Ardbeg vs Lagavulin vs Laphroaig

[hpulley]

According to Andrew Jefford's "Peat Smoke and Spirit" both Caol Ila and Lagavulin use 35ppm peated,

Harry,

Gordon and I have had this discussion previously, but Lagavulin reverted to 35ppm only 6 or 7 years ago.

The Lagavulin (at least the 16yo) we are drinking at the moment comes from a time when the malt was a healthier 50ppm.

Cheers,
Admiral

Oh yes, I agree that those are current figures. In the past Ardbeg has been much higher AND lower depending on the year as has Bunnahabhain, Lagavulin, et al. Caol Ila does regular and lightly peated runs even now.

Of course, if we believe our noses, the stuff distilled 10-16 years ago was more lightly peated for Laga and Laphroaig than the older stuff as many of us seem to agree that it used to be stronger. Could just be our alcohol burned noses and tongues though

Harry

[mar_mcdo]

at the moment i'd have to go with laphroaig quarter cask. deliciously sweet and smokey at the same time! i do however love my lagavulin. i hate having to decide on my favourite whisky....far too difficult, depends what your in the mood for at the time!

Slainte! M

[MGillespie]

I think I'm finally going to have to crack open my bottle of Quarter Cask and do a HTH with a Laphroaig 10...maybe tonight...

Mark

[toshie]

I'm with Admiral: the Ardbeg 77 is the finest whisky I've ever tasted too (although I speak from limited experience and if there's anything better, please, please point me in that direction), but for 'normal' drinking, the Lagavulin 16 is my favourite whisky, never mind favourite of the trio under scrutiny

[Tom]

As for something better, wich is very very relative and subjective because the quality of the '77 is at the top level, try a '74 Ardbeg.
I have had a few whiskies that I personally rated higher then the '77 though not much and they are all rare and/or expencive. If you wish I can look them up later on.

[toshie]

Tom: thanks. I'd appreciate your input to my enjoyable learning process

[Tom]

Allright then,
Here's a few that rated as high and higher then the Ardbeg 1977. Two things though: first is that most of the really expencive ones are only sampled once, meaning that the ratings may differ a few points once they are tasted two or three times. And two, there may be more then these, but I have tasting notes all over the place on both our houses (We are in the middle of moving).

Ardbeg 77 -95-
Ardbeg Lord Of The Isles -95- (will be retasted this month)
Ardbeg 74 For Belgium n°1 -97-
Port Ellen 79 Signatory CS collection -95-
Port Ellen Blackadder Raw Cask Oloroso FF -96-
Glenlivet 1968 Hart Brothers CS Selection -95-
Laphroaig 1988 Signatory Unchill filtered Refill Sherry -95- (doubtfull, this is an old note and my taste is probably more matured now)
Macallan 25 -95-

Thats it. These are all the best whiskies I ever tasted asswell.

[jeffk]

I just got a bottle of Ardbeg 10 and Lagavulin 16 last night.

Sampling them both, I think I like the Ardbeg just a bit more - a bit more fuller and complex, but the Lagavulin has a smoothness of it's own. They're both wonderful drams, not sure which I like best, but I think the Ardbeg is just a little bit closer to my heart...

[toshie]

Tom: Having just put my daughter through university, and now funding her Master's, I can see a loooooong period of only gazing at those examples. Although, if they're on offer by the glass, I could push the boat on now and again

[barrelproof]

Ardbeg is my favourite distillery of them all.
The ardbeg 1977 vintage is the best whisky i've ever tasted.
I havent never tasted the ardbeg provenance. This bottle is still too expensive.

