Lagavulin 12 Year Old (Special Release 2018): Review
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- Опубліковано 6 лют 2025
- he Diageo Special Releases welcomes back the Lagavulin 12 for 2018. This is the 15th incarnation of the Islay single malt, which has only missed the very first edition in 2002. The limited release was matured in refill American Oak hogsheads and bottled at 57.8% ABV.
Nose: A classic Lagavulin - smouldering barbeque smoke, oodles of citrus peels, raspberry and peach. It's quite green, with a freshly cut grass vibe in there too. Then there's a wet wood aroma to keep it interesting.
Palate: Bonfire embers give way to hay, orange peel, toffee apples and salted caramel. Burned marshmallows, dark chocolate and cigar smoke, too.
Finish: Drying with bitter orange and wood smoke.
Overall: A deliciously smoky yet multi-dimensional whisky. We like. A lot.
Love your reviews Mike! They're straight forward and non-pretentious. Just honest commentary from a whisky enthusiast! Look forward to your future reviews, happy drinking...
Thanks Mike. You do a whisky review and you talk about the whisky, and nothing else. Lovin’ it!
this is the first review I am watching from this channel - love how you describe the taste and aroma so precisely 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏
subbed instantly.
Lukas T welcome!
Great review. I just bought a 2014 version today. Thanks for the tip!
MrAngel731 candies lemons, lucky man! Enjoy that bottle, what city did you find one?
Mike’s Whisky Reviews, I found them in Angeles City, Philippines. Unfortunately they are the only ones available here. I can’t find the newer versions anywhere in this country. I will have to buy them in the states and have them shipped by sea to here. It’s a long process since I can’t send alcohol into this country by regular mail. Thanks mike! I love all your reviews. Straight to the point!
Great review!
Easy to explain the cooling sensation, since ethanol is used as a coolant. The more alcohol, the cooler it will smell.
Aha, my favourite Lagavulin 12 journeyman (although I have to tip my hat to Serge). You got a bottle and you drank half of it to give us some neat tasting notes. I should have guessed that it would be delicious. The batches might change but our conclusions remain the same. I love Lagavulin 12. It's grown up whisky - big in every way. Over the past few years G&M have been releasing 11(ish) year cask strength Caol Ila and I have the same feeling for that. Keep your eye out for that because it's right up your street. Usually aged in 3 or 4 sherry butts but no oloroso detected. Possibly fino and tastes very fishy. I'll get myself a bottle of the Lag 12 (2018) of course. Cheers Mike. WT
Welsh Toro Funny you say that, my next set of reviews will include G&M Caol Ila 11 year (2005) 54.1%... and let you know a little secret, I like it.
How about putting a clock in the background, pouring the whisky, pause the camera, and then come back 15-20 minutes later to review it. That way we get the best of both worlds. Great review, as always!
Malty Alty that would do it.
Yeah you have to pour it on camera it's the only way, you better get down there and cheer your boy on...get it Billy. Nice review, rock on Mike
Great review Mike - would be great with a head to head lateral review of several "vintages" of Lag 12. With regards to the pouring - why not pour a glass in advance, and the pour one as you start the review - then you have the chance to comment on what kind of development takes place in the glass over those 15-20 min compared to a fresh pour. Just a thought anyways, but as ralfy always says, a minute in the glass for each year in the cask, and in my experience you can double that with cask strength. Slainte
Please do a line up blind taste test of these and pick what you favorite is! Live?!?
Less reviews of the '18 out there than others. I found what OHLQ said was the last two bottles in Mansfield the other day. Excited to try.
2018 is another good one, sadly we didn't get the 2019 so if you're a fan I would recommend picking one or two up.
The only Lag 12 that I ever found was the 2015 version. I believe there are still bottles on the shelf, and nothing more recent have I seen... Oh well, I take what I can find.
Lag 12 is not cheap but it is worth it. Love to see you review it sometime.
All Lagavulin 12 are really good, 2015 included.
@@welshtoro3256 Here it is!
ua-cam.com/video/UQ5Sgz9Na34/v-deo.html
The Lag 16 is my first and favorite peated whisky. I've bought the distillers edition and now this. It's unmistakably Lagavulin, but rougher than the 16. My first sip was at full strength and the high ABV was too much. Too much alcohol burn hiding the flavors. Watered it a bit and adored it. Still potent but the Lag character really shone through. Not every day, but when I'm in the mood for a challenge, definitely.
David Broughall the 16 was my first peated love as well, but over the years the 12 has become my favorite Lagavulin of the core range... Thanks for stopping by David, Cheers!
Howdy there Mike, wanted to ask ur opinion on the Lagavulin 12's ....(i see a couple of reviews of yours about the 12 releases.) Have u ever had the 2006 vintage release? Basically I have this available here in my local shop but its going for 299.99. Sheesh... but this is probably once in a lifetime opportunity to grab this if anything. Thanks for your reviews I'm a big fan of them. Take care!
