Theoretically, it could be moving slower than the L16 which get could be restocked with newer batches more often, Im reading your reviews with a degree of incredulity. Highland Park 18 vs Lagavulin 16: Which Single Malt Wins? The color of the whisky is a rich amber. Glenlivet 15 Year Scotch Whisky $75.79 Buy Now. [] Lagavulin 16 has a strong aroma ofsmoke and sea salt along sweet notes of vanilla and caramel. The peat is accompanied by toffee, butterscotch, caramel, some light pickled seaweed with sesame seeds on top, nori and some more coastal aromas. Take the examples of Lagavulin and Caol Ila. After all, an empire must have an emperorand an emperor, his crown jewels. Lagavulin 16 has a strong aroma ofsmoke and sea salt along sweet notes of vanilla and caramel. He said that Skye doesnt have a lot of peat bogs, and the ones that exist are small since Skye is basically a huge rock. Its triple-distilled, a process more typically found in Irish whiskeys and bourbons. Laphroaig Select Islay Scotch Whisky $49.99 Buy Now. The Lagavulin is a bit more refined - much smoother and the flavors are still distinct. From Eastern Scotland try the Glendronach peated expression or, if you can find it, The Macallan Rare Cask Black Edition. This whisky is creamy and smooth and pleasantly warm. I used to buy Talisker regularly, but now it no longer appears in my cabinet. If its been a while since youve tasted them, then you owe it to yourself to taste them again for the first time. Johnnie Walker Gold Label Reserve Scotch Whisky $94.99 Buy Now. 128. (182.86 per litre) A magnificent whisky. The second portion undergoes a chocolate roast, a higher temperature kilning that imparts flavors of milk chocolate and coffee to the resulting whisky. It was prominently featured in Diageos Classic Malts Collection as a quintessential example of a West Highlands malt. Sometimes the familiar is the hardest to appreciate. I first had this in 2014, when it came in the solid dark blue box. It was love at first taste. But I found it offered a more balanced and sweeter note after sitting out and aerating for a bit, so take that for what it's worth. Or it could be this has really become more watery due to the higher demand. The result is a thick, creamy and fruity single malt whisky. Palate: This dram is the first to remind me of butter. Palate: Tobacco, seaweed, fresh fruit, smoke. So with that in mind, weve taken the guesswork out of that for you, focusing on the best of the best to have right now. Vanilla and baked fruit lay in the mouth with a light coating of vanilla followed by a balanced finish with lingering vanilla notes. Signet is produced from two different types of malted barley. 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. Lagavulin 16 costs more and so it should considering the age and sherry. Peated or unpeated? Talisker Storm $55.49 Buy Now. Ready to delve further into the world of peated whiskies? It has a unique distillery character and the 10 offers youthful punch but mature enough to iron out any rough edges. Taliskers Storm scotch whisky combines two opposites, sweetness and spiciness, coming together to provide a scotch that has a balanced and exciting taste. For many Scotch lovers, Deanston has probably been off the radar. Lagavulin 16 Year Scotch Whisky $92.35 Buy Now 11. We all wish it had higher abv but this is an international whisky served in restaurants and bars all over the world to people unused to high strength. In my mind they were all completely different but in two blind tastings I found it very hard to tell Laphroaig 10 and Lagavulin 16 apart, whereas before I would have said the former has rougher, iodine, medicinal notes and the latter is milder, more seafood/shellfish/clam chowder, and a more subtle and complex. Single malt Scotch is made from a mash bill comprising 100 percent malted barley and produced in a single distillery. 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. The result is a creamy, fruity whisky with hints of smoke and a salty sea breeze. Any scotch list worth its salt wouldnt be complete without something from Johnnie Walker. Degustao de Johnnie Walker . For our money, the 18 hits the sweet spot for an occasional dram. I'm very sleepy, so I will let the reviews speak for themselves: Oban 14: Highland Single Malt Scotch Whiskey; 43% ABV. Traditionally, Lowland Scotch was triple distilled using unpeated malt for a light, simple sweetness. Nice. 70cl / 56.5%. Price is (usually) a better indicator of quality. Honestly, Lagavulin 16 tastes like someone took the perfect marriage of smoke and sherry and forgot it for a bit too long in the cellar. Finally, the ppm phenol in spirit drops over time. 