Lagavulin 24 Years Old 1991 Feis Ile 2015 59.9% 1991

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Serge Valentin (93)

Yes we’re late. But you may have noticed that there are only 365 days in a year. Ahem. This baby was ‘triple matured’ in US Oak, Pedro Ximenez, and oak puncheons. Was that, I mean, done successively, or a vatting? Sure I could find out, but let’s not lose any more time… Colour: pale gold. Nose: awawaow… It makes the youngsters nose… well, young in comparison. They have found a Broraness, I’d say. First wax, then all things from a deep forest, including moss, mushrooms, fern, pine needles, leprechauns (what?)… And long-forgotten natural turpentine, shoe polish, grandma’s walnut wine, grapefruit liqueur… There is a sherriness, but I find it appropriately minimal, with just a few raisins. All the rest just mingled with this superb spirit. With water: oh a medicinal side. Lagavulin’s hardly the most medicinal of them all on southern Islay, but this one does reek of ‘a gentle hospital’. Mouth (neat): look, and I swear I’m not making this up, this baby reminds me of an old no-age Lagavulin spring cap. The one with doctors’ advices on the label. Well I’m sure this one cures anything. Love the citrons, the menthol, the salty smoke, the cocoa, the notes of Campari (I know, no brand names), the shoe polish… With water: sparkling lemon wine! A bit surprising, but lovely. Islay’s spritz. Finish: rather long, clean, citrusy, smoky, salty, balanced… Only very, very, very tiny flaw, traces of pencil shavings in the aftertaste (sucking a pencil). Comments: wouldn’t there be room for a great 25 yo Lagavulin within each year’s Special Releases?