The pinnacle of the 2021 Diageo Special Releases; a cask strength 26-year-old Lagavulin matured in first fill Pedro Ximenez and Oloroso seasoned casks and bottled at 44.2% abv.
The annual Diageo Special Releases have been a hotly anticipated part of the whisky calendar for the past 20 years. The series sees Diageo take full advantage of the dozens of Scotch whisky distilleries in their portfolio. The Special Releases series sees Diageo showcase rare, ghosted and workhorse distilleries, such as Brora, Royal Lochnagar, Teaninich and Benrinnes, that are otherwise never seen as single malt expressions. It also allows for experimentation with the maturation and delivery of some of their classic malts, such as Cragganmore, Lagavulin and Talisker.
For this year, each of the eight whiskies in the collection express an individual character, inspired by mythical Scottish creatures that, according to legend, inhabit the lands surrounding the distilleries. This is brought to life with stunning bottle art, that was designed by renowned, Australian, digital illustrator Ken Taylor.
Offical Tasting Notes
Nose: Mellow with shy yet complex wine-woody aromas that mingle with linseed oil in an artist’s studio and sun-bleached mahogany, backed by edible seaweed, with sweet baked fig. Then pungent, oily and fragrantly smoky; with water a note of clean linen.
Palate: Light, ultra-smooth and oily and briefly sweet, soon with salt and pepper, growing more savoury and smokier. All the sweet-smoky style of Lagavulin in a well-rounded form. Water heightens the harmony.
Finish: Long, sweet and faintly smoky, as with smouldering leaves. Water brings a little pepper, then a drying smokiness reappears.
Lagavulin, on the southern shore of Islay, forms part of the Kildalton trio; in good company with Ardbeg and Laphroaig. It was founded in 1816, became part of the DCL (now Diageo) stable in 1926 and became one of their Classic Malts of Scotland in 1989. Since then Lagavulin has become one of the most beloved brands in the whisky world; captivating drinkers with its rich mix of pipe smoke, Lapsang Souchong, maritime notes, prominent iodine and rich dark fruits.
