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June 7, 2016Lagavulin 12 year old single malt whisky review (2015 and 2014 editions)

Lagavulin 12yo 2015 edition
Lagavulin 12yo 2014 edition

Photo by The Whisky Exchange
Lagavulin 12 year old single malt is a yearly special release by one of my favorite distilleries in the world, the Lagavulin distillery from Islay. I just absolutely love their 16 year old peated single malt from the core range. Well, I guess you can say that this 12YO is part of their core range as well. After all, it is being released annually, even though it has a special release statement. Lagavulin 12YO is also a peated single malt, aged in refill American Oak. It is quite affordable when thinking about special releases, yet it has a bigger price tag, than the mighty Lagavulin 16YO. Then again, it is cask strength, which always adds up to the price.
Lots of ifs and buts with this special release by Lagavulin. I don’t mind though, I just love the distillery so much because of their flagship whisky – the 16 year old. I surely was keen on trying out these younger, non-sherried versions side by side.
Lagavulin 12yo 2015 edition
The 2015 edition is the 13th release in the Lagavulin 12 year old single malt series. Harsh, yet sweet and dry. Much rougher than their 16YO peated single malt, but offering similar kind of phenolic dryness and almost as much sweet spots as the flagship 16YO whisky.
Scoring
91
Photo by The Whisky Exchange
Lagavulin 12yo 2014 edition
The 2014 edition of Lagavulin 12 year old features malts distilled in 2001 and 2002. Like stated before, the malts were matured in refill American oak casks and bottled at cask strength. Unlike the 16 year old Lagavulin, there is no sherry cask involvement. This version is a rough one when compared to its 4 years older sibling, but it’s much smoother than the 2015 edition. A good mix of rough peat and smoke, combined in a sophisticated palate.
Scoring
91In conclusion: I scored both of them the same score but if I had to choose, I’d take the nose of Lagavulin 12 year old 2015 version, and the taste and finish of Lagavulin 12 year old 2014 version.