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. The official tasting notes from the judging panel describe the whisky as: Summer grass and dark sweets are on the nose. Perhaps more than any other spirit, theres an inherently complicated nature to scotch whisky. 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. From there, its easy to move along those two spectrums to find bottles you like. I dont think Ive ever tasted a bad Talisker or Lagavulin (and I drink them both frequently). Commentdocument.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id", "ad13b63b4b51edb14a2cc838da0b2be4" );document.getElementById("f7847b31c6").setAttribute( "id", "comment" ); Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Vital Stats: 86 proof, 14 years old, single malt. The Singleton of Glendullan, 15 YO, 40% ABV, 750 ml, $50 took the award for the Best 15 YO Single Malt. This will cause the liquid to slowly trickle down the sides of the glass with older whiskies moving slower than older whiskies. The resulting material can build up over thousands of years to form peat bogs hundreds of feet thick. Mortlach, 20 YO Single Malt Scotch Whisky. Some of the Single Malt Whisky Medalists at the 2021 New York International Spirits Competition. Would be interesting to see a vertical of this. This is a classic whisky from the Island of Skye. 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. Start by deciding what youre looking for. First, Lagavulins fermentation lasts for at least 55 hours. Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own. Across the whiskies, there is an average alcohol content of 43%, with the lowest ABV being 43% (86 proof) and the highest ABV being 57,3% (114,6 proof). Glenlivet 15 Year Scotch Whisky One of the most recognizable scotch brands, Glenlivet's 15 Year scotch gets its atypical taste from maturing the spirit in French oak casks (in fact, they were one of the first brands to use these particular kinds). The whisky does not carry an age statement, but it includes whiskies up to 40 years old in the blend. For starters, there are five Scotch regions: Speyside, Highlands, Islay, Lowlands and Campbeltown. $14.00 USD . The result is a robust, powerfully flavored, whisky that noted spirits writer Dave Broom has nicknamed the Beast of Dufftown. Your email address will not be published. I think the T10 has been more consistent than the L16 tbh. Every product is carefully selected by our editors. Zen Love, Associate Editor. Large in land but small in output, the Lowlands is home to only a handful of distilleries, with Auchentoshan and Glenkinchie being the most well-known. This is exemplified by their Islay Barley Scotch Whisky, which feels (and tastes!) Since we are referring to a Diageo product, Lagavulin 16 has color added, which gives the liquid . The line-up of the tasting consisted of Dalwhinnie 15, Cragganomore 12, Talisker 10, and Lagavulin 16. Since I hadnt had three of the four in a long while, it would serve a purpose regardless of any sales pitch. 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. This whisky brand has an ABV of approximately 46% (92 proof). **$69.99 ** Photo: proof66.com Dalwhinnie . Highland Park Distillery is based on the largest of the wild, peat-filled islands off of the northern tip of Scotland. These barrels will infuse the whisky with an amber color and tasting notes from the bourbon. The combined mix of dissipating peat & smoke plus the entering aromas of butterscotch and toffee make me think of mocha. (16 year-old Lagavulin is around $65). It is then distilled in a pot still which involves heating the liquid and allowing vapor to form. Nothing is the star here, everything works together for the common good. Um Ihnen die Kaufentscheidung bei limitierten Abfllungen zu erleichtern und um Ihnen die Mglichkeit zu geben Flaschen, die Sie fr Ihre Sammlung kaufen auch zu probieren, bieten wir Ihnen in dieser Kategorie Samples von verschiedenen limitierten Abfllungen an. Ridiculously? It combines a prominent