Lagavulin 12 Year Fireside Tales Special Release Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Drying in feel, and quite gentle. Fresh, clean phenols rise to the fore at once with aromas of a smouldering bonfire on a distant beach and wood ash, introduced by healing cream and carbolic soap. These are backed by subtle fruity notes, some sweet, suggesting rowan jelly, others hinting at unripe redcurrants. There is more ash in the development. This is smokier with a drop of water, but still not heavily “smoky”. Smoothly creamy and really mouth-filling in texture, very sweet to taste at first then quickly drying, with a sprinkling of salt and a controlled smokiness, the intensity lip-tingling. The finish is long, finally powerfully smoky and drying, with a twist of warming spice that also lingers in the aftertaste. A classic Lagavulin.