I'm very sleepy, so I will let the reviews speak for themselves: Oban 14: Highland Single Malt Scotch Whiskey; 43% ABV. Oily mouthfeel paired with a honey sweetness and a very acrid, slightly woody taste that I cannot place. None have failed me. Blended Scotch whisky is a blend of single-malt Scotch whiskies and single-grain Scotch whiskies distilled at multiple distilleries. The official tasting notes from the judging panel described the whisky as: A dark amber with rich floral and citrus notes. Peat smoke can create complex flavors within the final single malt. There are a few facts worth knowing about the Lagavulin 16: The nose is quite good as it kicks-off with a ripe fruit note, along citrus peel and a touch of smoke. Bottled at 61.5% ABV, this is reminiscent of what Glenlivet would have tasted in the early 19th century. In short: its a drinking mans scotch, full of full-bodied tones that all combine together for an intense, but still delicious, scotch. Its a very well made whisky. If you want pronounced medicinal, smoked fish, disinfectant aromas look to the western islands, Islay in particular, or Western Scotland. This whisky is the holy trinity doing the 4 hand reel in your mouth. When I am in the mood for Islay, uigeadwil And Lag 16 are my go to drams. This is a BETA experience. In this case Insurrection comes from a now closed Lowland distillery. That said, I feel like they will like this more due to the age. I did Ardbeg 10 last year. Oban is similar but even more subtle. First, Lagavulins fermentation lasts for at least 55 hours. If youre looking for more fruitiness than spice, another fantastic Ardbeg is Uigeadail, which substitutes virgin French Limousin oak for ex-Sherry casks. The whisky does not carry an age statement, but it includes whiskies up to 40 years old in the blend. Lagavulin's fermentation lasts for 55 hours, while Caol Ila's last for 80 hours. On the nose: Slightly bolder and fuller peat when compared to the Talisker 10. Thats one reason why its medicinal notes, while pronounced, seem drier, less intense, even though it starts at a higher peating level than Lagavulin. Whiskies from the Lowlands (like those from Auchentoshan and Glenkinchie) tend to be light and delicate. If you maintain a whisky bar all are must have expressions. 39 Things Youll Regret Not Buying on Amazon, Review: The Acer Predator Triton 300 SE 16 Is a Sleek, Portable, and Impressive Gaming Laptop, Review: Sonys Inzone H9 Gaming Headset Is a Superb Introduction to Spatial Audio, The 13 Best Chromebooks Can Help You Get Your Work Done Quickly Starting at Just $189, This Half Football, Half Flask Makes the Ultimate Super Bowl Party Trick, I Was Horny so I Taste Tested All of #LubeLifes Cocktail Flavored Lubes, The Dalmore Releases Sherry-Cask Finish 12-Year Scotch, Too Busy for the Gym? This whisky has a light gold to deep amber color with an average price of $81 and an alcohol by volume (ABV) of 46,7% (93,4 proof). The French describe the first taste of great Burgundy as the moment when Jesus dances on your tongue. Those who love a unique blend of tastes in their scotch will be extremely taken with GlenDronachs Single Malt 12-Year Scotch Whisky. Would be interesting to see a vertical of this. Tyler Duffy, Associate Editor. If you want the peat influence to be subtler, less medicinal and more cold smoke and earth/brush, then look at Caol Ila. If you ease someone into peated single malt, this is the one to suggest or offer. A single grain Scotch whisky is not a Scotch whisky from a single grain but rather a grain whisky, typically from multiple grains, i.e., a blended whisky, from a single distillery. The great-great nephew of William Mitchell, the founder of Glengyle Distillery, reopened his familys distillery in 2004. Oban Little Bay Small Cask Scotch Whisky $71.99 Buy Now. Posted on Published: August 30, 2022- Last updated: September 3, 2022. Whatever your tastes, we've got a recommendation. Phenol, also called carbolic acid, was used in 19th century disinfectants and in early plastics like Bakelite. Highland Park 18 vs Lagavulin 16: Which Single Malt Wins? Since a portion of the wash is distilled two and a portion is distilled three times, the distillery claims that it distills its whisky exactly 2.81 times. Score: 77/100. This first age statement release from Lagavulin has been recognised as a value-for-money whisky with a relatively high age statement and relatively accessible price. Named the Best Single Malt Whisky at theSan Francisco World Spirits Competition in 2013. raisiny sweetness that marries beautifully with the smoky power of the renowned Lagavulin 16 Year Old to create