Let’s keep the peat and smoke going in September. My first two whisky reviews this month were of two Laphroaigs: this 9 year old from the SMWS, and this 14 yo bottled by Signatory for Binny’s in Chicago. This week’s whisky is also from Islay, and from the south coast, but we’ll move over one distillery from Laphroaig to Lagavulin. This is an official release from 2013. It was distilled in 1995 and bottled for the Islay Jazz Festival that year—so 17 or 18 years old.

I’ve previously reviewed two other Jazz Festival releases, from 2015 and 2017. Those were both put together from a mix of refill American oak hogsheads and refill European oak butts. The label for this one says only “sherry butts”. As per Whiskybase, there were 1500 bottles released—so maybe from three butts at 51.9%, no matter what the exact cask type. What matters most is the whisky—let’s see what it’s like.

Lagavulin “Jazz Festival 2013” (51.9%; sherry butts; from my own bottle)

Nose: Not a sherry monster by any means; there’s some graphite/pencil lead and a bit of dried orange peel but that’s about it for the early signs of sherry. There’s dry phenolic smoke—but it’s also not overbearing—and some ink. With more time there’s a hint of ham. A couple of drops of water push the ink back and pull out a sweeter biscuity note.

Palate: Comes in as indicated by the nose with more (and brighter) citrus emerging as I swallow. Perfect drinking strength; good texture. Gets sweeter as it sits and the savoury notes emerge here as well. With more time the ink expands and the smoke gets a little sootier and more bitter. The salt emerges earlier with water and melds nicely with the smoke, which is now not bitter or sooty at all.

Finish: Long. Some salt emerges here and the sweeter citrus and the dry smoke linger to the end. The salt expands and becomes the top note with water.

Comments: Excellent stuff again. These notes are from an early pour from the bottle. I expect it will open up even more with a little air in the bottle. I’ll try to remember to report as it progresses.

Rating: 90 points.