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Sweet peat herbal maritime, my favorite laga feis ile so far

[June, 2015]  I had this dram during a "Feis Ile 2015" tasting at Bonn. In my old rating system (ten scales that translate into WB points: 50 - 66 - 75 - 80 - 82,5 - 85 - 87,5 - 90 - 92,5 - 95) I scored it 92,5. I took no detailed notes.

Wow wonderful. I like it very much. My best Lagavulin so far.

It would've been better if the sherry influence was a bit higher. A very good whisky nonetheless.

Drinking Date：19/7/2025

The PX cask didn't have much influence. The American oak content was more intense. Powerful on the nose, robust on the palate and finish, later with earthy chocolate. A hint of fruit on the finish. I prefer the Distillers Editions from the '80s and '90s. 86-90 – Wow, really good one, needs a bottle

Big fat Lagavulin, though not too much complexity. The peat, smoke and creosote stay in my mouth forever. More of it, please.

Nose: greasy but not too heavy smoke, a fresh spray of seawater, dried fruit and a little vanilla, prunes wrapped in bacon, the sweetish spice from the oak vibrates between cinnamon and liquorice, lemon oil scented oil and other essential oils. Constantly come in waves constantly the different flavors and the finely woven smoke is always there without being obtrusive. The nose is close to the whisky perfection! Taste: warm (like hot coals) and peppery awaits the one, too much fried bacon with regular salt, cinnamon, lemon and medicinal herbs give it a fresh note, sweetening towards the end. Will be very dry after swallowing and a cozy campfire spreads in the throat. Beautiful biting oak and dark chocolate complement the now present ashen smoky notes in the long finish. Also very good but the nose had more to offer in terms of variety. An ingenious Lagavulin which was almost a bargain at the original issue price (to which my rating refers). The currently required prices are too violent. Will mourn the empty drunken sample well long afterwards - such a brilliant whisky!

Superb Lagavulin - recommended.

The magnificent silence, all the good things that were in the 16-year-old here are squared, complex, deep, very concentrated, densely - the highest league, I especially want to note the amazing softness at almost 60% of the fortress, of relative disadvantages - some narrowness of the range of components; The price tag, of course, does not please, but you have to pay for such pleasure.

Moist, sticky peat. With tropical humidity. We find ourselves in the mangrove or the bayou. Notes of vanilla, hazelnut. Sandalwood, raisin. With the addition of a few drops of water, it comes into its own. Iodine and thick smoke, muddy earth, chewing tobacco, biscuit cream, speculoos. Peanut butter. In the mouth, it is satin. Silky liqueur with a very pleasant sweetness. Then the spices go wild, cumin, pepper, cloves, cardamom. And even a little pepper. Beyond that, thick peat, but also cream puff. It's velvety. Cigar smoke. Vanilla bean, dark chocolate. Final as explosive as it is long, even interminable, charcoal, grease, liquorice, heather, cola, artichoke heart, nuts. Nice length in the mouth, avocado, birch bark, reeds. A little disappointed by the nose, which lacks nuances and is not ethereal like some Lagavulins. Frankly, I have tasted better from this distillery. https://ilikesky2020.blogspot.com/2023/03/lagavulin-1991-feis-ile-2015-24-yo.html

gorgeous complex old Islay

A wonderful bottling, full of power, elegance and sophistication. Whenever Lagavulin PX is involved, I immediately melt. The endless chocolatey-smoky finish is a dream. How I would love to have a supply of this bottling...

Serge says; Lagavulin 1991/2015 'Feis Ile' (59.9%, OB)  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? SGP:557 - 93 points.

most likely the sample was touched by a "sealing wax": 88/90/89/89

I blind-tasted Lagavulin Feis Ile 2013, 2014 and 2015 in a session. Feis 2015 was the most powerful (of course, then I realised it had the highest ABV), it's a bit punchy on the nose, its finish was the longest and maybe the most symbolic Laga finish among the three.

It's a fantastic whisky, no question, with a wealth of aromas, but also surprisingly robust, especially considering its age. The nose is truly superb; it leaves little to be desired. I struggled for a long time to rate it; sometimes it's the best whisky ever, other times I can't find anything to like about it. I've never experienced that with any other whisky.