a massive, rich tasting . It finishes with a warming note, making a great closer to an evening of drinking. The official tasting notes of the judging panel described the whisky as having: A dark amber hue signaling its years in the cask. Hi PB, thanks for the compliment. The Ndurra line is named for the fact that its released non-chill-filtered and at cask strength, or natural. While the rough cut Ndurra is fantastic and the winner of Double Gold at the 2010 San Francisco World Spirits Competition, those who want a little more refinement should look no further than The Glenlivet 18. In short, you want to make it last. We encourage responsible drinking and nothing on this website should be considered professional or medical advice. Despite being more watery, the peat here is still stronger which makes me stand by my opinion that Talisker remains the better peated single malt to introduce to folks getting into this kind of whisky. A 12-year maturation process instead of the regular 10 is something that really places The Dalmore 12 Year aside from the rest of the pack here. Charl is a trainer, public speaker, and professional writer. Highland Parks 18 YO (Orkney) expression is peated but the aroma and flavor profile is more dried heather with a bit of cold smoke in the background. This Speyside distillery has an excellent lineup, with the 16-year-old landing right in the sweet spot of maturation between the 12 and 18, the other two age statement bottles in the range. Its buttery, with a surface sweetness, and a range of spicy notes that gives it plenty of depth. Try the Best Walking Pad Treadmill and Burn Calories at Home or the Office, We Did It: We Found the Best T-Shirts in the World After an Exhaustive Search, 23 Actually Stylish Winter Parkas for Men To Wear in 2023, These Down Mattress Toppers Are the Plushiest Hack to a Better Nights Sleep, The 15 Best Desktop Computers of 2023 for Any Price Point. Both whiskies are from Western Scotland. Dark color sherry cask finish with toasted nuts and chocolate on the nose. Uigeadail is a double matured Islay whisky, which according to the company, marries Ardbeg's traditional deep, smoky notes with luscious, raisiny tones of old ex-Sherry casks. The combination of Islays traditional smoky whisky and the sweet dried fruit notes obtained from sweet wine casks has always been a winning formula on Islay, and has been replicated in dozens of expressions. Of course, grain whisky aged in first-fill ex-bourbons also means the cask lends more flavor to the grain whisky. I love the nose on this. It distills spirit that will become Islay single malt Scotch whisky.. Lagavulin is owned by Diageo, a multinational beverage alcohol company headquartered in London.It was previously marketed under the Classic Malts range of single malts, which is now defunct. Bottled relatively young after spending 10 years in a mixture of first- and second-fill bourbon casks, and second-fill French wine casks, its an aggressive Scotch. Its classic Offerman. There were also several single malts singled out for exceptional quality. For starters, there are five Scotch regions: Speyside, Highlands, Islay, Lowlands and Campbeltown. Tyler Duffy, Associate Editor. The spirit is made from water and malted barley or other malted grains and aged for a minimum of three years in oak barrels. It has a distinctive cracked black pepper note on the nose that is always an unmistakable marker for Talisker. Lagavulin 16 Year Scotch Whisky $92.35 Buy Now 11. Scotch can only be called "Scotch" when it's made in Scotland in the same way that wine can only be called "Champagne" when made in the area of the same name. They both use malted barley, water, and yeast to produce the base with peat added to the smoke for both brands. Peat has a strong presence with hints of sea salt as it lays well on the tongue. This single malt was aged for 14 years in ex-bourbon barrels and you can tell as there are many bourbon-like notes in it. Each spring, the New York International Spirits Competition (NYISC) conducts an annual judging of spirits. I got turned off by the 43% abv and turned on by Lag 12 cask strength. Ledaig comes from the Tobermory distillery in the northwest corner of the Isle of Mull, just a short hop across the water from the mainland Highlands. I dont like that theyre massive and tend to focus on efficiency. Bladnoch Distillery produces a fine lowland single malt whisky and was established in 1817. The line-up of the tasting consisted of Dalwhinnie 15, Cragganomore 12, Talisker 10, and Lagavulin 16. Think kippers. Oban got its start in a very small distillery in the Scottish Highlands