[Tom]

Toshie,

You can relax then, I only bought bottles of the 77 and the LOTI for myself. All the others were sampled at tastings, festivals etc. I know where probably the last bottle of the 74 is and its for sale but I just cant do it. It costs 500 euro (about 20 JWB) and even this is so far the best I ever tasted, its just too much. wich brings us to the comment of barrelproof, I have tasted the Provenance at a festival. It was the Asia version wich is believed to be the best of the three. The price/bottle is outrageous, I payed 25 euro (1JWB) for a 2Cl sample wich is actually very fair. And I was totally unimpressed... For starters this didnt remind me on a typical old Ardbeg with its strong floral nose and flavors, but more on a good old Bowmore. Secondly this is the most overrated Ardbeg ever.
Just to give people some perspective and for those that know they will probably never sample this, dont worry, its good, but not that good.
Funny how this is so highly regarded by most connoisseurs while at the same time it is one of, if not the most expencive bottling Ardbeg has...

[Dubois]

This is a tough one...
I would vote for Lagavulin as more afordable, and for Ardbeg as more exclusive (I mean the 17 Yrs & 1977 - range)...

[K]

lagavulin 16, closely followed by laphroaig QC. Both have quite different characteristics but if i have to choose I'd take the sweater, warmer and more subtle lagavuling over the peaty bite of Laphroaig QC.
Ardbeg 10yo tastes like dish water to me , get some QC for a couple of extra bucks and never look back.

[Drrich1965]

lagavulin 16, closely followed by laphroaig QC. Both have quite different characteristics but if i have to choose I'd take the sweater, warmer and more subtle lagavuling over the peaty bite of Laphroaig QC.
Ardbeg 10yo tastes like dish water to me , get some QC for a couple of extra bucks and never look back.

Looks like you are drinking from some marvelous sinks....

[DramMeister]

I find the only way to make this poll fair is to compare the standard, flagship offerings, i.e.

Ardbeg 10yo
Lagavulin 16yo
Laphroaig 10yo.

Based on those three only, I'd choose Lagavulin anyday.

I'd agree but it costs double the other two.

[Wave]

My first taste into the world of heavily peated Islay's came from a Laphroaig Cadenhead and I've been in love with Laphroaigs ever since.
You can never forget your first love, can you?


Cheers!

[Lawrence]

I find the only way to make this poll fair is to compare the standard, flagship offerings, i.e.

Ardbeg 10yo
Lagavulin 16yo
Laphroaig 10yo.

Based on those three only, I'd choose Lagavulin anyday.

I'd agree but it costs double the other two.

I would have thought comparing the two tens with Lagavulin 12 would be a closer match.

[Wave]

I find the only way to make this poll fair is to compare the standard, flagship offerings, i.e.

Ardbeg 10yo
Lagavulin 16yo
Laphroaig 10yo.

Based on those three only, I'd choose Lagavulin anyday.

I'd agree but it costs double the other two.

This isn't about the best priced, it's about your favorite. If Lag 16 is your favorite who cares about it's price?

I would have thought comparing the two tens with Lagavulin 12 would be a closer match.

Matching the Lagavulin 12 CS to the non-cask strengths of Laphroaig & Ardbeg is a bit of an overkill. Now if it had been the original Lagavulin 12 from the 1980's (non-casked strength) I probably would have chosen that even above my beloved Laphroaig! Believe it when I say it was one fine Islay malt!


Cheers!

[Lawrence]

Whatever the various ages, ABV strength etc I think it's a bit skewed to compare two whiskies to a third that has over 50% more aging.

[Frodo]

Agreed!!

[les taylor]

I agree with admiral its laga for me. Also when you have done the tour they have really nice big comfy armchairs in the tastings room. So forget all the formulas for watering down and comparison of age. One being older or younger than another or how many ppm's, the comfy chair wins for me.

[andre_s]

Laphroaig has my vote. The Laphroaig 10 was my first single malt, I still love it. Besides that Laphroaig has many standard bottlings which are all great whiskies, the 10 cs, the Quarter cask, the 15 years old. They are all favourites.

[Ardbeg311]

Despite my forum name, this actually is a tough call for me. I really love most of the Laphroaigs I've tasted (the 30 yo is my favorite whisky). All of the Lagavulin 12 year-olds I have tried have been wonderful. And I have never had a bad Ardbeg. I guess if I had to pick only one it would be Ardbeg.

[Deactivated Member]

Whatever the various ages, ABV strength etc I think it's a bit skewed to compare two whiskies to a third that has over 50% more aging.

