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.
A huge whisky! Big smokey hit on the initial nose, gives way to medicinal iodine and vanilla. Again, lots of smoke on the initial palate, with sherry, vanilla, dried fruits and some spice developing through the mid. Watch out for the big peaty, leathery kick on the back palate to finish! Long finish, with the more subtle notes lingering: sherry, spices and vanilla; oaky sweetness develops at the last. I do agree with those that think this whisky is a bit overrated, it lacks a certain subtlety and refinement of balance to my taste.
It's good. Expected a bit more after the reviews. But it's good. Maybe a bit pricey.
I feel half these reviews are from Diageos marketing abilities rather than the drink itself. E150, low abv, Slightly complex but nothing special, and a huge increase in price recently make this an ok dram at an extremely high price. This is good don’t get me wrong but that’s it good. As far as even close to the smokiest nose from an Islay that’s just plain not true. There are great drinks out there for this price. At least in my area I’ve seen it 80 usd on the low end and 130 at the top. It has a good flavor to it and is smooth but could really benefit from a higher abv but that means profit decreases for Diageo and as long as people who have not expanded their Islay horizons past this are flocking to the stuff it won’t change. But that’s who it’s made for I guess people who don’t mind the fake color, high prices, and a watered down dram. Anyway to they drink itself. Salty meats, dried fruit, peat smoke, cream. 85/100
I love you, you sweet whiskey. Keep doing what you’re doing
My go to daily dram. Yes, an expensive habbit but you only live once. This gem is an inculcation of the spirit of Islay. The amazing nose and delicious palate make it a sensory experience. We can all use a little "me" time with something a memorable as Lagavulin 16. Cheers!