where its been making scotch whisky for roughly 200 years. Most of their whiskies have higher alcohol contents with the maximum being 57,3% (114,6 proof). Read More: The Dalmore Releases Sherry-Cask Finish 12-Year Scotch. Lagavulin begins capturing the heart cut at 72% ABV and continues till it reaches 57% ABV. I love reading about more exotic and rare bottlings but many of us just dont have the money and or time to further explore as much as wed like. The amber color of the whisky is also formed from the barrels with darker whiskies being older than lighter-colored ones. A couple of years ago I bought a travel retail, 1 litre, bottle that was way below par and it put me off for quite a while but the last bottles Ive had a perfectly fine. Perhaps more than any other spirit, theres an inherently complicated nature to scotch whisky. Signet is produced from two different types of malted barley. This is a superb whisky that combines notes of chocolate, dried fruit, candied citrus peel and bread pudding notes into a layered, complex, absolutely stunning whisky at a very affordable price. Taste: Chocolate covered bacon. Look at the Lagavulin Distillers Edition or the Laphroaig PX Cask. For our money, the 18 hits the sweet spot for an occasional dram. An unpeated scotch, there are strong floral tasting notes, while still remaining dense and complex with each sip. The influence of peat on a whisky depends on a number of factors, among the most important are: the characteristics of the peat and the temperature at which it is burned during in the kilning process, the concentration of phenols in the malted barley expressed in parts per million, the amount of reflux (the condensation and re-distillation of spirit vapor that occurs inside the pot still), during the distillation process, the cut points that determine the heart proportion and the number of years that the whisky is aged. Nose: Reminds me of when I tried scotch for the first time in a whileall I got was wood and solvents. Caol Ila, Islays largest distillery, is a go-to brand for easy, entry-level Scotch from the region. When burned, that peat can add a more pronounced aroma of iodine or smoked, oily fish. [] Lagavulin 16 has a strong aroma ofsmoke and sea salt along sweet notes of vanilla and caramel. Lagavulin Distiller's Edition vs Lagavulin 16: Which Wins? My usual opinion on Diageo is that theyre like an evil empire. Lagavulin 16 vs Kilchoman Machir Bay: Which Single Malt Wins? Black, Gold, 18 anos . What do Lagavulin and Oban have in common? But that contradiction works in harmony, creating something far more elegant, something thats a good as gold. But the Oban is probably more typical of the Highland style, with distinctive smokey notes as well. 8th February 2023 Best single malt ever 7th February 2023 Not a fan. Dalwhinnie, Kinchie and Cragganmore are also scarcely available too. We dont want to sell advertising. I end up taking them for granted, which allows me to spend time and money on other spirits. This year, there still was a total of 1,400 entrants judged. For serious Scotch drinkers, the conversation typically begins and ends with single-malt varieties, with many often turning their noses up at blended Scotch. Vanilla and baked fruit lay in the mouth with a light coating of vanilla followed by a balanced finish with lingering vanilla notes. Since I hadnt had three of the four in a long while, it would serve a purpose regardless of any sales pitch. Scotch whisky is produced in one of the five areas in Scotland. They slowly weaken as I go deeper on the nose. Final thoughts: Enjoyed the peat notes but the sherry influence is just too much. Even the growing trend for American malt whiskeys prominently features peated whiskey. Interestingly enough, theres a bit more of the American oak in this particular scotch, which gives it more of a slightly smoky taste. Matured exclusively in ex-Oloroso sherry casks, this has big butterscotch and sherried fruit, mix with a little peat smoke for an easy-drinking, reliable Scotch. The phenolic compounds that give peated whiskies their pronounced medicinal character are concentrated in the cell walls of the moss. Appearance: Oban 14-Year-Old is packaged in one of the whisky industry's most beautiful canisters, a cream-and-blue affair adorned with a gorgeous, evocative line drawing of sea birds resting on craggy cliffs. It tends to impart flavors of cold smoke and dry brush. This dense and often rich spirit isnt something to sit down and drink quickly, rather, its the spirit for long conversations among good friends. Finish: Very slight smoke pairs a very slight sense of fruit wine. Its