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.
First impressions: Caol Ila 12 but stronger. A little disappointed, even though I like Caol Ila 12. I was hoping for something bolder. On second taste, however, the spirit, as it often happens, came to life. Much more smoke on the nose and salt on the palate. As a huge bourbon drinker and a fan of every Islay I've had so far, it definitely ranks as one of the best. However, at the price it is, it should have a higher ABV (46-50%) and no chill-filtering. Price aside, it is great stuff.
Amazing taste sip it and saviour but don't go near it if you are basic blended and water person. Enough said!
Smoke all the way.. Not your every dram.
Shared your gem with a gathering of 100+ US academics in London last week. Stunned by its potent aroma and unending smooth taste, L quickly became known as 'liquid smoke'. My task, should I accept it, is now to ship tasters and/or bottles to our next gathering in October 2015. All help appreciated!
I had always been more partial to small batch bourbons than whiskey. Once I was offered a glass of Lagavulin 16, it was obvious the reason was because I had never had the right whiskey before. Delightful, bold complex taste that lingers. It has become my "adult beverage" of choice.
