The oldest OB of Lagavulin released to date. Refill American Oak and European Oak. 1868 bottles.

Diageo Special Releases 2013

Inviting kiln smoke on the nose, damp earth, but not strong. Recognizably Lagavulin and so far not at all tired. I swear I'm getting notes of pastrami too.

Oh, hell yes. This is fantastic. Gentle, warming, earthy-woody smokey vanilla-cocoa. Actually fairly in line with what I'd expect from having tasted the 25 and 30, wish I could do a side-by-side here. Very lingering finish with peat wafting through the nostrils with something sweet and something that I swear seems like a hint of pastrami.

I'll admit that I expected this to be a little old and tired, and wanting for peat -- but this is truly excellent stuff.

n:  Funk, fermented fruits, and wood tarnish

p:  Tar and ash.  Dark chocolate and roasted coffee.  Hint of soap.

B+/A-

n: beef jerky and smoked meats, strawberry roll-ups, dried red berry jam. Waxed parchment with lemons wrapped inside. Toasted merengue and smoked oysters on the halfshell.

t: very maritime with sea salt + sardine oil on saltine crackers. Fresh oyster juice with a heavy dose of earthy BBQ smoke and tarry iodine in the middle. Vanilla oil and leather in the long, delicious finish.

A-.