Lagavulin 12 Years Old (Special Releases 2003)

This cask strength 12 Years Old was the 2003 Special Release, an early one in the annual run. Lagavulin has stood at its namesake bay since 1816, one of Islay's south-shore distilleries.

A long, slow distillation through onion-shaped stills shapes the peated make. Twelve years in ex-Bourbon, bottled at full strength, give a direct, smoky dram.

At cask strength, 57.8%. Peat phenols and guaiacol carry the smoke, the bourbon wood adding vanilla. The recorded notes run to a coal-gas mineral edge over the smoke. An early cask strength Special Release.