J.W. Lees Harvest Ale (Lagavulin)

Brewed by J.W. Lees
Style: Barley Wine
Middleton Junction, England

2004 Bottle tasted in flight with the Port and Sherry. This is the darkest of the three, a brown-burgundy and almost opaque. Flat. The aroma is pure Scotch whiskey. Lovely peat and wood, maybe a few mineral notes, layers of whiskey. I almost have to search for the heat, the aroma is so accessible. Like the others, the palate is smooth, silky, thick, and viscous. Damn tasty stuff, but for me you can’t go wrong with peat. there are other flavors in here (some chocolate, raisin, tobacco, star anise, nutmeg, dark grape juice) but none as outstanding to my palate as the peatiness. The finish is clean but sweet. Nice. Mellow, smooth, and warming.

Cloudy red, no head. Aroma is apple and some other fruity notes. plus some smoke and caramel. Flavor is overly sweet and alcohol. Where is the Scotch? Shouldn’t there be more Lagavulin character?

I’ve just walked into a pizza kitchen, and having a sip of whisky with my pepperoni, I am warmed and comforted. Very dry, malty, with good life. Smooth, giving so many indicators of the whisky. Beautiful aroma and flavor, easily the best of the three cask Lees (haven’t had the Port yet). Thanks Bu11zeye!

I love scotch , scotch y scotch scotch, here it goes down, down into my belly, mm mm mmm. Strong smoky and peat aroma, with some medinical alcohol and bandaids, but all in a good way. This is perfectly what I expected it to be, although the flavors are a bit over the top, perhaps this one spent just a bit too long in the oak picking up all its nuances. Still quite tasty.

Cask at Seattle International Beer Fest; Huge line that only half the people got a sample; Nose of scotch, dark fruitiness, caramel, and woodiness; clear brown with a small ring of tan bubbles; flavor was scotch, dark fruit, caramel, and a molasses note; finish fruity with some alcohol warmth. Best of the fest for me.

The aroma is smoky with wood, brown sugar, and malt. The appearance is amber with a small bubbly head. The flavor is like the aroma but not that smoky. The palate is smooth. Overall it’s not bad but the smoke smell dominates everything. This is still OK.

2006 Version - Wooden-pin cask at Spuyten Duyvil: Wow, this stuff is awesome. Pours a very deep and hazy orange with no head. The aroma is filled with piney, scotch-like qualities, peat & fresh earth, dirty woodchip and an underlying open fire smokeyness. At the front of the tongue there’s sweet glazed piney notes reminiscent of baked Irish soda bread with raisins. Unbelievably complex layers of flavors that develop more with each sip. There’s an amazing smokeyness that reminds me of burning wood or a fresh open fire. There’s absolutely no indication of alcohol, extremely smooth texture down the throat. Leaves a light maple residue on the lips. This stuff is just absolutely delicious and unparallel in complexity.

"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.