with sugar consistency, with the red chili and meringue reappearing. The aftertaste is very smoky yet somewhat direct, with a strong mint presence and an herbal quality. Overall, this whisky delivers on its promise of a heavily peated single malt, impressive for a three-year-old spirit. I look forward to tasting older expressions in the coming years. LAGG possesses a promising spirit that requires further maturation. My rating is 85 out of 100.