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.
My first was bottle was in 2006. It immediately became my favourite and it still is in 2017. And for the price, it is simply outstanding.
Long story, but eventually discovered the Islay brands. Basic inventory includes a coup le of Laphroaigs (10yr and cask), Ardbeg (Uigeadail), and Laguvalin 16. Plus Dalwhinnie for guests who think highland Scotch is the real thing. (Ok, I've also got some Chivas for cretins who want it with ice ir, God forbid, soda. Even had one person ask for Scitch and milk!) But the Laguvalin is my favorite. Toss in a drop or two of water. Died and gone to heaven. Just touch it to your lips and let it spread across your taste buds. I truly cannot understand anyone who can drink anything else. This is without a doubt the finest Scotch made. Back in the BI era (before Islay) I was nearly apoplectic after finishing a bottle of 25 year old McCallan, but the Laguvalin changed all that. Put it on your bucket list, but put it at the top. You won't regret it.
I actually gasped when I read a review a few under my one that said they poured it down the drain. What a waste! This was the first whisky to truly get me hooked. My partner bought it for me on a whim for my birthday one year, on that gesture alone I should propose to her. What an absolute belter of a dram. Like drinking a bush fire. So smoky and complex. I always have a bottle on hand. You should too.
I dont find this as peaty as laphroaig , but. A fine dram .
One of the best there is. Cant go wrong with this one. But not during/after a dinner. The taste also improvs Over time. Wait a week or so after you opened it.
