Lagavulin Distillers Edition 2022 Review
As I scrolled through my Instagram feed as Father’s Day approached, I kept running into Lagavulin posts talking about how the Lagavulin Distillers Edition was the perfect gift for dad. Unfortunately, my dad is not much of a scotch guy, so it did not solve my challenge of picking out something cool for him. However, it did prompt me to look further into the Distillers Edition series and create the review we have today for the 2022 Distillers Edition.
The Distillers Edition series has been around since 1979 when Lagavulin produced its first bottle using this branding. This whisky is known for being finished in Pedro Ximenez sherry casks to give the whisky some extra sweetness. We have already reviewed a couple whiskies that have used Pedro Ximenez casks, including distillery neighbor Laphroaig. I have enjoyed both times these casks have been used, so I am expecting a deceptively savory nose with a sweet palate from this whisky.
It’s a no age statement whisky, which seems to be a recent development for the Distillers Edition. As recently as the 2021 Distillers Edition, Lagavulin provided the date the maturation process began as well as the bottling date. In 2021, it was aged 15 years between 2006 and 2021. Very curiously, this information is no longer given for the 2022 edition.
What we can guess though is that the whisky follows a similar formula to what was done in the past. It seems to be fairly accessible and not outrageously expensive if buying in the United States. I definitely appreciated not having to go through the challenges of shipping this one from Europe to try it.
The box does mention this is a double matured whisky. I had not heard this term before getting this whisky, so some quick googling revealed that it is a fancy way of saying more than one cask was involved in the maturation process. In this case, the second cask or finishing cask being the Pedro Ximenez sherry.
The Basics
Aged: Unknown
Bottles available: Unknown
Casks: Pedro Ximenez sherry
ABV: 43%
Color: Light amber
Nose: Salt, BBQ, wood
Cost: $130
Purchased at: Binny’s Beverage Depot in Chicago
Taste
The first sip is a combination of raisins and cinnamon. It’s a very heavy ,sweet spice flavor that includes a peaty finish. The peat is not the strongest smoky finish though. It is pleasant but does not linger on in your mouth for a long time like other whiskies. Its low ABV helps to provide very little burning from the alcohol.
Again, this one is similar in flavor profile to the Laphroaig 2021 Cairdeas Pedro Ximenez casks release and the recently released Kilchoman x Land Rover '639'.
Neat or With Water
This one can be drank neat as it is very sweet and has a low ABV. I found adding a drop of water did make the nose a little more sweet as opposed to savory and also helped bring out some of the sweeter flavors of the whisky. One drop of water at most feels like the max amount needed though.
Summary
Accessibility: This one does not seem particularly difficult to find. If you cannot find it at your local liquor store, you can definitely find it online.
Price: I bought this for $130, but I have seen some prices for it as low as $109 and as high as $217. $130 seems pretty reasonable given the price range for this one. I do think the whisky price should be around $100. The Laphroaig 2021 Cairdeas release, which is a similar whisky and arguably harder to find is usually sold cheaper than this one.
Quality: It’s a beautifully smooth whisky. It’s very pleasant to drink neat or with water, and it very nicely combines the sweeter notes with the smoky finish. This whisky will not disappoint.
This whisky was a really nice purchase and will be a go to purchase for me. In a perfect world, I would like it to be a little cheaper than $130. However, I think I can find a better price for this one in the future if I get another 2022 edition.
I do wish Lagavulin would go back to providing more details about the whisky age like in previous releases. If you are going to spend $100 or more on something, some bread crumbs about the process of making the whisky should be provided to consumers.
This whisky is further proof how lovely Pedro Ximenez casks are for finishing whiskies. The beautiful flavors of dried fruit and sweet spice are very present in this whisky. While some may not like the lower ABV, I am actually a fan of it because it helps to showcase the flavors of the whisky much better. Also, it’s not like 43% ABV is nothing. However, if you are looking for something stronger, the Laphroaig 2021 Cairdeas may be more your speed.
If you listened to the Father’s Day advertisements from Lagavulin or were just like me and selfishly got it for yourself, you will be very happy with this whisky. Just try looking for it at a couple different stores before buying. You may find more reasonable deals than what I paid.