Lagavulin 12 Year Old The Ink of Legends (Diageo Special Releases 2023)

Lagavulin 12 year old is no stranger to Diageo’s annual Special Releases series, appearing every year since 2002. The 2023 expression takes a traditional Special Releases attribute to Lagavulin—cask strength bottling—and adds a touch of secondary maturation in Don Julio Añejo tequila casks. In true Lagavulin fashion, it’s a peaty dram that offers much more than smoke. The nose is bright and briny, bursting with lime zest, seaweed, a hint of soapiness, and cooked agave. On the palate, plum and punchy citrus meld with baked apple, vanilla sweetness, and minerality, making for a balanced whisky that sails away on a lengthy, spicy finish.