Lagg Corriecravie Edition

January 20, 2025

I first became acquainted with this whisky last year at a seaside bar in Leith and was impressed with it. But a bar is no place to conduct a proper review. So, in the interest of science, I’ve decided to conduct my first controlled-environment review of 2025 with that very same whisky. It is the Lagg Corriecravie, created by the Isle of Arran Distillers at their Lagg Distillery, in the parish of Kilmory, on the Isle of Arran, in Scotland.

The Isle of Arran Distillers creates spirits at two distilleries on the Isle of Arran, Lochranza in the north, where they produce their Arran single malts, and Lagg in the south, where they’ve chosen to focus on making the peated version of their whisky. After a series of inaugural releases, the distillery has settled on two core products - Kilmory and Corriecravie - and the Corriecravie is the second of those, which they will release annually, in limited quantities.

Their peated malt comes in at a level of 50 PPM, which gives the spirit a pretty decent smoke profile.

Because I’m a big fan of good marketing, I’m always looking out for unique packaging, and this one’s got a three-fer! While it might not be so easy to notice at first glance, the glass has a slight green tint to it, an homage to the natural landscape around the distillery. Then, the bottle itself has a swooping line embossed into that glass that represents the mountains and valleys around the island. And, finally, the cork is this unique, rounded, wooden stopper that’s unlike any other whisky stopper I’ve come across. Lagg’s first impression is good!

The Corriecravie Edition is a non-aged statement release, although since they’ve only been doing this since 2019 we know it’s not a 10 year old. It’s been matured in Bourbon barrels and then finished for 6 months in Oloroso Sherry hogsheads from Jerez, Spain. The spirit has been bottled at 55 percent ABV. And in keeping with the recent tradition of respecting consumers who appreciate a natural product, the Corriecravie is non-chill filtered and has all natural color. That earns you points with me, Lagg.

The natural color in this glass is very pleasing like a rich mahogany, or a melted chocolate, and these are quite possibly the slowest legs I’ve ever seen in a whisky glass. What’s the big deal? I don’t know, but it’s fun to watch.

Nose:

There is an initial whiff of cherries on the nose, which is not totally unexpected. Some spice pops up, ,like cinnamon. I’m hooked on a fruity sensation, like fruit bubble gum. Then there is the smell of plums. And, then, a very pleasant vanilla.

Palate:

Right off the bat, I’m tasting that smoke. It’s unavoidable. Then some licorice. I go back to the remnants of the peat’s influence and get a mouth full of ash, like cigarette ash. Some chocolate-covered coffee beans. Pencil shavings. And caramel sweetens things out.

Even at 55 percent ABV the flavor doesn’t assault my taste buds so I’m going to render my decision without putting any water in but feel free to do it if you want to cut down the alcohol a bit.

Finish:

The finish is long and leaves me with the taste of tobacco leaf, a little tawny port, leather, black tea, and a root beer lollipop.

Rating:

The folks at the Isle of Arran Distillers said they wanted to use Lagg to create their peated product - and it is peated - but that didn’t stop them from using sherry casks to morph it into something truly special. If you don’t like peated whiskies at all, this isn’t for you. If your idea of a good peated whisky is one that tastes like a liquid ash tray in a hospital dispensary, there are other options out there. But if you appreciate a nice smoky whisky that also has some beautiful, complimentary notes to it, then I recommend that you go to your favorite spirit shop right now and and buy it. I’m pleased to start my 2025 off by awarding the Lagg Corriecravie, Edition a 10 finger pour.

Age Statement: NAS

ABV: 55 %

Chill-filtered: no

E150a caramel coloring added: no

Average Price (700ml): $85 (US)

https://www.laggwhisky.com/our-whiskies/114-lagg-single-malt-corriecravie-edition