J.W. Lees Harvest Ale (Lagavulin)

9.3 oz bottle shared with Humulone Red. THe color is golden/orange with a small head. It is very clear. The aroma is LAGAVULIN!! Go figure! I must confess I love this scotch so the rating is affected by this fact. I can live with it though. :-) The flavoris very malty with caramel, pretty sweet and of course, it definitely tasted peaty like Lagavulin. Try some if you can, great stuff.

2004. Bottle, Poured dark and had a nice haed. The nose was whiskey and did not set my heart on fire. The taste was snokey and wood and Whiskey. And alcohol.

"2004 Vintage": After its repudiation of the 275ml brown bottle, it takes up a short-lived residence in my glass a slightly hazy deep brownish-amber color with an appreciable creamy head that slowly erodes leaving a tight skirt of lace to conceal the glass. Oh my what a nose, where does one start with the honey sweetness or with the unmistakable Lagavulin Whiskey aromas, how about the smoked peat, meaty and fruity what a treat for the senses, start is thickly sweet, nicely malted, the top light to moderate in feel. Finish is gentle in its acidity, the hops pushed aside by the oak and whiskey flavors, dry aftertaste that coats the palate and the noticeable tummy warming adds much to the enjoyment of this “ne plus ultra” creation of the brewers’ art.

Bright amber color with a medium, firm beige head. Nice aroma, full, with notes of smoke, vanilla, caramel, and fig. Big sweet flavor, sticky icky, vanilla again, mild scotch. Massive body, very sticky, alcohol is present but doesn’t detract much. Quality stuff.

Light copper, much lighter in color than regular Harvest. The aroma, though multi-dimensional, is pretty gentle and wimpy overall with light oak, peaty hints, saffron, cigarette ashtray, caramel and scotch hints. Engaging, but unrefined barrel contribution. Smoky and alcoholic with caramel and scotch flavors. Heavy feel with a lightly creamy texture. Not enjoyable at all and an honest drainpour for me. Harvest and Lagavulin is not a good idea.

Bottle: Aroma is definitely different from the Regular, Calvados, and port. Strong presence of smoke, whiskey, and alcohol in the this one. Pours a transparent reddish-orange with a small white ring for a head. Sweet with honey and apple like all the rest. However, just like the aroma, a strong smoke presence. I really don’t get the whiskey in the taste like I do in the aroma. Alcohol doesn’t makes it’s presence felt in flavor or warmth like the others. Have yet to try the Sherry version, but so far I would say this is the sweetest. Not a big fan of the intense sweetness mixed with smoke flavor.

Orange and the only one of the four with a head (off-white). Strong alcohol present in the aroma. Seems rather flat and I can’t get past the alcohol. Actually smells like flamaldihide or whatever that stuff is you preserve rats for disection in. Tastes like flamaldihide. Aweful taste I feel like I am drinking the fluid they preserved rats in before they got disected. Drain pour.

Definately the most different and interesting of the 4 barrel matured Harvest Ales! Pours orange golden and a foamy off-white head. Wood, smoke and whisky tones dominate the aroma. Dry and sweet with tones of alcohol. Sweet malty and fruity flavor with toffee and penetrating smoke notes. Dry and woody, hints of whisky. Interesting, but a little too much whisky flavor imo.