Whisky: Lagg 3 Year (2019) Inaugural Release Batch 1

Country/Region: Scotland/Islands

ABV: 50%

Cask: Bourbon Barrel

Age: 3 Years (Distilled 2019, Bottled 13 Sept. 2022)

Nose: Smokey and maritime with charred wood, charred lemons, medicinal herbs, acrid fresh asphalt, and pepper.

Palate: Medium-bodied, beachy and maritime, burning grass, metallic, charred citrus and herbs, charcoal; with water more vegetal and green.

Finish: Medium to short with charred wood, citrus, and a smoldering grass fire.

Score: 5-6 (76)

Mental Image: “California” by Phantom Planet

Narrative & Notes: Big and smokey— a late summer bonfire by the beach with brine, iodine, burning driftwood and scrap, charred lemons, dried seaweed, and a touch of sports balm. Menthol and camphor lingered, dust bunnies or sports rub again, with a touch of acrid roadwork, dried grass, and peppery spirit.  Medium-bodied with beachy minerals, chalk, citrus, and burning grass over occasional metallic and rust notes. Less smokey than the aroma with more charred citrus, toasted herbs, and scattered charcoal on a maritime shore. With water more vegetal with cucumber and unripened green fruits. The finish was medium to short with charred wood, a kiss of citrus, and a smoldering grass fire.

I was thrilled to finally try malt from Arran’s Lagg Distillery. I was never quite keen on the peated spirit produced as Lochranza, often labeled Machrie Moor, though some of the small batches using the peated spirit were enjoyable. The fact that the team at Arran aimed to produce a heavier and dirtier spirit at Lagg, opposed to Lochranza’s light and fruity setup, seemed to bode well.

This initial foray was not as heavy as I hoped, though the abv was adjusted down and the malt was quite young, but the flavors were good and showed real promise for the future. It struck me as a peated malt that might need a longer maturation to reach its full potential than say Port Charlotte or Laphroaig which can be quite good at a very young age.

Overall, more interesting than strictly good and something you’d want to pour very often; a great preview of things to come.