At the start of my whisky journey, I started off by trying a few different blended products and found that I really enjoyed Johnnie Walker Black with some ice because it was cheap, tasted great and made me happy. Later on a knowledgeable friend informed me that I should broaden my horizons and explore the world of single malts. I made a note to try one next chance I had and left with some friends to a sports bar. Lucky for me the sports bar had a few single malts on the menu and I decided to go for Lagavulin 16 because it was the oldest on the list that I could afford. The whisky came out in a nice sized pour in a tumbler and upon the first sip all I could mutter was “This must be nectar of the Gods that is shared with us mere mortals,” which I feel is a fitting review, but I’ll add some tasting notes to it. The nose starts with a rich velvety nose of light peat smoke wrapped around salted dark chocolate, transitioning to fruits of caramelized apples, oranges and musty grapes, before a barbecue treat of beef brisket that finishes with vanilla gelato served on top of a piece of tannic oak with light ethanol bite. The taste starts with a medium mouthfeel starting with salted dark chocolate and ocean brine then light peat smoke enveloping fruits of apples, oranges and musty grapes, then beef brisket with a light ginger and chili pepper spice that finishes medium length with dark chocolate, caramel flan, apples, musty grapes, beef brisket, ocean brine, light chili pepper and light oak tannins. This is just an incredible whisky that everyone should try and appears to be distiller’s most popular spirit with over 10k ratings. There is only one issue with this whisky and that is the cost is more than Ardbeg Oogie or Corry, so even if I walk into the ABC store with the intent to pick one up, I usually leave with an Ardbeg.