Hi Bob! I'm a big fan of the Lag 12 and have tried every one from 2012-2018 but not the 2006. I believe they started in 2001. The old bottles are hard to come by but I can't say how much better they might be. I personally prefer the 2014 but all are fairly consistent and normally around $130-$150 so from a value standpoint that cost of $300 seems high. But I would probably buy one because I'm a fan... may I ask what city?
@@topshelfwhisky absolutely im in Los Angeles & the shop is Flask Fine Wine & Whisky. They also have another shop in Hadley Massachusetts @ the four seasons wine & liquor going for 144.99 only problem with this location is no out of state delivery. Well if u do decide to grab i hope to see a review on it. Cheers 🥃 & always looking forward to ur next reviews!
Awesome review buddy:). I know a certain friend who lives in Ohio that is coming to c bus this weekend that might like to try this new edition:)
The Malted Man Cave two bottles to choose from. 👍🏻
I'm just now seeing this as I have found some 2018s and am getting 2 if all goes as planned. This being 3 years ago, how does the '18 stack up against the more recent Lagavulin 12 s? The '19, '20 and even the 2021 if you've had it?
I really like your matter of fact style of delivery, I am subscribed
The 2018 is far better then the 19/20 imo. After the 18’ these really diminished again in my opinion. Good find and welcome!
@@topshelfwhisky that's the impression I have gotten from the reviews of the later releases. At least I will have the 2018. I'm close to the end of a 3yr journey as a Sommelier discovering scotch whisky it has lead me from Speyside low ABV chillfiltered scotches to CS Islay and your review. I have a lot to explore as I accumulated quite a few areas along the way. The limited nature of releases I have purchased far more than I can properly investigate. So, your review has been the validation I needed to make this final purchase. With the mountain of insite and information folks like yourself have provided this next phase will be really exciting. There's Campbeltown (Springbank and company) Edradour and Ballechin so much to learn and I now have the confidence to tackle them.
One final question. Are the Octomores worth the money? I've not been able to see my way clear to purchase any. If I were to try to step into that arena, where would you suggest I start? Or should I even bother? Just collecting opinions I'll make my own final decision.
Hope to hear from you soon, Cecil
Nah, I don't care if you pure it before or during. Nice review! Good luck to Billy🙂
I believe was was able to dead-lift 580lbs, not quite a record (even for his age) but a good showing.
@@topshelfwhisky Good showing indeed👍
Do you think it’s worth it at 140$?
Found a store that has 3 of these on the shelves, I remember you weren’t that happy with new releases.
The 2018, yes. I have 6 myself. The 2019, absolutely not.
@@topshelfwhisky yeah, they were 2018.
@@Houman7 go for it
Mike, do you prefer the 2018 over the 2016, or vice versa? Thanks.
in my opinion these are the two most similar releases of Lagavulin 12 in the last decade. Personally, I’d go with the 2018.
@@topshelfwhisky Thanks Mike. I found a 2018 bottle and absolutely love it. Glad to hear that its just as good as some of your better older versions. I like it better than the Laphroaig batch 011 CS which is one of my CS Islay favs for the young stuff. I'm gonna go buy 6 more bottles of the 2018.
Awesome review, you are quite the Laga 12 guru! There is still a dozen bottles of the 2018 around here... Can't track down the 2017. Have the 2019 bottles been released in the USA yet or is it Europe only now? Also really want that Talisker 15 Cask Strength from the Diageo 2019 special releases....
I do love the Laga 12 CS, I've had a bottle of everyone since 2012. The 2017 was probably the most layered of the bottles I've had but the 2014 is still my favorite because of the candied lemon note... The 2018 shows really well IMO and is a great example of the 12... I haven't seen the 2019 hit Ohio, normally they are available around this time of year. When the 2019 is released, I will get bottles and review them.
thanks for stopping by, Cheers!
You mentioned being in Ohio. Whereabouts? Im looking for a liquor store with more variety if you have any suggestions .
Jason Cloyd Columbus, but I know a few areas in Ohio... where are you located?
@@topshelfwhisky Im in the dayton area primarily, but Id be willing to take a little bit of a drive for a good deal. Arrow Wine and Spirits is local for me, but they lack a lot of variety. They have a lot of your standard scotches, but lack distiller's editions, limited releases, and general NAS whiskies like much of the Laphroaig line, for example.
Jason Cloyd if you ever come to Columbus try Arena District Liquor, Weilands market and The Hills market in Worthington... all have a really good selection.
@@topshelfwhisky Ill check those out thanks!
Laphroaig 10 CS vs Lagavulin 12 CS? Is the Lagavulin 12 much better for $130?
Connah Jay ua-cam.com/video/iNnWQKpKpSY/v-deo.html
Above are my thoughts, I enjoy the Lagavulin 12 more but for the money the Laphroaig 10 CS is a better buy... both great whiskies and regulars at my place.
Connah Jay Lagavulin 12 all day IMHO:)