Both the Ardbeg and Lagavulin have strong smoky notes from the peats used to dry the malted barley. Take a moment to give this whisky a proper nosing and youll notice hints of fresh Band-Aid, sea salt, and a wallop of peat smoke. By Scotland's standards, they're both small-to-medium sized distilleries. The southernmost of its island chain, Islay is known as 'The Queen of the Hebrides' - and is certainly the reigning monarch of a typically smoky, peaty style of single malt whisky. The Ardbeg Distillery was founded in 1815 and produced in the Scottish island ofIslay(pronounced ai-luh). Laphroaig 10 - 38.95 ($51): Famously medicinal due to the cresols that sneak in. #bevdirection #beveragephotography #beveragedirection #johnniewalker #blacklabel #johnniewalkerblack #doubleblack #blacklabelneat #scotch #scotchneat #scotchwhisky #blendedscotch #scotchlover #whisky #whiskygram #whiskylife #whiskycollection #whiskyweekend #weekendvibes #keepwalking #miamistyle #johnniewalker12, A post shared by #Bevdirection (@bevdirection) on Aug 1, 2020 at 6:55am PDT, Reniel Garcia, bar director of Havana 1957 in Miami. Confused? Lagavulin 16 Lagavulin ABV: 43% Average Price: $100 The Story: One of the most well-known smoky whiskies in the world, this expression is matured in oak casks for 16 years. Specifically, Ardbeg 10 has 46% ABV, a smooth and refreshing blend you can enjoy alone, while the Laphroaig 10 has a higher ABV of 58.6%, which is best mixed with water. Light and nippy on the tongue but . Not just a star among Islay whiskies, but of single malts worldwide. Released in batches,it'sa superb cross of bacon, peaches and pepper. Lagavulin is smoky due to its tobacco and peat notes. The youngest Octomore to date, it was distilled in 2016 and spent only three years aging in virgin oak barrels. Lagavulin was one of the six whiskies marketed as part of the Diageo Classic Malts of Scotland range. While Islay gets all the press for peated whiskies, its important to note that there are plenty of mainland distilleries making peated expressions. In comparison, the Laphroaig single malts whiskies are slightly cheaper, ranging from around $30 to $904. Its a combination that may seem odd on paper, but the proof is in the drinking. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. A perfect peaty gateway for the uninitiated. The Ardbeg is drinkable and delicious and invites you back time after time. Ardbeg 10 and Talisker 10 are more distinctive for me, but they're still close. Everything is nicely balanced against caramel notes making it remarkably good. Learn how your comment data is processed. Glenfiddich 18 vs Lagavulin 16: Which Single Malt Wins? Well, while its high quality and affordable, there are much better blended whiskies on the market for you to discover. Its surprisingly wallet-friendly for the bold flavors in the bottle. Its a great, well-balanced whisky, but there are also many more higher quality single malts on the market to be discovered instead. Ardbeg is slightly less medicinal than Laphroaig, however, it is more balanced and complex. On the palate, this malt provides a incredibly thick creamy body. Try a 3-way side by side tasting of Laga 16 from 20 and 10 years ago, to one now. All content on this website is for informational and educational purposes only. She used to work as a bar manager in Paris and is a self-taught mixologist whose passion for crafting unique cocktails led her to create Liquor Laboratory. It is a very good Scotch, but I believe it is overpriced. , , +7 (495) 662-87-63. Your email address will not be published. There are better quality headphones out there. Unfortunately I don't have many whiskey bars in my area so I buy bottles at a time. Before you dive right in and take a sip, take a few seconds to fill your nostrils with the smells of caramel apples, vanilla beans, wood char, and rich smoke. If youre using it for anything other than a float on a penicillin, youre wasting everyones time. Since then, Laphroaig has seen tremendous growth, switching hands between a couple of international conglomerates after the company was sold in 1972. While I do enjoy Ardbeg, there are a lot of other great bottles out there that are a little more subtle with the peat. Lagavulin 16 Years Old Reserve Bar $92 AT DUBAIDUTYFREE.COM Lagavulin 16 pleases crowds as the default good Scotch for a reason. A great mix of ginger, lemon