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.
I sent this as a gift and the recipient was very pleased. Thank you for a pleasant shopping experience and a great product at a fair price.
Rather overwhelming peat smoke and TCP. Intense for sure, probably an acquired taste though.
Love this bottle. Got it for Christmas and boy what a great taste. The smokiness hit me as soon as I pulled the cork and what a great aroma. The first taste was like heaven. The smokiness reminded me of a pipe tobacco and the sweetness rounded out the flavour. This scotch goes down so smooth and warms the soul.
A lovely whisky for those who have a mature palate. You need to take a good swig and allow it to sit in the mouth for the flavours to burst out. First time I tried it it brought a tear to my eye. Its not to everyone's taste though you either love Islay whiskies or you don't. Inexperienced palates beware.
A great sipping whisky. Smoke and pest and smell of the sea. Unique and unforgettable.
