Lagavulin 12 Year Old Diageo Special Releases 2024 "Fireside Tales" is the closest to the "classic Laga 12 CS" style in this year's special release series.
Basic Information: Region and Series: Islay single malt, part of the Diageo Special Releases 2024 "Fireside Tales" special edition.
Age and Alcohol Content: 12 years old, 57.4% ABV, naturally cask strength bottling.
Casks: First-fill ex-bourbon American oak casks + refill American oak hogsheads + refill European oak butt, following the classic bourbon/refill route, without resorting to last year's tequila/virgin oak trick. Aroma and Taste
Aroma: Very clean with a heavy smoky note, full of campfire ash, bacon, campfire smoke, mossy peat, and a touch of tobacco; followed by bread crust, a hint of coconut, vanilla, sea, grapefruit, lemon peel, and olive brine—a typical sea breeze + peat + citrus blend.
Taste: Quite powerful on the palate, thick and oily, bursting with campfire smoke, ash, grilled fish, and smoked herring, accompanied by lemon, lime, light honey, and vanilla; the mid-to-late stages feature black pepper, iodine, roasted coffee beans, and tobacco, slightly sweeter than some vintages but still maintaining a dry overall character.
Finish: Very long, warming, with a mouthful of ash, iodine, tobacco, mustard, and coffee beans—a typical "sea + fire + bittersweet" finish that Lagavulin 12-year enthusiasts will thoroughly enjoy. Positioning and Drinking Recommendations
Style Positioning: Compared to the 2023 tequila cask, the 2024 version returns to the "classic Laga 12 CS" route, only with a slightly higher sweetness and easier drinking experience. Reviews generally consider it one of the most reliable and worthwhile purchases among this year's Special Releases.