peel and teriyaki sauce. Lagavulin 16 - 55.45 ($73): Robust and meaty. It did not live up to our expectations. Brutally strong and smoky. Perhaps you've been following me since the beginning, or maybe you've just stumbled onto this write-up from the mighty forces of the Internet. Light and nippy on the tongue but heavy on the throat. The peat is accompanied by toffee, butterscotch, caramel, some light pickled seaweed with sesame seeds on top, nori and some more coastal aromas. , , +7 (495) 662-87-63. While theres certainly plenty ofthat kind of whisky, theres also Islay whisky that's smooth, fruity, rich, unpeated and thoroughly enjoyable. https://www.marketingdive.com/news/lagavulin-nick-offerman-whisky-scotch-charred-oak/634025/, https://www.theguardian.com/business/2014/jan/13/japan-suntory-buys-jim-beam-bourbon-scotch-whisky, https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/laphroaig-unveils-10-year-old-sherry-oak-finish-301261516.html, https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10297487/Jim-Murrays-wrote-Whisky-Bible-cancelled-comparing-fine-malts-sensual-lovers.html. The finish is long, warming, and ends with a nice herbal, peat smoke finish. ), [] is a good introductory bottle to smoky whisky before going for Scotch Whiskies from Islay that hit hard with the [], Connemara Peated Single Malt Review: (Is it Good? Their single malt whisky variations range from around $60 to $3000. The peatiness is incredibly well balanced against some caramel sweetness, rich, smooth and delicious. Laphroaig Quarter Cask - 41.55 ($55):Far more fiery than the Laphroaig 10. Bruichladdich has stood out among its Islay counterparts since the distillery was reopened in 2001 under iconoclastic distiller Jim McEwen (today its run by his successor, Adam Hannett). The barley is malted using locally sourced peat and seaweed for Maine, which imparts an Islay-like brininess to the whiskey, which is bottled at 45 percent ABV. Hopefully this is a harbinger of Nordic whiskies to come. Highland Park 12 is what lead me to where I'm at now. Ardbeg Uigeadail Ardbegalong with Lagavulin and Laphroaigforms a triumvirate of 200-year-old Islay distilleries known for serious peat smoke. Which islay whisky is better? Anything Octomore (Varies): Some of the most peated whiskies in the world, released by Bruichladdich. The Ardbeg 10 yo every time. Laphroaig is easily available compared to the spirits from Lagavulin, which are rarely seen by the public. 8 Best Well Whiskey Brands Listed (2023 Updated), Alcohol Content in Beer vs Wine: Explained (2023 Updated), Angels Envy Bourbon Bottle Review (2023 Edition), How To Open A Tequila Bottle: Full Guide (2023 Updated), 7 Best Whiskeys For A Toothache (2023 Updated), Don Julio Primavera Tequila Review & Tasting Notes (2023). Some people love them, some hate them. As for Lagavulin, along with the malted barley are peat and water from Solan Lochs, sourced from west of the Islay island (where Caol Ila and Port Charlotte Distillery lies). The wash backs of Ardbeg are made from Oregon pine, which has a microenvironment allowing the growth and development of microorganisms that can add tart-ester flavors to the ferment. It brings the robust peaty and smokey flavor of an Islay that lingers on the tongue. The Lagavulin 16-Year-Old has received numerous awards and recognitions, including the Best Single Malt Whisky at the World Spirits Competition (San Francisco) in 2013 and earning a total of six Double Gold Medals within the same competition. Besides, it is more affordable and suitable as an everyday whisky. Port Charlotte 10 is better than Ardbeg 10 or Lagavulin 8, both of which are very good drams. Laphroaig 10 Year Old "aspectratio": "16:9", The result is a fascinating combination of sweet and smoky, with vanilla and tropical fruits harmonizing with earthy peat. Islayoffers many incredible unpeated whiskies well worth trying. Both are single malts made from pure barley and distilled in pot stills. Meanwhile, Ardbeg uses Phenolic malt, a strong type of peat variety. It's more complex than the Laphroaig 10 with a much longer and enjoyable finish. Lagavulin has a more oily mouthfeel than the Ardbeg; however, the oiliness also seems to capture some raw alcohol notes. Macallan Rare Cask. So, now that I've been tasting and trying all sorts of scotch since I wanted to give it another go. Unlike the heavy