This single malt was bottled to commemorate Lagavulin’s 200th anniversary in 2016, and was created to be similar to the 8-year-old Lagavulin malt served to the legendary whisky writer Alfred Barnard when he visited the distillery in 1887. It is matured primarily in ex-Bourbon casks and bottled at 48% ABV, higher than the flagship Lagavulin 16.

The nose has a soft peatiness and notes of dried flowers, straw, a hint of heather, vanilla, wet briny sand, crystallized ginger, and a good balance between the smokiness and other notes. The taste is smoky and spicy with a cinnamon burst that lingers before fading to reveal hints of Clementine oranges, maraschino cherries, dark chocolate, and a hint of spearmint to balance the smoke. The finish is long, gentle, smoky, and rich. Excellent! (February, 2016)