Lagavulin Offerman Edition Review
- Written by News Co Media
At The Whisky Club, which offers many of the finest world whiskeys at a discount, one of our favorites is the Lagavulin Offerman edition.
Over the years, a ton of celebrities have lent their name to the whiskey business, often at great peril to the average whiskey drinker. However, an exception can be made for Nick Offerman.
Most people know Nick Offerman from his television show on Parks and Recreations.
However, Nick Offerman loves fine whiskey and has been associated with Lagavulin.
Offerman has stated numerous times that he had his first taste of Lagavulin single malt Scotch whiskey in his early 20's and although he has tried many other whiskeys in his drinking time, he continues to come back to Lagavulin as his whiskey of choice.
Known best for playing the boss of the popular hit TV show Parks and Recreations, the writers of the show included many instances showing the fictional Ron's love of Lagavulin, which of course is absolutely true.
Thus, in 2019 Lagavulin Distillery teamed up with Nick Offerman to offer the Lagavulin Offerman edition.
Known in particular for its 16-year-old Lagavulin scotch, the 2019 Lagavulin Offerman edition is an 11-year-old, single malt scotch
All scotch produced by the company is distilled at the Lagavulin distillery in Islay Scotland which has officially been legal and operating since 1816. ( Note that the distillery may have been operating illegally since around 1742.)
The distillery is owned by Diageo. operating out of London, one of the largest producers of alcoholic beverages in the world.
Lagavulin produces 8, 12, 16-year-old scotches, a distillers version, as well as 21, 25, and 37-year-old scotch. The Lagavulin Offerman edition is the only 11-year-old scotch that the company produces.
Originally intended to be released primarily in America, Lagavulin quickly became available in other countries as well such as Australia.
How is the Lagavulin Offerman edition packaged?
Coming in the standard 750 ml bottles, Nick Offerman personally worked with Lagavulin to select both the particular blend of scotch to select as well as the packaging.
The bottle comes with a photo of Nick, his signature, along with his personal ode to
Lagavulin with the words:
I have traveled the world and sampled many attempts at pleasing nectars, but it is solely this distillation of Islay; a tiny, charismatic Scottish isle, that has claimed my palate. Yea, and my heart into the bargain.
If there was any doubt that Nick absolutely loves Lagavulin and stands wholeheartedly by the product, try to find any other celebrity liquor where the celebrity waxes poetic for the drink.
What about the Scotch itself? Is it any good?
One reviewer described the Lagavulin Offerman edition as having the traditional peatiness of Lagavulin with notes of dried fruit to infuse and smooth out the Peatiness.
The moment the Lagavulin Offerman blend hits your lips, there is an immediate tingle
on the palate from the spices combined with the fresh berry flavor.
In another review which was more extensive, the taster said first of all, yes there is the taste of peat, but it is far from a slap in the face.
As to the fruit, the reviewer described Lagavulin Offerman is a bit like tasting a fruit cake.
There are hints of pear, apple, and even hints of ripe banana. Add to that tastes of lemongrass, citrus, nectarine, and peach, and you have one fruity brew.
The quick bite of the peatiness son settles down and the fruitiness takes over.
Finally, here is a hint of tea, perhaps Earl grey, that completes the taste sensation.
In another review, the fruitiness of the Lagavulin Offerman was praised. The reviewer contrasted the Lagavulin Offerman with the 16-year old version he was used to, saying the traditional drink had much more of a smoky taste.
Lagavulin from the Whisky Club has a nice complex whisky that brings together fruity, smoky, briny, and malty notes together perfectly in one package.
The drink is incredibly smooth to the taste as soon as the initial shock of the peatiness goes away from the nose.
It blends perfectly and goes particularly well with a ribeye steak or a porterhouse.
Cost-wise, the whiskey is a bit more expensive than when it came out in 2019. Then it was priced at around $98 Australian dollars. Due in part to additional import taxes, a bottle currently runs around $129 Australian per bottle.
Is their extra fruitiness in the Lagavulin Offerman edition?
We would definitely say yes and that's good news and bad news for scotch drinkers.
If you are used to the definitely stronger and bolder Lagavulin 16, then you may be disappointed in the Lagavulin Offerman edition as it is definitely a lighter scotch.
However, for many scotch drinkers, particularly women who tend to like a softer drink, Lagavulin Offerman may be just the ticket.
Although it hasn't won any awards like the Lagavulin 16, the Lagavulin Offerman edition is rapidly becoming a fan favorite, and certainly not due to the popularity of Nick Offerman.
This is definitely a Scotch that holds its own, and scotch aficionados have certainly begun to take notice. Most predict the Lagavulin Offerman edition will become a part of the regular Lagavulin distillery roundup for many years.
The Lagavulin Offerman edition also fits very well into the Lagavulin as far as price range.
Where to buy your Lagavulin Offerman edition scotch?
In Australia, there is only one place to buy a variety of scotch brands at great prices, and that is at The Whisky Club Australia.
The Whisky Club has dozens of great scotch brands at extremely affordable prices.
For details about a lot of great scotch brands, go to https://thewhiskyclub.com.au to check out your favorites.