AntonioSchmid
Lagavulin 16 Year
Single Malt — Islay, Scotland
Reviewed
August 31, 2018 (edited October 11, 2019)
Today let's talk about greatness, let's talk about Lagavulin 16.
For me this is THE WHISKY. Why? Because it was the one that sparked my passion for the amazing world of single malts. OUR world. I always liked whiskies but all I knew about them was the average Blend (J. Walkers, Ballantines, etc) and 2 or 3 single malts like Glenlivet 12 and Glenfiddich 12.
How it happened? I chose this one at a bar just because I thinked that the bottle looked cool and it was 16 years old and for someone "from outside" age means quality. I now like to think it was fate! ;-)
My first reaction was like "Hummm... This smells very different from whisky... What on earth is this smell??
I think I like it... Let's try it."
After tasting it I was like "Wowwwww!!! What the hell is going on??? What's this?? What was I drinking my entire life??? Where was this hiding??? I freaking LOVE IT!!"
Little did I know by that time but I already was a peat head!! And it was love at first sip and we lived happily ever after... :-)
It remains as my favorite Islay whisky and only lost the spot of all time favourite to my beloved Talisker 18.
As long as tasting notes concerns, it's the same y'all already know quite well, it has that wonderful and misterious nose that has peat, citrus, brine, smoked fish(!), all wrapped up on a soft sweet sherry background... I think that's it. Quite complex and difficult to describe.
On the palate the peat talks louder but there is still some mixed sweetness of citrus and sherry on the background with just some spiceness and a salty note to balance it all. Delicious stuff!
The whisky ends quite drying and it lingers for a long time on your palate as to remind you just tasted GREATNESS!
For all of you that already tasted it, you know what I'm talking about and for the ones that haven't (why not????), one piece of advice: TRY IT!!
Maybe you'll love it or maybe you'll hate it but this is one of the whiskies you must judge by yourself.
THE END.
;-)
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I had the exact same experience except with Laphroaig Quarter Cask. Everyone remembers their first. Great review
Thanks everyone for your kind words :-)
@AntonioSchmid - Great review! I hope your enthusiasm is contagious because I’d like to catch some of it. :)
Nice story :-) My first tasting of Lagavulin 16 was in Edinburgh in 1994, and it had the same effect - I was an instant disciple. Sadly, I have lost the faith recently (but that's another story ...)
Nice review @AntonioSchmid, this was my gateway into the next level of whiskey appreciation too. A bottle given to me by my sister-in-law after she was clearing out her old boyfriend's stuff.
@AntonioSchmid Coincidentally, I had Lagavulin 16 in my glass yesterday, and I can only agree with your review. It was also the whisky that sparked my interest in Single Malts and hence, it will always have a special place in my heart. My rating of 91/100 might be a bit high, given its minor flaws (only 43% ABV, color and chill-filtration), but that does not diminish its greatness. Each time I return to Lagavulin 16 after a year or two, I am afraid I might be disappointed and need to adjust my rating, but each time I am relieved that it's as good as it was when I last tasted it. Yes, there might be some batch variation going on, but honestly I don't care as long as this whisky brings a smile to my face.
@AntonioSchmid well stated. The first Smokey encounter is eye opening. For me it opened a door to seek out more. My first peated encounter was with Talisker 10. A very similar experience as you described.
@AntonioSchmid well stated. The first Smokey encounter is eye opening. For me it opened a door to seek out more. My first peated encounter was with Talisker 10. A very similar experience as you described.