27 May 2015: sold out as of today!

Fantastic.

https://kaypingers-whiskyblog.de/frontend/fullarticle.php?id=169 Color: full gold Nose: sharp at the beginning. Maritime entry with slightly medicinal aromas, iodine, old ship rope, motor oil, coal, ash, a lot of salt and oranges. In addition there are menthols, hints of peppermint, chewing gum and only now clearly noticeable peat. Overall, not a typical Lagavulin nose, but very interesting and, above all, good. Flavor: sharp and powerful. Very salty with notes of cayenne pepper, red bell pepper, ham, iodine, peat and a lot of smoke that is peppered with orange notes. Herbs that combine harmoniously with the coal and ash, beautifully integrated wood complements the taste to the finish. Class! Finish: very long - ash, coal, iodine, pepper, maritime and mineral. Sounds with notes of dark chocolate (high cocoa content), a lot of peat and smoke as well as dark notes. Note: Probably the best Feis Ile bottling from Lagavulin to date! 92 points (nose: 92 / taste: 93 / finish: 92)

Ranking: 1st finish, 2nd mouth, 3rd nose an always welcome dram a strong and interesting whisky but for me it is too inharmonious and uncharacteristic for 23 y Lagavulin It gives the impression that good and less good were mixed the result can not quite convince

best Feis

Overwhelming nose !!! The Verriechen this Laga's is an absolute dream! In direct comparison, the 15ner Feis ile 14ner in the body is rounder and simply different. No less good or bad, just special and different! Like its predecessors, this Laga is a top class in the Malt world !!!

It has an oily viscosity and its bouquet is of high intensity. I have aromas of campfire smoke, maritime notes, citrus fruits, smoked bacon, vanilla, creme brulee, pipe tobacco, spicy oak, honey sweetness, apples and apricot. Relatively complex. A good balance between sweetness and dryness in terms of taste. It has clearly perceptible alcohol and a heavy body.

Perfect nose. I'm virtually on Islay. I could nose this for hours. Palate is simple clean and delicious. Great whisky and great Feis Ile release.

Reminds me the Lagavulin 16 White Horse, but in cask strength.

Thanks to the donor @steinrich! Yummy

A wonderful nosing whisky sweet smoked fruits, gentian, walnuts, something very coastal, tar, grapefruit, almonds, tobacco and smoked tea.

An excellent Lagavulin. It could almost be regretted that sherry soothes as much and the difference in quality (and price) with a Lagavulin 12 remains unclear.

Conclusion: 90/100 points - "nice dram, but too expensive" The Lagavulin Feis Ile 2015 offers a filigree, very delicious fruity nose, which is really fun and desire for more. Unfortunately, the whisky in my mouth is too fiery and medically. From an old Lagavulin in "special bottling" I would have hoped for a rounder taste experience. The finish inspires, however, with a long, slightly smoky-sweet finish and is one of the best that the whisky has to offer. Overall, a nice whisky, but you get for the currently called much better in the glass. In my opinion, rather a collector's bottle. Tasting on my blog: http://www.tasting-notes.de/Archive/218

I was celebrating a sample imported from the Whisky Festival 2016, which I "saved" from the Lagavulin masterclass. Unfortunately, the sample was smaller than usual, so I did not experience water. If it stood ten times less, I would not even have expected, but the overall impression of this whisky clutches up the incredibly overpriced price. At the moment, the whisky is 759 euros. The wb Marketplace is priced from 500 to 999 euros. Such a breakthrough taste experience really is not to justify such a debit, even if it's a good whisky. I'm more than happy to be able to taste that stuff at all thanks to the whisky festival.

Powerful goodness, a bit unbalanced when freshly opened, but excellent quality. Maturity is clearly visible however seems younger than 24 years (which for Lagavulin is a good thing!). In comparison I like the 19 yo Feis Ile 2014 a bit better, but spendid juice nonetheless!

A real gentleman !

Looking back at my review from 5,5 years ago; I still agree with every word I've written at that time. I've been blessed with the possibility to taste this whisky a few times a year since 2015. And it's winner EVERY.SINGLE.TIME. No matter what else has come to the table, this tops it EVERY.SINGLE.TIME. Which is, frankly, an amazing accomplishment. I was not fully aware of the greatness of this whisky and I still don't believe I'm fully aware now, but it is something very, very special. In the five and a half years after first appreciating this whisky, I've drank many awesome and great whisky. Amazing Longrow/Springbank, which are my overall favorites, but also Ardbegs, Bunna's, Bruichladdich, Mortlach, Port Ellen, Brora and some old & rare ones. They are listed on my profile page. But at the end of such a day or evening this Lagavulin would always take the prize. And I'm not saying there are no better whiskies than this one. Or that one's fool not to like this. Whisky is personal after all. But for me, this whisky is the gold standard against which all others are measured. There is not one that is it's match. It stands alone supremely majestic. And therefor, I am doing the sheer impossible. I am rating this whisky 100 points. It is worth it. And I hope that I can have the pleasure of tasting it's equal or even it's master in my life time.

