Categories
Scotch

Lagavulin 16 Islay single malt Scotch whisky review

Rich, intense, smoky and fruity flavored whisky & whilst being more complex than anything I’ve previously experienced it wasn’t overwhelming

Originally posted to Reddit by TheRotundHobo.

  • Color Rich amber with a slight red hue to it.
  • Nose: Hot wood (think inside a pine sauna smell), campfires, peat, oranges, lemon, cherry and toffee.
  • Taste: Caramel, cherries, peat, smoke, toffee and hints of vanilla.
  • Finish: Mild heat but little burn, alcohol taste is there but subtle. Taste of caramel, black cherries and buttercup syrup lingers for a good few minutes and revisits your palate in waves afterwards.

Score – 92/100

Costco had some in stock, it was just outside of what I thought sensible to pay for a single malt (it set me back £37) before I’ve refined my palate further, but curiosity got the better of me and I bought a bottle. I was a little apprehensive, knowing this had a reputation for being a very full on, intense and well respected whisky I wasn’t quite sure if I was going to enjoy it.

Lagavulin16-main

All my fears were put to rest short after sampling my first glass; it was a rich, intense, smoky and fruity flavored whisky and whilst being more complex than anything I’ve previously experienced it wasn’t overwhelming . This has a myriad of complimentary flavors which reveal themselves in the nose and continue for several minutes after you’ve tasted it. Its reputation as one of the finest scotches is seemingly well deserved.

I just worry I may have peeked too soon.

** Author’s Note **

Lagavulin distillery is an Islay single malt Scotch whisky distillery in Lagavulin on the island of Islay, United Kingdom. Their standard single malt is 16 years old (43%), though they regularly release a 12-year-old, 25- and 30-year-old varieties. Despite being owned by the giant Diageo, they’re able to retain their character and quality.

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.