Disagreed--they are the flagship bottlings, regardless of age, price, color, strength, bottle shape. They are what the distillery (or whoever owns it) chooses to represent it as its standard bottle. I find it less skewed to compare on that basis than to compare two standard 10yo's to a relatively unusual cask-strength bottling.

My first taste into the world of heavily peated Islay's came from a Laphroaig Cadenhead and I've been in love with Laphroaigs ever since.
You can never forget your first love, can you?

No, you can't. Lagavulin was mine. But it comes a poor third on my list, six extra years and gobs of orange coloring and all.

[Di Blasi]

Yes, me too, ARDBEG is number 1!!!

[maverick]

My picks would be exactly like the poll looks at the moment which is:
1. Ardbeg
2. Laphroaig
3. Lagavulin

[lexvo]

1) Lagavulin
2) Ardbeg
3) Laphroaig

But these are very close for me.

[Duffer]

My three picks;

None of the mentioned....
I do not drink any of them....

[TheLaddie]

Based on looking at my single malt shelf and counting how many open bottles I have of each the South Coasters rank as follows:

1. Ardbeg (5: 10yo, Uigeadail, Oogling, Yery Young and Still Young)

2. Laphroaig (3: 10yo, Quarter Cask, 17yo Old Malt Cask)

3. Lagavullin (1: Distiller's Edition Pedro Ximenez)

Can't think of a fairer way to do it...

[ckennedy]

question on lagavulin 12 CS! I see people saying 1st, 2nd, and 3nd release, etc..

How can one tell?? Guess I am asking about dates?? but then the bottles don't have them on it do they?? At lease these!

[fishboy]

At one time or another each of these distilleries has been my favourite. At the moment I'm moving from Ardbeg to Laphroaig (based the acid test of which bottle i reach for most often). The 15 y.o Laphroaig must be, pound for pound, one of the best distillery bottlings on the market.

Fishboy

[clydd]

So i finally went out and got all three of them
Laga 16, Ardbeg (Ultimate) and Laphroaig 10.

My choice:
1) Laga
2) Laphroaig
3)Ardbeg

Granted im a complete newbie,. so take my observations at face value only:

- The Laga is like the refined gand-daddy, I could honestly pick up at least a few different notes when nosing.
Its got a lovely start of peaty smoke (that you can actually feel even a few minutes later if you forcefully breathe out through your nose)

Overall all the aromas and flavor were well balanced.

Laphroaig - this was Butch! I liked it! when it says Peat and smoke - They mean it. yes you eaither love it or hate it... I love it! Nosed the glass as it was emptying out after about an hour.. and thats when I got the iodine aroma.


Ardbeg - Many will hate me for this.. but seriously i did not "get it" with this whisky. I'm saving the bottle to exchange it with someone for any thing non blended.

To me , maybe cause of my newbie status, I could not "find" anything in the whisky. Smells like... medicine.. tastes like medicine. has neither character like the Laphroaig nor finesse like the lagavulin.

I suppose things change if you have the Ardbeg uigeadial?
Maybe, so I will look out for a sampling of that. However The Ardbeg 10 - The ultimate that i tried just did not do anything for me.

On the two occassions I poured a dram. I ended up rinsing the glass before I finished it. Honestly i tried... waited even an hour for something to happen.. 1 drop .. three drops water.. nothing. except the promised 'clouding' as advertised on the bottle.

They actually wrote on the bottle " Ardbeg us considered by Whisky connoisseurs to be not only the best of the Islay malt whiskies but THE BEST WHISKY IN THE WORLD" ..

Who writes this kind of copy?? and that too with italics, Bold and super bold fonts all in one sentence?

Well there you have it, a review from a newbie.
Please dont flame me.. im still learning

[lexvo]

clydd,
when I started with whisky I couldn't get the hang of Caol Ila. I just found it too medicinal. But now, a few years later I think my taste has somewhat changed and now I like Caol Ila. So just try again after a while.

Second, there could be quite a difference between the Arbeg 10 OB and Ultimate.

Just keep on trying