A wonderful smell, on the one hand, I want to smell more and more, on the other finally try. That's the way it has to be. The whisky looks very ripe and noble. A whisky without pace and haste, but with tremendous power; you can feel it without having to fully develop. Like a dozing bull in the sun. The finish looks eternal. Like a picture that does not want to leave your head.

it’s funny how the mind works., it’s not the whisky that i enjoyed most, but it’s the highest- quality whisky that i’ve tried so far… i am smitten! so how would i describe this dram?…it’s like being at this very loud, very fast-bpm techno party and, in the middle of all the mayhem, you sudenly sit still, in your own, invisible bubble of total silence

Very nice balance, especially given the AVB which prevents it from being austere. Very good, we take as much pleasure in intellectualizing as in drinking with relish.

Undiluted, the nose has all the trademark characteristics of the distillery, but with additional prominent notes of vanilla and charred wood. Also a fair amount of alcohol 'burn' too, which is surprising for a 24yo malt. A drop of water softened the spirit and allowed through considerable extra complexity, including bitter grapefruit, old leather, oaky wood, and a hint of nutmeg. Quite similar in many ways to the NAS triple matured they released last year, and a nice variation from the standard bottlings (albeit not quite reaching the heady heights of recent sherry cask special releases: Jazz and Feis bottlings included). A relatively bitter profile comes through on the palate, which is not something I normally associate with this distillery. Plenty of bitter cocoa and roast coffee beans alongside woody oak, but with plenty of zingy citrus fruits and soft peat smoke to stop the bitterness becoming overbearing. Classic, long Lagavulin finish, with the warming peat smoke lingering long in the memory. Another high quality special release from Lagavulin then (and released at a sensible price!), but for me some of the additional elements brought into the mix from the triple maturation don't sit naturally with the pure Lagavulin profile I love so much.

I saw someone describe this as like a blend of modern day Laga 12 with some old Laga 16 White Horse. I’d say that’s pretty spot on.

A beautiful Lagavulin, as usual. A superb mastery and a real pleasure to taste.

Very impressed with this release. A very complex, yet clean and balanced whisky

Room temperature when drinking: 27 ℃ Viewing Eyes: Dark golden smell Nose: The feeling of smoked bacon and sterilized water is stronger, mixed with fermented dough. Abundant fat, fat-like meat, alcohol is not obvious, from time to time, Bourbon barrels of sea salt lemon freshener, slightly acid, BBQ sweet sauce hidden under the peat. The sense of fusion is very good, and the sense of hierarchy is also good. Honey bacon makes me hungry. Taste Palate: medium to high acidity, medium sweetness, and can not be ignored. Wheat incense, chalk gray, loofah wipes, cucumber, melon, and a little dry milk. The roasted burnt incense gave me the illusion that the peat was burning at my feet. The smoked bacon and potion appeared in the middle and back sections, and at the same time, a strangely wrapped floral scent. Finish: Long, no sweetness, black smoke, charcoal, wood, cantaloupe, chewing gum, tasteless, American ginseng body: medium to heavy, strong and solid, oily and explosive, smooth, less bitter Nose: 90/100 Palate: 91/100 Finish: 85/100 Body: 92/100 Overall: 90/100 Overall: finish is the only defect, plain and unchanged

A deeply satisfying, lovely dram. The PX influence is barely noticeable; instead, the American oak–driven notes and Lagavulin’s signature peat come together in a beautiful, seamless harmony.

Strong body, it changes every 15 mins, complex, a hint of tropical taste comes behind the sherried flavor. It's a bit different to the Feis ile 2014, it shows up to be aggressive and it changes to more complex and gentle body. Awesome bottle !!

Smell ---------------------- 94 taste--------------------93 End rhyme--------------------92

Smoked meat, cheese, honey, new burnt wood, coniferous wood, bitter herbs, anise, wax, vegetable oil, machine oil, metal, graphite

It is a truly fantastic taste. It is a taste that seems to be extremely refined and harmonized with the firewood and subtle sweetness that Lagavulin possesses. It has a tremendous spectrum of taste, but at the same time, each taste is distinct and strong. Even though these strong tastes are gathered together, it is clean and elegant like a calm lake.

Not exactly my type of dram but I gotta give it its credit. Very complex on the palate. Iodine, sea salt, pears, and honey.

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