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.
I bought a bottle for my son. We tasted it, and it was just beautiful! Son was so impressed that he had to share it with everyone who visited! Seriously, I'm afraid I would only share with very close friends who had an appreciation of a good whiskey!
I am new to the single malt scene and in my limited knowledge must say this is the best whiskey I've ever had. It's an educational experience this whiskey. Like I said I the title this one is my best yet.
I have just tasted this and it is truly exceptional. It starts with a beautiful mouth feel and then the complexity is amazing.It is what I am looking for when I want an Islay whiskey. I can hardly wait to have some with good smoked salmon.
Anyone who describes this scotch as "ok" knows little about Islay scotch and probably is dumb enough to mix it with soda..
Ardbeg has had its moments in recent history, unbeatable 5-6 years ago, for sure. Laphroaig will always be a huge favourite and is as good as its ever been but Lagavulin is in a different league at the moment. Its complex deep, rich and all consuming compared to the Ardbeg, much more 3 dimensional; its finesse and refinement put it apart from the Laphroaig. The most complete whisky you can get at the moment, It's a must try in my book
