tylerss20
Lagavulin 16 Year
Single Malt — Islay, Scotland
Reviewed
March 30, 2018 (edited May 10, 2018)
By the standards of some other Islay expressions, the peat presence in Lagavulin's flagship is a bit more subdued. The nose is pipe tobacco and seaweed, with a little more sweetness than normally expected from Islay. First sip has classic wood smoke and brisket notes you expect, but underlying that is a palpable fruitiness of apricots and pears. The finish is medium, with the bracing ocean brine and smoky pepper.
This is a far more complex dram than other entry-level Islay offerings (Laphroiag and Ardbeg 10). Is it $30 better than those expressions? It would depend how I was feeling that day. For smoke bomb enthusiasts, Lagavulin may come across as too subtle, but there are so many layers to this, peated scotch lovers should keep a bottle on hand.
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@tylerss20 - yes, Corry is a good one. After you drink peated whiskies for a few years the smokiness becomes a lot less noticeable. Not sure why.
@Rick_M well I'm relatively new to the whiskey appreciation, so my experience is somewhat narrow. IMO, the Ardbeg expressions have that campfire and brine cranked the highest. Of what I've sampled, Ardbeg Corryvreckan is the most extreme example of smoke.
@tylerss20 - which whisky do you find the smokiest?