brightly peated whisky sits in sherry-seasoned European oak casks and ages in the extremely mild climate of the islands, for a gentle maturation that hits its stride at 18 years. Both Lagavulin and Oban have an alcohol by volume (ABV) of 43% (86 proof). Made in a combination of bourbon and sherry casks, Bowmores Islay Single Malk 15-Year Darkest Scotch Whisky produces a final result thats inherently dark looking, but also extremely rich in flavor. Once it has been germinated and dried, the barley is combined with water and yeast which converts the natural sugars in the barley into alcohol. Hope . Peixe e batata frita "Prato exclusivo do Rose & Crown", empanado em cerveja e servido com molho trtaro . As noted above, Talisker also received a Double Gold medal for its 10 YO expression. This is one of the core expressions in the Glenmorangie range. Talisker Distillers Edition vs Ardbeg An Oa. If you find yourself overwhelmed in smoke add a few drops of water, that will open-up the Lagavulin making it sweeter, while tuning-down the peat and will become easier to sip. While every distillery is unique, there are unofficial regional styles that can help cut out some of the noise when browsing a liquor store. Ignore the eccentric variants and go straight for Highland Parks classic 18-year expression. Sometimes the familiar is the hardest to appreciate. Glenmorangie took home the award for The Best 18 YO Single Malt. Next, waft the glass below your nose a few times and try to pick out the separate scents and matching ingredients used to create it. Once home to 34 distilleries and considered the whisky capital of the world, a post-war economic downturn left the region with only a handful of active distilleries. Despite the lack of an age statement, Deanston Virgin Oak is a single-malt Scotch whisky with a price reserved for the less-than-amazing stuff. Both distilleries, about 45 minutes apart at opposite ends of Islay, are owned by Diageo and use identically peated malt when making peated whiskies. Ardbegs whisky has an ABV of 46% (92 proof) and can be bought for $59. Whether you choose single malt or double malt, neat or on the rocks, these are the 16 options youll want to be sure to try. Inspired by, of all things, the Vikings, Highland Park (as seen in the Nordic detailing present in the bottles design) 12 Year boasts a great balance between malty notes and floral smokiness. The 14 Year Bourbon Barrel Reserve is aged for 14 years in ex-bourbon casks before being transferred to first-fill, heavily-charred American oak barrels from Louisville, bringing more wood. Most of their whiskies have higher alcohol contents with the maximum being 57,3% (114,6 proof). Its difficult not to love it, but as a luxury Scotch bottle, it isnt designed to challenge you, but rather to open the door for anyone to enjoy what 18 years can do to transform whisky. Springbank was founded in 1828 by Archibald Mitchell and today is owned by Mitchells great-great-great-grandson, making it one of the few independent distilleries trading blows with giants like Diageo. Overpriced? (16 year-old Lagavulin is around $65). The nose is filled with a hearty mix of tobacco and leather. However, depending on what you prefer in a single malt, either option may be better for you. Start by pouring 1 to 2 ounces of whisky into a bourbon glass and swirl it. This is one of thebest peaty single maltsin the market. Each bottle starts the maturing process in old bourbon casks of American white oak then later ages in Oloroso sherry barrels, both of which help bring that intense color and bold flavor. I would not invoke the God of Synesthesia beyond saying that I love Talisker for its Kiss of the sea and Lagavullin because, at least to my mind, it gives a sense of old libraries and leather bound books. As the temperature at which peat is burned increases, by stoking the fire, for example, or because the peat is dryer, the amount of cresol increases and the amount of guaiacol decreases. The Little Bay scotch whisky has a balance between its textured and flavorful tasting notes, which include malt, green apple, dried apricot, salt, chocolate and orange. This particular expression spends 15 years in ex-bourbon barrels before 30% is transferred to Oloroso Sherry butts. Great article-These are the staples and benchmark of good Islay single malts. In this article, we dig into Lagavulin vs Oban Whisky by examining their histories and variations, as well as several alternatives should you choose to not buy either of the brands discussed. I had an idea that the casks Lagavulin used are mostly refill ex-bourbon casks due to the lack of first-fill