Company: Diageo
Distillery: Lagavulin Distillery
Region: Lagavulin, Port Ellen, Isle of Islay, Scotland
Aging: 12 Years
ABV: 56.4% ABV
Proof: 112.8 Proof
Mash Bill: 100% Single Malt finished in Don Julio Añejo Tequila Casks
Non-Chill Filtered: No
MSRP Price: $150
Lagavulin 12 Year – The Ink of Legends Tasting Notes
Appearance: Straw/Hay
Nose: Lots of Peat, smoke, rich fruits, raisin, plum, hints of citrus, salty, briny, floral and herbal notes, vanilla
Palate: Beautifully balanced peat and smoke, honey sweetness, vanilla, rich fruits full of citrus, plum, and raisin, salty and briny notes
Finish: Rich and captivating finish full of peat, smoke, oak, and a ton of fruit flavors and a nice saltiness on the palate that rounds out the strong finish quite well
Is Lagavulin 12 Year – The Ink of Legends an Approachable Whisky?
If you’re a fan of peaty and smokey Scotches, Lagavulin 12 Year – The Ink of Legends is absolutely an approachable whisky.
If you don’t like Peat or Smokey Scotches, you probably already know what to expect from this bottle.
I’m a big fan of peaty Scotches so this bottle is one I could sit all day with.
Is Lagavulin 12 Year – The Ink of Legends Complex?
Lagavulin 12 Year – The Ink of Legends is the most complex Lagavulin I have tasted to date… and I have tasted quite a few.
The nose is similar to what you would find on most Lagavulin Scotches, but this bottle was finished in Don Julio Tequila Casks.
Initially, this felt like a marketing trick to lure me into buying another bottle of Lagavulin but regardless, I can’t pass up a new bottle from the distillery.
But now that I have this bottle home and I’ve tasted it I’m extremely glad I bought it.
The nose offers more delicate levels of peat and smoke that balance well with additional flavors of fruit and sweetness that you don’t find in many other bottles of Lagavulin.
I’m not sure how long they finished the Scotch in Don Julio Tequila Casks, but the citrus and fruit flavors blend very well with the peat and smoke.
On the palate, the flavors from the tequila barrels add just enough sweetness and fruit flavors to transform this pour into the most balanced and enjoyable Lagavulin I have tasted.
Don’t get me wrong, I love a bottle of heavily peated Scotch, but if I can have a heavily peated Scotch that is also full of sweet, lush fruit flavors… I’m all in.
The finish is excellent as well.
The salty and briny flavors create a very nice mouthfeel and flavor on the finish to round out the whole experience.
What are Lagavulin 12 Year – The Ink of Legends’ strongest attributes/flavors?
Lagavulin 12 Year – The Ink of Legends’ strongest attribute is that it takes an already spectacular peated and smoky Scotch and adds more balanced layers of flavors on top.
This bottle is basically your normal bottle of Lagavulin but enhanced and improved to be twice as good.
Is Lagavulin 12 Year – The Ink of Legends a go-to whisky?
If I could get more bottles of this Scotch whisky on a regular basis, I would drink it all the time.
Unfortunately, this is a 2023 special-release bottle that is difficult to find in my area.
I live in Pennsylvania where we will likely never see this bottle, but I happened to be visiting Ohio and found myself one.
I wish I had purchased a backup bottle or two because this bottle seriously impressed me.
Is Lagavulin 12 Year – The Ink of Legends priced accurately to its quality?
Lagavulin 12 Year – The Ink of Legends is a pricey bottle coming in at $150 which I was a little hesitant to pay when I saw it on the shelf.
However, after tasting it, I wish I had bought another bottle.
That to me says that this bottle definitely delivers on its price tag.
If you’re a fan of peaty Scotch, this is one that you should certainly pick up if you see it on the shelf.
Conclusion for Lagavulin 12 Year – The Ink of Legends
While this bottle of Lagavulin 12 Year – The Ink of Legends is a 2023 limited-release bottle and is a bit pricey, it compares extremely well alongside some of my other favorites such as Laphroaig Lore, Ardbeg BizarreBBQ, and Octomore 13.4.
I would have to have some side-by-side comparisons to see which I enjoy most, but I can assure you that this special-release Lagavulin bottle is among my top rated.
If you’re a fan of peaty Scotch, buy yourself a bottle of this ASAP.
Let Us Know What You Think
I hope you enjoyed this tasting experience with me.
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Thanks for reading and cheers!
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