.lagavulin - 21

52% abv, €599, single malt

Nose: a gentle, mildly smoky nose, where red fruits like raspberries and strawberries take the upper hand at first. Fresh, minty citrus with grapefruit and sugarcoated tangerine parts take over, followed by dark chocolate still wrapped in the metallic wrapper.
Palate: a dry and firm, smoky and meaty, barbecue experience at first. Later spicy jalapeños on the tongue, while red fruits – again raspberries and strawberries, gently cover the rest of the palate, accompanied by sweet, now unwrapped milk chocolate.
Finish: dry and medium long, with sweet chocolate and some ash. A spicy white pepper note too, plus a little metallic piece of the wrapper got stuck somewhere…
Mark: +++++

Conclusion: I like it, but there are equally good 21 year olds that can satisfy me for a better price, speaking in whisky terms.
More info: 1991-2012, bottle #2197 of 2772, 1^st fill ex-Sherry

Tasted at the distillery manager’s tour at the Lagavulin distillery, May 2013