maritime notes of Islay peat, the smoky aromas here, while still dominant, are gentler by comparison, thanks to the mosses and shrubs that make up Danish peat. Overall, Ardbeg 10 is on the complex side but is smooth, tasty, and filled with peat and smoke. Contact at [emailprotected] or learn more about us here. Names like Ardbeg, Lagavulin and Laphroaig are. Mind you I enjoy the Ardbeg 10, and their other offerings from the distillery have plenty of character, but the Ardbeg 10 is quite one dimensional to me. This truly unique whisky is a remarkable piece of liquid history an evocative taste of what Ardbeg was like when it malted its own barley. Charles MacLean, Whisky Expert. Flavor is rich, with a deliciousblast of smoke, caramel, along fruity sweetness. } Lagavulin is aged for 16 years using ex-bourbon barrels. 1. , A post shared by From Barrel to Bottle (@frombarreltobottle) on May 17, 2020 at 7:33am PDT. Its the same from nose, initial sip, on to the palate and in the finish. Lagavulin 16 is a great malt with astrong but still enjoyable peaty profilewith delicious sweetness. Glenallachie 10 Jahre Batch 8; Glenfarclas Private Reserve 46th Anniversary; Eden Mill 2022 Art of St Andrews; Tomatin 2001 10th Anniversary Sansibar; Aberfeldy 19 Jahre Exceptional Cask; Benromach 2012 CS Batch 3; Octomore 13.1; Octomore 13.2; Islay Flush Earlskine; Strathmill 14 Jahre Barolo Earlskine; DS Tayman Caol Ila 12 Jahre Syrah Finish But between the two, Lagavulin has a softer finish. Instead of diving right into the likes of Ardbeg and Bruichladdich and demolishing your palate, start with Coal Ila 12 and work your way up. They also bottle a Distiller's edition, finished in Pedro Ximnez Sherry casks. et up to 61% off Robb Report, plus a free tote bag. This is the bottle for peat beginners. Bottled at a burly 52.8 percent and distilled from 100 percent peated barley malted at the distillerys own malting floor (a rarity among modern distilleries), Smoke Season is a complex and fascinating whisky that belies Speysides reputation as the home of sweet and easy drams. Ardbeg has been described as the highest-quality entry-level single malt in the world. Talisker 10 and Ardbeg 10 to me are on a similar level. A higher alcohol strength does contribute, though. For my palate, this has a clear winner! I feel that these whiskies manage to tease out richer fruit and spice flavors in ways that are unique. Unfortunately, I still did not really like it. 275 Bruichladdich Octomore 7.1 Scottish Barley 25 ml 570 Bunnahabhain 12yo 25 ml 270 Laphroaig 10yo 25 ml 285 Ardbeg 10yo 25 ml 255 Ardbeg Wee Beastie 25 ml 230 Ardbeg Uigeadail 25 ml 390 . The 8-year-old is the most affordable at around $60 per 750ml (MSRP). Whiskies of this type are an acquired taste that demand practice to be fully enjoyed. Andbeginners as well are perfectly capable of enjoying a smoky whisky. This is one of thebest peaty single maltsin the market. Theres plenty of smoke for peat lovers to wallow in, of course, but the many layers of flavor reward repeated tasting. On the nose, youll be greeted with aromas of crisp pear, astringent, bitter chocolate, and smoke. In our opinion, theres no better peated whisky for the price. Stauning Smoke uses ingredients sourced exclusively from within a few miles of the distillery and that includes the peat used to malt the barley. - Winehelp Lagavulin malt 16 years old 16 43,0% 700 . For more information, please see our . On the palate, Ardbeg 10 is a bit more herbal and grassy with mellow mint and rosemary than the Laphroaig 10, which is known for its medicinal peat (iodine and bandaid). One you get through an initial layer of smoke you get rewarded with pleasing caramel and vanilla notes providing a great experience. Aged in ex-bourbon and sherry casks, vanilla, caramel and dried fruit mix with briny seaweed notes from the . History of Lagavulin and Ardbeg Whisky Lagavulin Whisky was established in 1816 and is situated between Ardbeg and Laphroaig on the isle of Islay in Scotland. Discover the differences between Ardbeg 10 vs Lagavulin 16 in this in-depth comparison and decide which Whisky is better for You! Palate, this malt provides a incredibly thick creamy body % 700 overall, Ardbeg uses Phenolic malt, post... That includes the peat used to dry the malted barley more affordable and suitable an! 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