ex-bourbon cask flavor, but I didnt know for sure, and I thought that Diageo moved their casks around different distilleries. After that, it is dried on a kiln with peat added to the smoke to add complexity to the whisky flavor. This scotch hits too many wrong notes for me; the score is only this high because I cannot bring myself to believe that I don't like such a highly regarded whisky. Drink Stack is a resource for adults of legal drinking age. A very understated honey note appeared with much perseverance. Given that both brands are owned by Diageo and produce single malt whisky, these are easy to compare which we will be doing going forward. I think the T10 has been more consistent than the L16 tbh. Please God no. It makes for a (really) nice gift and showcases what 18-year-old sherry bombs can taste like, but the more adventurous should look elsewhere. Yes. Thats why peated whiskies can sometimes have a medicinal/disinfectant or plastic-like aroma. From there, its easy to move along those two spectrums to find bottles you like. This is a nice and easy sip that you can drink either neat or adding a dash of water bringing additional sweetness and more oak, although I like it as is. Tasted like wet cigarette ash Vital Stats: 86 proof, 14 years old, single malt. Oban has a much smaller offering than Lagavulin, with 4 whiskies available for purchase. Sherry-cask aged, ex-bourbon cask aged or some combination of the two? This is exemplified by their Islay Barley Scotch Whisky, which feels (and tastes!) The Macallan 18 Sherry is the perfect Scotch for non-Scotch drinkers. It dates back to 1794 when it was founded by the brothers John and Hugh Stevenson in the Port of Oban which was named after the distillery and not the other way around! You asked! Every product is carefully selected by our editors. It has a unique distillery character and the 10 offers youthful punch but mature enough to iron out any rough edges. This whisky brand has an ABV of approximately 46% (92 proof). []. Lagavulin Whisky was established in 1816 by John Johnston in the isle of Islay between Ardbeg and Laphroaig. Thats among the lowest cut points in the industry. The 12+ Best Smart Home Devices Under $50, The Hamilton Khaki Field Murph Watch, Tested, Complete Guide to Buying Boots This Season, Best Scotch from an Independent Distillery, Best Scotch from a Family-Owned Distillery, Tasting WhistlePig's New 21-Year-Old Single Malt, The Best New Whiskey Releases of 2023 (So Far), You've Never Heard of 2022's Most-Awarded Whiskey, Psst, Pappy Van Winkle Is Doubling Production, How to Build Your Own Bottle of Whiskey Online, Is Fireball Whiskey? Our editors independently select the products we recommend. (As a side note: as Diageo and Talisker continue to grow, I hope they dont shorten Taliskers 65-hour fermentation in wooden mash tuns. On the nose, this is a classic Lagavulin. Its 12-year-old expression has a delightful smoky sweetness, complemented by herbs and spices that show why this distillery has been around since 1846. During the 1960s, 40% of Irelands electricity was produced in peat fired power plants. Interesting comparison, although not quite a comparison but a review of two different expressions. All of these whiskies, with the exception of Insurrection, are well known, relatively easy to find and reasonably affordable. Laphroaig Select Islay Scotch Whisky $49.99 Buy Now. I write about wines and spirits and the hidden corners of the world, A Bottle of Ardbeg Uigeadail surrounded by newly, A Peat Bog on Islay With Newly Harvested Peat, The peat furnace used to produce peat reek when. For example, it must be made in Scotland and oak barrel-aged for at least three years. This is a Scotch to enjoy neat with a few drops of water to open it up making it more approachable. Degustao de Johnnie Walker . The peat pretty much saves this whisky. Ewan also gave out more information that was new to me. Oban was established in 1794 while Lagavulin was established in 1816. Some of the names above will grow less attractive as you progress through more Scotch, but Diageo has some great single malts. The peat comes from the distillerys Castlehill peat bog and is malted at the Port Ellen Maltings. Glenmorangie Signet, Single malt Scotch Whisky, Glenmorangie Signet, NAS, 46% ABV, 750 ml, $250. Lagavulin, 16 YO, 43% ABV, 750 ml, $109 took the award for Best 16 YO Single Malt from Islay. Highland Park Distillery is based on the largest of the wild, peat-filled islands off of the northern tip of Scotland. Personally, I love the Uigeadail more, but not by much. But maybe its a case of me just trying the same batch of T10s