Lagavulin 16

Picture from Master of Malt

The Lagavulin 16 was, I think, the first Islay's I've ever tasted. It came as part of a tasting flight of Islay's at the Auld Alliance. Other whiskies in the flight included Bowmore 12, Caol Ila 12, Ardbeg 10, and Laphroaig 10. Of the 5, the Lagavulin 16 was my favourite.

One of the amazing things about the Lagavulin is that the 16 year expression is actually its standard release. The 12 is limited edition, as is the 8 that was recently released as part of an anniversary celebration. Not many distilleries have a 16 year old standard release.

I think it was the Lagavulin 16 that got JP hooked on peat and Islay's malt. It was also one of the first few bottles that I ever bought for myself (I think the first ever was...the Kavalan Single Malt, then the Taketsuru 12, then this one. The order gets a little hazy after that).




Colour: Dark gold, bordering on amber.

Nose: My first impression of this was a very meaty nose. It smelt like a barbecue, with lots of cooking and slightly charred meat upfront.  The barbecue makes way to unveil the usual Islay's flavours. Peat is very present without dominating everything else. There's a nice saltiness in the nose too. Then, something fruity. Oranges? Orange/Lemon zest? More citrusy than sweet. Some nuts as well, but I     don't think I can pin it down.

Palate: This is sooo good. Basically, the Lagavulin Distiller's Edition (previously tasted), minus the additional wine/sherry influence. Peaty, but more charcoal than ash. Rather smoky too. Then, meaty and savoury, with a dash of salt. Not really spicy. Just a little bit of...pepper? Chilli? Or saffron? This one brings out some citrus fruits if you let it hang around. A very well-rounded whisky.

Finish: Smoke, peat, a bit of vanilla from the wood, and smooth. A little bit of zest, some leftover savouriness. The finish lasts quite a bit, and dries the back of the throat a little. But on the whole, this is smooth.

Overall: Good stuff. Probably my favourite affordable Islay. This one is obtainable from Duty Free at about $83, and at some shops for about $120. Really good value for money.