Lagavulin 16 Year Old is truly a benchmark Islay whisky. It’s loved for its deep, earthy, and maritime character with rich notes of dried fruit, vanilla, and smokiness that comes from Islay peat but is more akin to Lapsang Souchong tea in profile.
Before Lagavulin 16, the distillery did have a 12-year-old single malt. But when Diageo launched the Classic Malt series in the 1980s, Lagavulin 16 Year Old was introduced and became the distillery's flagship bottling. It received a boost in popularity after featuring in Parks and Recreation as a favourite drink of Nick Offerman’s character Ron Swanson. Offerman has since collaborated with the distillery on several occasions.
If you're looking for a food pairing for this beauty, try intensely flavoured salty blue cheeses, which complement the intense, peat-rich, sweet and salty character of this Lagavulin wonderfully.
More like Lapsang Souchong tea than Lapsang Souchong! One of the smokiest noses from Islay. It's big, very, very concentrated, and redolent of iodine, sweet spices, good, mature Sherry and creamy vanilla. Stunning.
Very thick and rich. A massive mouthful of malt and Sherry with good fruity sweetness, but also a wonderful sweetness. Big, powerful peat and oak.
Long, spicy finish, figs, dates, peat smoke, vanilla.
Earthy smoke in the back with sweet and savory notes lasting long on the palete. Pulling the cork immediately brings a waft of Islay shores. Truly a classic dram for those who can afford it .
While not the brawler that my usual Laphroaig is, it is a wonderful alternative for those times when I feel like a waltz instead of a tango. The glorious sweetness of the opening nose leads seamlessly to the gentle smokey peatiness on the pallet. It may not be perfect, but the belle de jour rarely is. Enjoy its sublime comfort.
You love it or you hate it. I love it, absolutely love it. This drink is Sacred for me. It's outwordly.
Been drinking scotch for 35 years and like many of the reviewers, have drank all the world class malts over the years. Have close to 20 bottles on my home bar at any given time; some purchased as gifts, some brought over Scotland by business colleagues and relatives and many hand carried by myself on my frequent trips. Had my first experience with this two nights ago resort in Florida. Neat, with a few drops of room temp tap water, one of best I've ever tasted. Have a case on order.....
I like the comments of 'K' at least he is constructive and descriptive in hi summary and does instead of childish rants about meths and dettol utter rubbish. There will be a difference of opinion as people have different tastes, please keep it informative!