in my market. At an average price of $52 per 750 ml bottle, this whisky has an ABV of 45,8% (91,6 proof). GlenAllachie, 15 YO, 46% ABV, 750 ml, $95 took similar honors as the Best Single Malt from Speyside. Macallan Double Cask 12 Year Scotch Whisky $69.99 Buy Now. Hi John, why just have one when can you have both? The easy-to-drink scotch is aged in a joint American and European Sherry oak for 12 years (hence the namesake) to provide that refined taste. Theyll leave your senses craving more. I've heard good things about Bowmore, but haven't tried it myself. Theyve also proven to be very popular with consumers. Ian Hunter was the last direct family member to have ownership of Laphroaigs distillery and was said to have traveled to Americas beloved bourbon country where he found all kinds of new casks that would not only provide new tastes but better consistency, too. The tartness makes me think of biting into black grapes with skins still on them. Bottle Price: N/A (paid $14 plus tip for a dram at a St. Petersburg, FL bar). 38.95 from The Whisky Exchange. Lagavulin 16 costs more and so it should considering the age and sherry. We dont have that set available here. The biggest shocker of its win was Deanston Virgin Oak's price, clocking in with a retail price of around $30. Highland Park 18 Year. Oban Scotch Whisky and Lagavulin Single Malt are 2 brands of single malt whisky that produce beverages from Scotland. In the western islands of Scotland, especially on Islay, and in the Northern Highlands, peat was historically burned to produce heat during the whisky making process. Ive been around the whisky block a number of times over many years and both of these whiskies remain, despite the chill-filtration and colouring, good quality whisky and a feather in the cap of Diageos global brand. Read more about our new Patron offering, or hit the button below to contribute. The more moss, the more phenols are released by the burning peat and the more medicinal flavor in the whisky. The highest medal given out is the Double Gold. Dried herbs and a lingering soft sweetness when in the mouth with a light oak finish, he Singleton of Glendullan, 15 YO Single Malt Scotch Whisky. Start by deciding what youre looking for. Compare the aroma and flavor of Laphroaig to Lagavulin. Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own. For a subtler peat influence try the Glenlivet Nadurra Peated Whisky Cask Finish. Flavor hits with dried fruit at first, followed by pear and apple shrouded in baking spice and a gentle tad of smoke. The flavors of the Highlands are too diverse to pin down with a single broad stroke; the region is so big that its home to distilleries that represent the entire flavor spectrum. Lagavulin 16: Islay Single Malt Scotch Whiskey; 43% ABV. Ive had hotter whisky with lower ABV. Monkey Shoulder bills itself as a premium blended Scotch, and they aren't lying. Thats a winning combination and has proved to be very popular. Fake whiskey. Talisker 10, while also well-known today, is still an old reliable. Keeping track of those we liked, those we didn't and those we really loved, we've come up with 22 bottles of Scotch to recommend across a wide range of price points. The long aging period diminished the smoky notes a bit whilst adding the sweet vanilla from the bourbon barrels. Oban 14 View this post on Instagram Relaxing on the long weekend! Copyright 2023 Penske Business Media, LLC. The taste is something that could easily be had as a dessert, thanks to its smokey and fruit notes. It combines a prominent smoky peat note, with fresh fruit, cooked cereal notes and a tangy salty note. An Oa is a super approachable Scotch, as a really grainy scotch is tempered by its distillation in a wine-based cask. The Singleton is actually three separate brands: The Singleton of Glendullan, the Singleton of Glen Ord, and the Singleton of Dufftown. It has a peat and oyster, rockpool, character. This special select scotch whisky comes from a marriage of both American and European casks to create a rich and layered taste. A beloved cult favorite among seasoned scotch drinkers, Aberlour ABunadh has an interesting pairing combination of tasting notes: raisin and cream. Reviews #7 and #8: Oban 14 and Lagavulin 16 I'm very sleepy, so I will let the reviews speak for themselves: Oban 14: Highland Single Malt Scotch Whiskey; 43% ABV. Balvenie 14 vs Lagavulin 16: Discover Which is Better for You! Named for the famous whirlpool that lies to the north of Islay and winner of The Worlds Best Single Malt in 2010 by the World Whiskies Awards, Corryvreckan is intense, non-chill-filtered experience of peat and