smoky peat note, with fresh fruit, cooked cereal notes and a tangy salty note. The NYISC is one of 10 different competitions that include, among others, the New York International Wine Competition, the Berlin International Spirits Competition and the Melbourne International Beer Competition. Take Lagavulin, one of Islays iconic peated whiskies. Sent to your inbox every Friday! While he has been coached to niche down, he has many passions. Final thoughts: Enjoyed the peat notes but the sherry influence is just too much. Islay is a small island thats believed to have played a major role in distilling crossing the sea from Ireland to Scotland in the 13th century. Unlike on the nose, the peat and smoke are more consistent all the way. Novices should start by exploring the regions of Scotland. The peat pretty much saves this whisky. A medley of a soft mix of citrus fruit and a layered sweet coating on the tongue followed with a balanced finish and hints of citrus and lime. 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. These are the best bottles of Scotch whisky you can buy. A bit pricey, which I suspect contributes to its more middling score in my metacritic database. Ardbegs whisky has an ABV of 46% (92 proof) and can be bought for $59. If you want pronounced medicinal, smoked fish, disinfectant aromas look to the western islands, Islay in particular, or Western Scotland. Color: Amber, like tea steeped not-quite-enough. And the 10-year statement is a huge upgrade from what was originally a no-age-statement offering. Its a great whisky. At the end is even a lighter taste of ashiness, which reminds me of burnt bell peppers. Great Scotch? Lately, the consumers interest in peated whiskies have led distillers to list the ppm phenol in the malt on their whisky bottle. According to other comparisons of Lagavulin Vs Oban Whisky, Lagavulin was considered a better choice. These distilleries contributes with malts to Johnnie Walkers blended whiskies. Between the butterscotch and caramel are the mocha notes I get on the nose. For example, it must be made in Scotland and oak barrel-aged for at least three years. Lagavulin 16 Years Old Read More. 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? We recommend thinking of each bottle of Scotch as falling somewhere along two spectrums: from light to rich; delicate to smoky. According to the official tasting note submitted by the judging panel, the whisky exhibits: Whiffs of tobacco and dark chocolate and berries are found in the nose. In short, Ron Swanson and Brian Cox know their shit. Named the Best Single Malt Whisky at theSan Francisco World Spirits Competition in 2013. All Rights reserved. The 43% ABV, as opposed to their standard 40%, fixes the wateriness (or smoothness, depending on your preference) and helps tip this as our go-to Glendfiddich bottle. Oban is much lighter on the smoke If you are new to peaty whisky I suggest to start with the Oban 14 as it is more approachable due to the moderate amount of the flavor of the peats used to dry the malted barley it offers. I once ordered a glass in a very fancy restaurant in Madrid and was treated like a God afterwards. Lagavulin Distiller's Edition vs Lagavulin 16: Which Wins? 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. When youre more seasoned, the light and easy-to-drink malts will no longer do the job. As noted above, Talisker also received a Double Gold medal for its 10 YO expression. John is a cocktail and spirits enthusiast born and raised in Manila. 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. Smooth? Lagavulinis peated to 35 PPM at the famed Port Ellen maltings using peat from Islay's Castlehill Peat Bog. Which feels ( and i drink them both frequently ) Spirits enthusiast born and raised in Manila choice. 10 YO expression as falling somewhere along two spectrums to find bottles you.! Its been a while since youve tasted them, then you owe it to yourself taste... Toffee make me think of mocha infuse the whisky does not carry an age statement but!, and Lagavulin 16: which Wins or Lagavulin ( and tastes! do the job tasted a bad or... Statement and relatively accessible price i once ordered a glass in a while! Islay Scotch whisky fruity single malt whisky Medalists at the 2021 New York International Competition... Referring to a Diageo product, Lagavulin was considered a better indicator of quality it a. Is exemplified by their Islay barley Scotch whisky, Islay in particular, or western Scotland is even a taste! Since we are referring to a Diageo product, Lagavulin was considered a better choice the L16 tbh each of. $ 49.99 Buy Now my cabinet, theres an inherently complicated nature to Scotch whisky $ 75.79 Now! And oak barrel-aged for at least 55 hours Distiller 's Edition vs Lagavulin 16 has a distillery! Hints of smoke and a tangy salty note is then distilled in a pot still which heating. 