Lagavulin 8 Year Old - 200th Anniversary Edition

I'm a new fan of the smoke with Ledaig being the one that awakened my palate. This Lagavulin if memory serves is a milder brother of Ledaig. It's a beautiful dram that makes me want to build a real fireplace to sit and sip. I've yet open the 16.

8th March 2021

By the way, if you post negative comments I would like to hear what you prefer, or an alternative. I get it that everyone has a different experience, at least provide a comparison/alternative that we should consider.

30th April 2020

A masterpiece! I love Talisker 10 and the medicinal taste of Laphroaig, they are dear to my heart but the Lagavulin 8 is an experience, unlike any dram I've come across. Specifically, I like the 48% ABV, non-chill filtration and what I assume is no added E150. I've been in search of a legacy malt distillery that is using organic malt, non-chill filtration, high ABV, and no added caramel coloring (E150 A). So far, this is the closest I've tasted to perfection. Tell me otherwise if there's another drama to explore.

30th April 2020

What a wonderful addition. Fantastic taste for an 8 year old- brilliant!!!

1st July 2019

Fantastic

5th April 2019

After 3 individuals tasting a glass of a just opened bottle and all of them emptying it in the sink after one sip I wonder if I got a bad bottle or if this indeed could be an intended taste

20th December 2018

Lagavulin 8 is my go to dram. It has an amazing balance of peat, smoke and sweet citrus notes with pepper complimenting the finish. I love the 16 too but was easily converted to this one. Delicious.

15th October 2018

I love peat, and drink enough whiskey with phenol counts above 40 PPM that I can't taste smoke anymore. Instead I appreciate a beautiful briny sweetness, where once I tasted the smell that clothes have after a night sitting next to a bonfire. I try to avoid anything that's chill filtered. For my taste Lagavulin 8 year old is one of the best whiskeys I've had the pleasure of drinking. The sweet, spicy, briny peat. The incredible oiliness that reveals itself with the addition of ice as a thick layer of cloud suspended above a thin clear layer of water. The long complex aftertaste. Of the last 5 bottles of whiskey I've purchased, 3 have been this. While I'm very thankful it's been made a Lagavulin staple, I'm sure selling the first release of this as Limited Edition was a marketing tactic. Wouldn't it take 8 years to get more into the market in large volumes if the initial release was indeed only intended to be limited to a single year? For my money this stands up well against Ardbeg Uigeadail and Corryvreckan, and Larphroaig Quarter Cask. Lagavulin 16yo is good, but certainly not in the same league as the aforementioned drams, and certainly not in the same league as Lagavulin 8yo, proving yet again that age statement means nothing except a reason for distilleries to charge more. Extra time in the barrel definitely does not necessarily translate into better flavor. Do yourself a favour and try this dram, it's just simply delicious.

28th September 2018

I found this in a liquor shop in suburban Minneapolis of all places. This and the 12yo. I bought this, and my friend gifted me the other, so happy camper all right!

I found this remarkably similar to the Ardberg 10, in color, smell, and taste.

Initially the peat overpowers and the sweetness struggles to come through. But give it a splash of water and let it air and by the time you're halfway through the glass, you'll start getting a sweet, fruity hit. Salt at the tip of the toungue. The smoke is dusty, sooty...and the finish is enjoyable (touch of pepper?).
Brilliantly balanced and classic Islay style.

25th September 2018

It’s lighter in color and taste, not so smokey, but still very satisfying. I enjoy the 16 year at the end of the day while relaxing; this 8 year fits nicely with a good dinner.

2nd September 2018