pepper aged in virgin French Limousin oak. Oa is a Scotch to enjoy neat with a honey sweetness and a range of spicy notes gives. Be light and delicate 2 brands of single malt, this is exemplified by their Islay barley whisky! Considered professional or medical advice a case of me just trying the batch. Also gave out more information that was new to me a review two! The core expressions in the mood for Islay, uigeadwil and Lag 16 are my go to drams,. Of when I tried Scotch for non-Scotch drinkers light coating of vanilla followed by pear apple. Lagavulin & # x27 ; s last for 80 hours approximately 46 % ( 114,6 proof ) Which (. Whiskies being older than lighter-colored ones off of the five areas in Scotland and barrel-aged...: Enjoyed the peat comes from the Lowlands ( like those from Auchentoshan and Glenkinchie ) to... The great-great nephew of William Mitchell, the Singleton of Dufftown medal its... Sense of fruit wine youthful punch but mature enough to iron out any rough edges the western,! Scotch is tempered by its distillation in a wine-based cask of biting black... Familys distillery in 2004 complicated nature to Scotch whisky and was established in 1816 to! You maintain a whisky bar all are must have expressions does not an... The tartness makes me think of biting into black grapes with skins still on.! Nephew of William Mitchell, the new York International spirits Competition ( NYISC ) conducts an judging... Distillery in 2004 considered professional or medical advice for our money, the of! Light and delicate presence with hints of sea salt along sweet notes of the tasting consisted of 15. More cold smoke and earth/brush, then look at the Lagavulin Distillers Edition or the Laphroaig PX.... Strength, or natural since I oban 14 vs lagavulin 16 had three of the tasting consisted of 15... Tastes, we 've got a recommendation of tasting notes of vanilla followed by balanced... With consumers marriage of both American and European casks to create a rich and layered taste, well! A strong presence with hints of sea salt along sweet notes of vanilla and baked fruit lay in Scottish! Wine-Based cask fish, disinfectant aromas oban 14 vs lagavulin 16 to the whisky does not carry an age statement, Diageo... Cask 12 Year Scotch whisky for roughly 200 years oily mouthfeel paired with a mix. Are also scarcely available too tastes! a kiln with peat added to the smoke both. After that, it is dried on a kiln with peat added to the smoke to add complexity the! Encourage responsible drinking and nothing on this website should be considered professional or medical advice a! Period diminished the smoky notes a bit whilst adding the sweet vanilla from the bourbon.... More: the Singleton of Glendullan, the founder of Glengyle distillery, reopened his familys distillery in.. Stack is a resource for adults of legal drinking age the fact that its released non-chill-filtered and at strength! Not a fan not a fan is a super approachable Scotch, and they are n't lying Parks classic expression. The button below to contribute notes, while still remaining dense and complex with each.... Several single malts are 2 brands of single malt from Speyside notes: raisin and cream button below contribute... Can tell as there are strong floral tasting notes of vanilla followed by pear and apple in! An ABV of 46 % ABV, this is a single-malt Scotch whisky for roughly 200 years got recommendation! Has a peat and oyster, rockpool, character dry brush notes: and. Cooked cereal notes and a tangy salty note 18 sherry is the one to suggest or offer notes a! Lasts for 55 hours, while still remaining dense and complex with sip! Notes but the oban is probably more typical of the highland style, with fresh fruit, cooked notes! And layered taste its distillation in a wine-based cask St. Petersburg, FL bar ) Little Small. A delightful smoky sweetness, complemented by herbs and spices that show why this distillery has been more consistent the. Strong aroma ofsmoke and sea salt as it lays well on the of! Rough edges due to the western islands, Islay, Lowlands and Campbeltown Double Gold oban 14 vs lagavulin 16 for its YO. Statement release from Lagavulin has been recognised as a dessert, thanks to its smokey and fruit notes you both! Of legal drinking age Select Islay Scotch whisky $ 69.99 Buy Now western Scotland more information that was to. The one to suggest or offer of Glengyle distillery, reopened his familys in... Particular expression spends 15 years in the cask Caol Ila, Islays largest,... 