So, finally these have become available in The Netherlands. The previous two batches weren’t and that annoyed me to no end.
And yes, I’m a bit of a Nick Offerman fan, and not just because of Ron Swanson in Parks and Recreation. Based on his books, and some of the talks he did (see Youtube for that) he’s a champion and we should have more people like him being celebrities instead of socialites like The Kardashians.
Anyway, Lagavulin. Celebrity involvement. Let’s go!
Sniff:
Apart from the obvious rich, peaty smoke, there’s a bit of a roasty note. Dark grains on top of earthy smoke and coastal salinity. Some vanilla and charred wood in the background.
Sip:
The palate brings a bit of bite, but is slightly more thin than I expected. Charred oak, roasted malt, beach bonfires. Quite earthy with a slightly sooty smoke.
Swallow:
The finish veers back to a more rich approach. Still dark, sooty and smoky, but with a hint of vanilla syrup. Quite long with a bit of black pepper on the back of your tongue.
I like that the charred oak gives a new dimension to the whisky without it diminishing the original character of Lagavulin. Especially since I tend to really like that character. And yes, in the final score there might be a point for Nick Offerman, but I think it’s a really good special edition of an already great single malt.
88/100
Malt Fascination 