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.
As with many Scotch drinkers, I started with the Speysides and Highlands. Enjoyed them immensely but craving ever more flavors moved on the the Islays. Now there is no going back. Nothing else will do. I keep Bowmore 18 and Ardbeg Uigeadail on the shelf, but find myself going for the Lagavulin 16 time after time. A masterpiece!
Yes this is the stuff all good things are made of. Advice to all who try this amazing nectar...don't have a different whisky within weeks of taking Lagavulin...you will feel let down..nothing compares to Lagavulin 16.
Wanted this for a long time, best single malt From Islay.
Tried this for the first time last night. Was not prepared for the smokey peat. To me it initially tasted like I was trying to drink liquified pipe tobacco. after a little while, I adjusted, perhaps its just my pallet I am so used to and love my Glenlivet. I'll give it another go before I pass judgment.
I've been a scotch lover since I was in college (and that was a long time ago); this is the best in my opinion. However, it is smokey and very peatey, so has an interesting flavor which to some may take a while to get accustomed to, and appreciate. But, once you experience it, be advised, because you will probably be addicted.
