Home Tasting: Lagavulin 12 Year Old Official Limited Edition 2011 Bottling

Drinking it at home, the cups never stop. Lagavulin LAGAVULIN 12yo Official Bottling Limited Edition 57.5% bottled in 2011 ・Aroma: Strong aroma, citrus, faint apricot jam, strong nuts, intense peat with iodine, savory fish stock, robust barley notes, faint cheese, condensed lemon over time, slightly earthy, rich and oily. ・Flavor: Despite the high ABV, the initial stimulation is low, expanding gradually with a rich aroma, condensed citrus, slightly powdery texture, viscosity felt, apricot jam, nuts, faint celery, strong barley notes without prickliness, rich umami from barley and fish stock, moderate sweetness, citrus acidity, strong peat smoke, briny and oily, with the powerful presence and body typical of Islay cask strength. ・Aftertaste: Rich umami, slightly oily with long-lasting condensed citrus and peat notes. ・Dilution: Does not break down even with generous dilution. The condensed citrus notes become more pronounced. ・Overall Evaluation: Exhibits the typical Islay strength and depth, but lacks harshness, showing a matured character. Surprisingly condensed citrus notes are present, along with elements reminiscent of the standard 16 year old such as viscosity and apricot jam. The barley umami and fish stock umami are strong. However, it's not a cloying flavor but natural umami, making it easy to drink repeatedly without tiring. 【Very Good】 Lagavulin's official 12 year old limited edition. Bottled in 2011. Bottled annually at cask strength with different batches each year. This 2011 bottling was extremely delicious when drunk at Yurakucho, and since some bottles remained in the market at the time, I purchased a few to drink at home. As described above, it's an exceptionally delicious malt with house style notes, without artificial flavors and naturally enjoyable, leading to drinking large amounts each time. In fact, I'm about to finish the third bottle at home.(laughs) Perhaps it fits my personal preference perfectly, but once I start drinking, I find myself not deeply analyzing the tasting notes but rather wanting to drink continuously. After buying a bottle, I haven't written any tasting notes since. However, realizing I should properly engage with it, I seriously tasted it this time. Firstly, there's the Lagavulin characteristic apricot jam with viscosity, but I also felt a notably strong condensed citrus note similar to what I often experience in my favorite Laphroaig and Caol Ila. There's barley umami, seafood umami, the tidal and peat intensity typical of Islay cask strength, as well as a heavy thickness. It's overflowing with the barley umami of a young malt, giving a fresh, youthful nuance overall, yet without prickliness, it's a well-rounded malt. This might be slightly influenced by several years of bottle aging. And it's an Islay malt with natural deliciousness that never becomes tiresome, so this bottle is a type I'd never mind having multiple bottles of at home. #Lagavulin (LAGAVULIN)