OB 21yo 1985 56.5% - Lagavulin

[Willie JJ]

OB Lagavulin 21yo 56.5%, 1985 6642 bottles

Colour : deep Amber
Nose : Unmistakable Laga on the nose. Much resemblance to the 16. Peat, but also mealy. Maybe even strong cheap tea stirred with a raw birchwood stick. Somehow you feel sherry, but its really hard to pin it down.
Palate : Good grief this is good stuff. I'm almost lost for ideas where to start. It's nutty, leathery, tea stained genius. The wood really shows with elements of resin, but not musty, or old feeling. Madeira? Its lovely!
Finish : Will it ever stop? I may be chewing this tomorrow.

Comment : I wish I had tried this on a fresh palate, but any way you cut it this is a great dram. I think I will have to track one down and pay the £110 for the bottle. Super!

[Ryguy]

Lagavulin 21yo ( 56.5%, Original Bottling 1985/2007, 5778/6642 )

Glass: SMWS glass

Nose: Wow, now this stuff has it all! Some burnt wood (oak), hints of leather, and an ongoing peat fire, also a hint of toffee.

Palate: Very smooth and balanced, sweet sherry, peat, and just about everything else that I love in a dram. The sherry influence is not overpowering, but just right. Loads of peat as this one goes on, Tasty!

Finish: The finish is long and perfect, I could chew on this all night! Lots of smoke, some salt and it becomes a bit drying, but in a very good way. The smokiness lingers forever!!!

Did I mention I absolutely love this stuff?

[TheTross]

Nose: Sweet. Lots of soft sherry, with no hints of sulphur at all. Delicate peat. Cream, chocolate and notes of eucalyptus and honey. Leather. Smoked ham. Coffee and treacle toffee. Dark fruits. Hints of manure. Coal dust. Pickled walnuts. There's so much going on here that I can't possibly place it all!

Palate: Sherry, peat, salt and spices. Slightly drying. Liquorice. Treacle - maybe even treacle toffee sponge. Hints of rubber and smoke.

Finish: Sweet. Coal smoke, then peat, sherry and spices. Peppery. Hints of rubber right at the end. The coal smoke lasts a long time.


The nose is astounding - one of the best I've ever experienced and one you can easily get lost in. The palate and finish somehow manage to match it, resulting in an unbelievable whisky. I'd choose this over Springbank 21 and even my beloved Rare Malts St Magdalene 19yo, which officially places it as my favourite whisky. Oh dear... I'd better get saving, and fast...