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.
Intense taste for sure. I'm more of a bourbon guy, but had to try this out. There was a depth of flavor here I wasn't used to. As well as flavors and smells that were familiar, but I couldn't quite place. This is something that I would recommend someone to at least enjoy once.
Tasted it for first time tonight. Delightful sitting next to my bonnie wee bonnie lassie, Norma Joan in Southern California.
Nose: Initially reminded me a lot of talisker dark storm but not as intense and rough. More complex, smoother and less aggressive on the nose. Peaty smoke, Iodine and salt like the sea, a deep sweetness like malt. Mouth: Oily, rich and thick. Flavours similar to the smell coat the mouth. Smoke, some peat, saltiness, iodine and material from the sea. Met with some dark sherry or dark fruits sweetness with a malt like sweetness. A tiny hint of oak. Finish: Like how your hair smells after an entire day at the beach and some smoke. Oily and lingers for a long while. Would recommend to those who like their peaty/smokey whiskeys and i think it is definitely worth a try for everyone. Though i understand it may be a love it or hate it scenario, i think you should try it before you cross it off your list. A masterpiece of whiskey.
well ! if you're psychotic man who loves to waste $40 for drinking betadine ? then don't hesitate! go for this one .. i'm sure you will be utterly satisfied! cheers X
The best whisky in the world. I've tried plenty of smoky Islay malts at this stage in life and nothing comes close. As for Speyside, Orkney et al, they are are just lame in comparison to anything from Islay. I wish I could afford to have a bottle permanently on the go.
