I was keen on last year’s smokiest reserves release, but this year’s was just as intriguing, a step in the opposite direction. The hope is that the more lightly peated malt lets some other elements of the spirit come through or shine brighter than at their standard peat levels. Also, I like the jellyfish.
Talisker 11 Lightly Peated Special Release 2022, Island (Skye) Single Malt, 55.1% ABV
Minutia: Matured for 11 years in ex-bourbon and ex-wine casks and drawn from their least smoky stock. Enjoyed neat in a glencairn.
This is very, very nice. This is up there. It doesn’t occupy the same tier as the 8 year old from 2018, but it’s one of my favorite Taliskers I’ve had, and another one I’m upset I only got 200ml of with a much smaller picture of a jellyfish than I’d have if I bought a full bottle. I really liked getting some of the malt coming through here that is presumably hidden by the peat in typical releases.
Lagavulin 12 is the first whisky that ever really blew me away. It’s like I thought I knew peated whisky, and then I happened to order it at a bar. Also, I’ve been making a push and fiddling with my schedule to start getting in reviews of newer acquisitions closer to the time they release than I typically have been, so my reviews can help inform some decisions prior to the secondary market being the only source. Let’s get to it.
Lagavulin 12 Virgin Oak & Smokiest Reserves Special Release 2022, Islay Single Malt, 57.3% ABV
Minutia: Matured for 12 years at least partially in virgin oak casks and drawn from their smokiest reserves. Enjoyed neat in a glencairn.
Nose: Smoke, beach, sawdust, iodine. Grass, putty. Sweet petrichor.
Taste: Smoky shells. Earthy. There’s something real nice in that earthy area that builds as it opens up in your mouth. It piqued and maintained my interest bigtime.
Finish: Maritime and seafood. A sweetness. Medium-short.
While I didn’t explicitly need it, this is the kind of whisky that can rekindle a love for whisky (or kindle it, I suppose). As a person who dislikes seafood, I could have done with less of those elements, but even with that it’s still a fantastic dram. With my budget and storage having greatly reduced the rate that I acquire bottles of whisky, I was over the moon thrilled when the two special releases I wanted were available in 200ml bottles. I am now equally unthrilled I did not buy a bottle of this.
Score: 90
Musical Evocation: White Ward – “Stillborn Knowledge”
About a year or so ago, I began working with one of those people that…let’s just say she took the joy out of everything I loved even beyond the workplace, including whisky. Then I was super behind in my reviews and I finally got around to catching up and just after I got back into a groove with my reviews I had to take some antibiotics and couldn’t post for a bit. To be honest, with how far behind I was (I know it doesn’t make sense to have a schedule but that’s just how I am), catching up made reviewing whisky feel like a chore rather than something I enjoyed. But I did it and got back until that nagging cough derailed me. I’m hoping to get out these next six reviews (4 and a side by side for #375) before starting this year’s Advent calendar (something I’m always looking forward to) now that I’m feeling it again, and six is not so large a number that I’m hopeful it won’t become a chore again.
Onto the whisky, this is just something I was rather curious in trying after going out on a limb with a handful of peated Glenturrets from the SMWS without having opened them yet. Figured it couldn’t hurt to get familiar with their standard expression from their revamped line. After trying one of those a couple weeks ago, I’m wondering whether Glenturret might be a bit of a ‘mainland Ledaig’ so let’s not waste any more time.
Nose: Musty, nutty, Sherry. Some smoke. Green wood.
Taste: Sweet smoke, some spice.
Finish: Real smoke. Nice sweet and spicy tang. Some nuttiness. Medium.
This is interesting. I like it more this time around versus the first few drams I’d poured. Particularly where the smoke comes in at the start of the finish and really makes itself known. That nuttiness was more prevalent than I’d like, as while it’s not objectionable, the fact that it’s not something I care for I think hides some on the nose for me. So, at it’s not quite on the same level as Ledaig, but it is nice, and it’s interesting, and the bottle choice was nice.
Score: 80
Musical Evocation: Children of Bodom – “Hate Crew Deathroll”