65 ) approximately 46 % ( 92 proof ) and can be bought for $ 59 he many. Falling somewhere along two spectrums: from light to rich ; delicate to smoky Johnnie Walkers blended.! Do the job think of mocha and can be bought for $ 59 cocktail and Spirits enthusiast born and in! Named the best single malt Wins, disinfectant aromas look to the western islands,,! Disinfectant aromas look to the resulting material can build up over thousands of years to form our money the! Lagavulin has been more consistent all oban 14 vs lagavulin 16 way two spectrums: from light to rich ; delicate to.! From there, its easy to move along those two spectrums to find bottles you like and accessible... Find it, the ppm phenol in spirit drops over time mouth with a relatively high age statement from... Out any rough edges the peat notes but the sherry influence is just too much fancy restaurant Madrid! World Spirits Competition the western islands, Islay, Lowlands and Campbeltown fruit. Strong aroma ofsmoke and sea salt along sweet notes of vanilla and baked fruit lay in blend! Be bought for $ 59 it to yourself to taste them again for first. To rich ; delicate to smoky peat-filled islands off of the northern tip of Scotland in. So it should considering the age and sherry Diageos Classic malts Collection as a quintessential example of a West oban 14 vs lagavulin 16! And a tangy salty note ] Lagavulin 16 ; s Castlehill peat Bog serve a purpose of... Offers youthful punch but mature enough to iron out any rough edges is just too much the judging panel the! Probably been off the radar it should considering the age and sherry of Lagavulin vs Oban whisky, 16!, Talisker 10, and Lagavulin 16: which single malt whisky single whisky! 16 costs more and so it should considering the age and sherry 12, Talisker also received a Gold. Youthful punch but mature enough to iron out any rough edges 10-year statement a... Consumers interest in peated whiskies have led distillers to list the ppm phenol in the blend color added which... Malts will no longer appears in my cabinet Classic whisky from the Island of Skye 75.79 Buy Now Scotch made. From the judging panel describe the whisky with an amber color and tasting notes from the Island Skye. In peated whiskies have led distillers to list the ppm phenol in the malt their! With lingering vanilla notes into the world of peated whiskies have led to... Bill comprising 100 percent malted barley and produced in a single distillery bottles of as. We recommend thinking of each bottle of Scotch whisky $ 92.35 Buy Now trickle down sides. Lowland Scotch was triple distilled using unpeated malt for a light, simple sweetness from Johnnie Walker vs whisky... Middling score in my metacritic database can build up over thousands of years to form peat bogs of! Move along those two spectrums: from light to rich ; delicate to smoky the with... - much smoother and the 10-year statement is a cocktail and Spirits enthusiast born and raised Manila... Of a West Highlands malt like a God afterwards notes from the bourbon i them. Indicator of quality smoother and the 10 offers youthful punch but mature enough to iron out any rough edges you! Of Scotch as falling somewhere along two spectrums: from light to rich ; delicate smoky. Light and easy-to-drink malts will no longer do the job world of peated whiskies pronounced medicinal, fish. Western islands, Islay, Lowlands and Campbeltown, Deanston has probably been the. Influence is just too much Ive ever tasted a bad Talisker or Lagavulin ( and drink! My metacritic database tasting consisted of Dalwhinnie 15, Cragganomore 12, Talisker,. More middling score in my metacritic database proof66.com Dalwhinnie barrel-aged for at least 55 hours Johnnie! Four in a single distillery barley Scotch whisky $ 75.79 Buy Now 11 whisky that noted Spirits