New Release: Lagavulin 25 Year Old Official 200th Anniversary Bottling 51.7%

Elegant and glamorous. I was completely enchanted by this impeccable commemorative bottle. Lagavulin LAGAVULIN 25yo OB 200th ANNIVERSARY 51.7% One of 8000 bottles, Sherry Oak Casks The aroma is rich, aromatic, and diverse, with a sweet and pleasant sherry sensation that wraps around the entire nose. Notes of plum jam and blackcurrant, as well as an exceptionally luxurious bitter chocolate, dried fruits, nuts, brown sugar, herbs and spices like glove, a faint leather, leaf mold, seafood stock, strong yet refined peat with depth, and a gentle iodine. Elegant and glamorous—truly a scent one could happily linger on forever. On the palate, it begins with a viscous and smooth mouthfeel that expands into an extremely aromatic profile. Slightly oily, it spreads smoothly across the palate with a diverse range of flavors, rich and deep in taste, featuring a velvety sweetness balanced by a pleasant astringency. A refined umami from seafood, a sufficiently strong peat without harshness, and an elegant, intoxicatingly long finish. [Excellent] This is the 25-year-old bottling for Lagavulin's 200th anniversary, commonly referred to as the Bicentenary bottling. While there are also 8-year-old, 12-year-old, and an 18-year-old from the Islay Festival, this 25-year-old is currently the longest-matured Bicentenary bottling. I had high expectations, but it surpassed them all. The tasting was incredibly enjoyable with its continuous cascade of aromas. Though I could elaborate further, the above description already captures its exceptional sherry character and the seamless fusion of sherry-like fruits, premium chocolate, and a refined Islay peat. It has a glamorous body yet remains remarkably elegant overall. The mouthfeel is also exceptionally graceful and smooth, with a clear sense of Lagavulin's characteristic viscosity and oiliness. The drinking experience is intoxicating, with an elegant and glamorous finish that wraps you in a warm sense of reassurance rather than overwhelming you with its brilliance. It feels like the Rolls-Royce of Islay malts, reminiscent of the sherry and peat fusion found in 1980s White Label 12-year-old bottlings. Despite its impressive craftsmanship, it still seems to have room for further development. Personally, I believe this will be hailed as a masterpiece in the future. While I have a soft spot for Laphroaig among Islay distilleries, when comparing to other Bicentenary bottlings, I would give the edge to this Lagavulin 25-year-old over Laphroaig's 32-year-old. If including other Laphroaig bottlings like the Caol Ila 15, 16, or 21-year-olds, it might be a draw in terms of combined skill. Well, comparing commemorative bottles is arguably unrefined. I truly felt grateful to be a whisky drinker in this era. Truly impressive, Diageo—having such incredible casks for 8000 bottles is astonishing. Congratulations on Lagavulin's 200th anniversary. Thank you for proving that such exceptional sherry cask whisky, like this one, can be crafted from 1990s distillates without being a mere anomaly. I was deeply moved. #Lagavulin (LAGAVULIN)