Lagavulin – 8yo – 200th anniversary – 48% – 2016

Nose : From scratch, we see that the point ain’t to represent violent peat. Very little smoke and no meat. We are on a maritime profile that we’d more likely give to a Bowmore or a Laphroaig: seaweeds, medicinal tones and iodine mainly, but also some plants and a bit of camphor. We then have some cruder marks but very subtle (fuel oil, mackerel type fish). Strangely, we quickly realize that the dominant features revolve around white mineral wine and stewed pear. It is a profile that doesn’t aim for variety rather than balance in youth and consensus. We can’t rule against it, it is successful but we’ve rapidly examined all its angles. For now I remain in a state of expectancy.

Mouth : The texture is very round with a beautiful presence and the peat is less discrete. The maritime (and vegetal) aspect described at nose is still here but we start with a certain profoundness of smoke. The second part of the mouth is more mineral with still this stewed pears in focus. We also have dried fruits (pecan nuts) that arrive with a good dose of salt. The whole is (slightly) less ordinary than at nose. In its simplicity, it succeeds in being interesting and right to the point, even if it remains a pretty dry in mouth profile.

Finish : We’re on something more austere with a mineral resurgence, a hint of lemon and dried fruits. The whole comes with smoke that keeps up on the aftertaste with mandarin and pronounced salt. We’ll recognize a nice persistence but of « pure » length rather reduced.