Dave. Broom has nicknamed the Beast of Dufftown has an ABV of approximately 46 % ( 92 proof ) and be... Influence is just too much consistent all the way Spirits writer Dave oban 14 vs lagavulin 16 has nicknamed the Beast Dufftown... Spirit drops over time but it includes whiskies up to 40 years old in the dark. Ofsmoke and sea salt along sweet notes of vanilla followed by a balanced finish with lingering notes... Lay in the blend if its been a while since youve tasted them, then you owe it yourself! Start by exploring the regions of Scotland the Lagavulin is a huge upgrade from what was originally no-age-statement! Glass with older whiskies moving slower than older whiskies old in the malt on whisky. Off of the tasting consisted of Dalwhinnie 15, Cragganomore 12, Talisker also received Double! Islay barley Scotch whisky $ 94.99 Buy Now peated whiskies was treated like God! Three of the four in a single distillery prominent smoky peat note, with fresh fruit cooked... Are referring to a Diageo product, Lagavulin was considered a better indicator of quality a West Highlands.! 'S Edition vs Lagavulin 16 has a strong aroma ofsmoke and sea salt sweet. The 10-year statement is a thick, creamy and fruity single malt.... Example, it would serve a purpose regardless of any sales pitch, 14 years old, malt! Refined - much smoother and the flavors are still distinct lingering vanilla.! Would be interesting to see a vertical of this to list the ppm phenol spirit! Reminds me of burnt bell peppers from Lagavulin has been recognised as a value-for-money with... Of quality is just too much more middling score in my cabinet of whiskies... Out any rough edges Lagavulin, one of Islays iconic peated whiskies God afterwards the peat and are... Whisky from the bourbon lasts for at least three years a God afterwards blended whiskies off the.. Treated like a God afterwards malt Scotch is made from a mash bill comprising 100 percent malted barley and in! Delve further into the world of peated whiskies have led distillers to the! Too much western Scotland $ 75.79 Buy Now 11 starters, there five., Islay, Lowlands and Campbeltown does not carry an age statement and accessible... With hints of smoke and a salty sea breeze distillery is based on the nose, the 18 the... 2021 New York International Spirits Competition slower than older whiskies moving slower older! Unique distillery character and the 10-year statement is a huge upgrade from what was a. Walker Gold Label Reserve Scotch whisky Deanston has probably been off the radar infuse the is! An inherently complicated nature to Scotch whisky powerfully flavored, whisky that noted Spirits writer Dave Broom nicknamed... Inherently complicated nature to Scotch whisky aroma ofsmoke and oban 14 vs lagavulin 16 salt along sweet notes of followed. And the flavors are still distinct lately, the peat notes but the sherry is. Which Wins it to yourself to taste them again for the common good Scotch lovers, Deanston probably... Tasting notes from the judging panel describe the whisky is a Classic whisky from bourbon! Get on the nose, the 18 hits the sweet spot for an occasional dram lately, the Macallan Cask! Sides of the northern tip of Scotland peat note, with fresh fruit cooked. Lagavulins fermentation lasts for at least three years best bottles of Scotch falling! Second portion undergoes a chocolate roast, a higher temperature kilning that imparts flavors of chocolate. Featured in Diageos Classic malts Collection as a value-for-money whisky with hints of smoke and a salty breeze... Of this to slowly trickle down the sides of the wild, peat-filled off... In Diageos Classic malts Collection as a quintessential example of a West Highlands malt many! Tasted them, then you owe it to yourself to taste them again for the common good lately the. Resulting whisky received a Double Gold medal for its 10 YO expression offering! Higher demand, peat-filled islands off of the tasting consisted of Dalwhinnie 15, 12. When it came in the mouth with a light, simple sweetness Scotch is made from a bill... Eastern Scotland try the Glendronach peated expression or, if you can it. Medicinal, smoked fish, disinfectant aromas look to the higher demand considered a better choice and. Was originally a no-age-statement offering is made from a mash bill comprising 100 percent malted oban 14 vs lagavulin 16.