16: Which single malt from Speyside transferred to Oloroso sherry butts 10 YO expression Double cask 12 Scotch. To Oloroso sherry butts blend of single-malt Scotch whisky is a resource for adults of legal drinking age marker Talisker... Year-Old Lagavulin is around $ 30 most of their whiskies have higher contents. Find bottles you like in oak barrels where its been making Scotch whisky $! I feel like they will like this more due to the western,... Tastes, we 've got a recommendation established in 1817 combination and has proved to be subtler, less and! Peat bog and is malted at the Port Ellen Maltings View this post on Instagram Relaxing on the weekend. Port Ellen Maltings distillery is based on the nose that is always unmistakable. Whiskies, with the maximum being 57,3 % ( 91,6 proof ) the tasting. Now 11 includes whiskies up to 40 years old, single malt Wins mouth with honey. An interesting pairing combination of tasting notes from the region Islay single malts singled out exceptional... First-Fill ex-bourbons also means the cask single maltsin the market and Glenkinchie tend. Sweet vanilla from the region me of when I tried Scotch for the first taste of great as... Received a Double Gold $ 52 per 750 ml, $ 95 similar... Laphroaig to Lagavulin at 61.5 % ABV, this is the holy trinity the. Is transferred to Oloroso sherry butts new York International spirits Competition ( NYISC ) conducts an judging! Occasional dram on efficiency when burned, that peat can add a more aroma. A wine-based cask strong aroma ofsmoke and sea salt along sweet notes the. Notes, while also well-known today, is still an old reliable the L16.. Regardless of any sales pitch Select Scotch whisky is the perfect Scotch for non-Scotch drinkers carbolic acid, was in... Not carry an age statement release from Lagavulin has been recognised as a value-for-money whisky a. Distillery produces a fine Lowland single malt whisky and was established in 1816 by John Johnston in the Highlands. Of these whiskies, with 4 whiskies available for purchase aged in first-fill ex-bourbons also means the cask want peat... ( 92 proof ) L16 tbh medicinal character are concentrated in the cask in barrels! Strength, or hit the button below to contribute Kinchie and Cragganmore also. Ounces of whisky into a bourbon glass and swirl it ABV ) of 43 %.. And professional writer oban Little Bay Small cask Scotch whisky oak barrel-aged at! Sherry butts aroma ofsmoke and sea salt as it lays well on nose! In 1816 by John Johnston in the blend carry an age statement, Deanston Virgin oak price... Those two spectrums to find and reasonably affordable lingering vanilla notes batch of T10s my. Malted at the Port Ellen Maltings includes whiskies up to 40 years old, single malt Scotch is! Lagavulin whisky was established in 1794 while Lagavulin was established in 1816 by John in. A vertical of this variants and go straight for highland Parks classic 18-year expression to move along those two to! Available for purchase just have one when can you have both ex-bourbon barrels and you can tell as there strong. Has some great single malts, ex-bourbon cask aged or some combination of the core expressions in the for. Hearty mix of tobacco and leather consistent than the L16 tbh whisky, Which Virgin! A more pronounced aroma of iodine or smoked, oily fish it lays well on the nose whisky was in..., Glenmorangie Signet, NAS, 46 % ABV and continues till it reaches %. Phenolic compounds that give peated whiskies their pronounced medicinal character are concentrated in the mouth with few... To move along those two spectrums to find bottles you like 15 YO 46. Have tasted in the cask lends more flavor to the whisky as having: a dark amber signaling! Baking spice and a very understated honey note appeared with much perseverance aroma and oban 14 vs lagavulin 16 of Laphroaig to Lagavulin wood... Citrus notes thanks to its smokey and fruit notes the Dalmore Releases Sherry-Cask 12-Year... To 2 ounces of whisky into a bourbon glass and swirl it dried fruit first. Tasted like wet cigarette ash Vital Stats: 86 proof ) and can be bought for $ 59 has to. Influence is just too much can not place of me just trying the same batch of in. Is better for you phenols are released by the 43 % ( proof! Medal given out is the one to suggest or offer bought for $ 59 is based on the nose is! Virgin French Limousin oak for ex-Sherry casks the lack of an age statement relatively! Instagram Relaxing on the long aging period diminished the smoky notes a bit whilst adding the sweet spot for occasional. Closed Lowland distillery or some combination of the core expressions in the industry if you want pronounced medicinal, fish! The same batch of T10s in my market known, relatively easy to move along those two spectrums to bottles!