Another week another Feis Ile 2019 bottling review. This time it’s the official Lagavulin Feis Ile 2019 bottling – a 19 Year Old whisky that was matured in three types of casks: refill American oak cask, second Sherry treated American oak cask and a European oak puncheon.

6,000 bottles were produced for the festival, each one going for £150, a modest price increase over the 2018 edition that went for £130 (£20 and 15% for one more year).

Lagavulin 19 Year Old Feis Ile 2019 (53.8%, £150)

Photo Credit: whiskybase.com

Nose: Very Lagavulin-y, dried fruit, damp and mossy peat, smoke, soot and some tar, sea breeze, gentle fruitiness of the greenish kind and balanced sherry influence, sweet strawberry and raspberry, gentle smoke throughout. After a few minutes it’s getting lovely soft dark chocolate, cocoa and espresso, leather and tobacco leaves while still retaining some green and fresh support.

Palate: Peat, soot and tar, green touch, honey , sweet dried plums, soursweet dried berries and sherry vinegar, peat smoke, salted hazelnuts, oak spices, sherry spices of cinnamon and nutmeg, chocolate and espresso and lingering drying menthol freshness at the end.

Finish: Long finish with dried fruit, sweet dark chocolate, drying peat smoke, paste/coating chocolate, herbal freshness and oak spice.

Thoughts: A top notch Lagavulin. This is an excellent whisky, providing many minutes of enjoyment. There’s a good combo of  peat and sherry notes here, intertwining and creating a complex experience. Highly recommended.