DC Area - Lagavulin Cask Strength

If you mean the Owners Bottling of 12yo CS Lagavulin, I don't think it is being imported into the USA. Someone else may have more current info on that though, as new bottlings usually take longer to reach my local shelves than they do elsewhere in the US.

You may be able to find it in an independent bottling, though. Lagavulin is not frequently bottled by the independents, but Cadenhead has bottled it occasionally. It's not cask strength, but Murray McDavid has issued some bottlings of Lagavulin at

46% ABV. And Signatory offered a 5yo Islay under their "Vintage" label without naming the distillery on the label. They were offered at 40% ABV, and there was a CS version as well, at 58.4%. These were unofficially reputed to be Lagavulin, and my tastebuds agree (although if they were proven to be Caol Ila I'd believe that as well). The CS version seems to be mostly gone now, locally, but you might find it where you live.

Good Luck,

Bart

naming the distillery on the label. They were offered at 40% ABV...

This is still widely available, though it is not an enjoyable whisky unless you are desperate for any hint of Lagavulin. It's a weak, dull reminder of the 16.

I'm not sure I entirely agree that it is not an enjoyable whisky.

I do agree that it's only a weak dull reminder of the 16.

I think of it as more of an inexpensive strong blast of peatiness, and prefer it to the Bowmore Legend or the McClellans Islay for that, but it definitely lacks all the depth of character that makes the Laga 16 so special. The CS version has a little more of both character and strong peaty blast, but it also lacks the depth of the OB 16. It depends upon what Justin was looking for in a CS Lagavulin: peaty intensity? the Sig. Islay (especially the CS) might fill the bill... contemplative depth? probably not.

Bart

I'm just comparing my Signatory Islay 5 (Lagavulin) to my McClelland's Islay (Bowmore Legend clone) and maybe it's a bottle-by-bottle thang, but the Bowmore is big, bright and irresistable, and the Lagavulin is all flab. It has tantalizing Lagavulin notes, but it's like trying to reel in a marlin and winding up with a old soggy tennis shoe. The Bowmore is wonderful in comparison--a real burst of pleasure with twists and panache. I'm having both with a little ice, BTW.

I have another Signatory Islay 5 and maybe it will be better. I have had the higher proof version and it is gobs better.

[snip]

You may have a point there.

I've had several bottles of these, and I thought I noticed an off sour note in some bottles of the Sig. Islay (40%) I purchased at one store - but I never did a head to head, and it wasn't so pronounced that I was certain the difference wasn't in my imagination. I merely quit buying them from that location.

On the other hand, I know I've found significant differences in the B. Legend, from at its best a bottle I would have believed was a mislabeled Bowmore 17 to one that was absolutely undrinkable. I still have half a bottle of that one (free to anyone who wants to risk their health or knows of an industrial use for whisky! Like potatoes soaked in recycled battery electrolyte with notes of lead, copper, zinc, and antimony!)

It was some horrible fluke though; no other Legend or McClellands that I've had was objectionable, it's just that some (particularly with the Legend) were better than others.

Bart

that I've had was objectionable, it's just that some (particularly with the Legend) were better than others.

The last couple I've bought have been great, but two years or more ago they had a lot of perfume in them (but let's not start that discussion all over--happy days are here again).

Have to agree with that. When Bowmore is "on" there's nothing better!

Indeed. I've consumed two bottles of the Bowmore Cask Strength and one bottle of the 12y.o., and all were exceptional -- especially the Cask Strength, which is easily one of my favorite whiskies.

All three bottles had the paper label, and the 12y.o. was at 43%abv.

-Matt