Harvest Ale - Matured In Lagavulin Whisky Casks
(has 5 batches)
J.W. Lees in Middleton, Greater Manchester, England 🏴
Barley Wine - Barley Regular|
Score
7.34
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8.3/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 9
Bottle pour at the DCBeer December 2025 share. Poured a murky copper color, very wispy head. Aroma was peaty, lots of Lagavulin. Sweet malts, raisin, but not overly sweet. A particular thing to note given the age of this - 10 years. Terrific. Really held up.
Tried
from Bottle
on 21 Dec 2025
at 20:24
7.8/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 7
How: Bottle.
Where: Systembolaget.
Appearance: Hazy dark amber/brown colour with a small off-white head.
Aroma: Dried fruit, malt, caramel, some smoke, alcohol.
Body: Medium to full body, low carbonation.
Flavour: Dried fruit, malt, caramel, smoked, some sweetness, alcohol.
Where: Systembolaget.
Appearance: Hazy dark amber/brown colour with a small off-white head.
Aroma: Dried fruit, malt, caramel, some smoke, alcohol.
Body: Medium to full body, low carbonation.
Flavour: Dried fruit, malt, caramel, smoked, some sweetness, alcohol.
Tried
from Bottle
on 27 Feb 2024
at 12:33
8.1/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 8.5
Bottle. 2005 job. RAD Beer. Mostly clear deep chestnut brown. No head, unsurprisingly. Rich sweet vine fruit. Restrained barrel. Taste is similarly rich and sweet. Slick on the tongue. Fine carbonation. Rich vinous finish. Great stuff.
Tried
from Bottle
on 14 Oct 2023
at 22:02
8.4/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 9
Texture 8
Overall 8.5
275ml bottle (2005 vintage) @ monthly tasting, Chez Sophie, Jan 22. Pours a deep amber, off-white head. Dusty nose, taste reveals lovely rich treacle, mild leather, furniture polish hints, not getting too much whisky influence, but a lovely harmonious edition with further layers emerging with each sip. Probably the best Harvest Ale I've had, or certainly best-cellared.
Tried
from Bottle
on 18 Jan 2022
at 16:44
8/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 8
Bottle of 2006 vintage from the cellar of cgarvieuk. Appearance - amber to brown and cloudy a little to do with the sediment. Not much carbonation and no head. Nose - wood, Sherry, dried orange and sultanas. All encased in a boozy toffee thing. The smoke from the Lagavulin whisky is very much more subtle than expected. Taste - booze, raisins, sultanas and caramel. Again light sherry oxidation note with gentle saltiness. Again subtle smokiness. Palate - rich in texture and medium bodied. Sweet generally but dryness from the woody and smoky notes. Overall - a pleasure to try.
Tried
from Bottle
on 17 Jan 2022
at 12:58
7.9/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 7
Flavor 9
Texture 8
Overall 8.5
2015 version ordered from Rad Beer. Aroma is big and boozy with dark fruits, dough and nuts. Murky dark brown. A few tiny bubbles for a head the taste is far less boozy than the aroma suggests it'll be. The barrel aging instead provides a different dimension to the sweet sugary Christmas cake and dried fruits. A soft Barley Wine. Medium bodied. Oily. Soft carbonation. Long somewhat astringent finish. Smooth smooth stuff.
Tried
on 02 Jan 2022
at 22:21