Which Lagavulin do you prefer?

[Ganga]

How many of the voters on this are limited to having tried only one or two of the options? I know that I have had at least one version of each. What about the rest of you?

[Sherried Malt]

Got a DE open now and have had the 16 on many occasions while I've only tried the 12 once.

[Single Malt Kommunist]

The 12 is excellent - I find the 16 a bit too thin.

As far as the DE, I had it head to head with the Talisker DE and it just didnt have the depth for me that I would expect for the premium version.

[Ryguy]

How many of the voters on this are limited to having tried only one or two of the options? I know that I have had at least one version of each. What about the rest of you?

I have had 2 versions of the 12, 1 of the DE, and 2 of the 16. I still say the 12 is the best for me.

[Jimmy321]

I voted for the 12 as i opened a bottle this week (bottled 2007) and it's a cracker, much better than the 12 i bought a few years back and better (imo) than the DE (1991)i have just finished.

[irishwhiskeychaser]

Various bottles of the 16yo still my number 1 and a regular down the pub also.
2 versions of the DE (1990 and one prior) I find it a bit on the slightly too sweet side
Samples from 2 different bottles and a bottle of my own from the 12yo... good stuff but not a satisfying as the 16yo which is a comfort dram for me

[TheTross]

The 16yo wins it for me. Whilst the 12yo and DE releases are very good, the nose of the 16 is more complex - more interesting, even - than the 12yo and DE. The palate seems to have become a little watery recently on the 16 - although I've not tried the L7 and L8 bottlings, so those may be different - but it still offers a lot more than the 12yo does and the DE is ultimately a slightly weaker version of the 16 in my books.

[Eric m]

The 12 and DE are good but can`t compete with the intensity of the 16yo.Like it is it`s just okay.
Eric.

[RyanFantastic]

It has to be the DE for me too. I also have the 21 & 25 yr old but not opened them yet.

LagaDrinker:

Do yourself a HUGE favour and open the 21 YO!!! It is AWESOME!

Seriously, the three regular bottles are all great, but the 21 YO is on a completely different level.

It has the intensity of the 12, the smoothness of the 16 (even smoother which is crazy because of the much higher ABV) and a nose and complexity that puts the DE to shame in a serious way.

When I first opened it, it took me over half an hour to actually taste the whisky - I just couldn't stop smelling it. The bouquet is phenomenal.

I know, I know, I'm spouting off (and everyone's opinion is different), but it is absolutely one of the best bottles that I have ever, EVER tasted - truly an amazing whisky.

Knolly, you've definitely sold me on the 21yr; I'm getting thirsty just reading your review!

Having just tried the 12yr and 16yr, my vote is for the 12yr hands down. This whisky has of the most amazing finishes I've ever experienced.

[The Third Dram]

I've actually quite enjoyed ½ & ½-ing the 12YO cask strength and 16YO standard strength. Anyone else tried this?

[Reggaeblues]

Mix the 12 and the 16!?! Sacrilege!

(says he who recently poured a few drops of 16 into a dram of Black Bottle, thus improving the BB immensely!)

I think I'll have to give it a go, as I have both open at the mo'

I think the 12 just does it for me. I've had three - the latest being the 2007.

the 16 was my firstlove in the whisky world, and gateway to many great drams. But over the last few years I find it variable. Always good, sometimes as "of old" with guns blazing, sometimes as one guy said, "watery". The 12 always packs a punch however.

As for the DE, that was, back in 2001, the best whisky I'd ever tried. Now, I'd never say no, but I find the 16 to be a bit firmer, more complex.

But I agree on the 21. I was sent a sample. That really is the king of Lagavulins, though I may never own a bottle, as it's bl**dy expensive.

but I'm glad to have tried it. It's more than a whisky - it's a religious experience!

[lexvo]

the 16 was my firstlove in the whisky world, and gateway to many great drams. But over the last few years I find it variable. Always good, sometimes as "of old" with guns blazing, sometimes as one guy said, "watery". The 12 always packs a punch however.

I have the same experience. I always think there is some bottle variation with the 16. But it is still one of my favourites though

[pkt77242]

I voted the DE but during our Laga tasting the 12 was the best. All three are very good though. I wish there was either more IB available or that they had a more extensive line as this is my fav distillery.


Sean

[Giovinetti]

I voted for the Lagavulin 12 but not the most recent editions. I had the 2007 this past summer and while very good, I thought the 2003 was much better. Still haven't tried the DE as it is close to 100 euros and no bar around here has it.

[sonofjen]

A few points:
1) Certainly can't go wrong with anything Lagavulin puts out
2) I agree with the DE comments and have to put my vote there - what a delicious dram!
3) The 21 yr truly is remarkable though - probably one of the best whiskies I've ever had period - expensive though and that's why I'm assuming it wasn't included in this poll (it's in a league of its own bot taste and $$$-wise).
Good question though - makes me thirsty!

[LagaDrinker]

Having opened it last night, I now have to say that the 25 Yo is top of my list

[UUNetBill]

None. I do not like Lagavulin.

I don't know why this post made me think of Dr. Seuss. . .

"I drink whisky, I'm not foolin'
But I don't like that Lagavulin.

I'll drink Macallan and Bowmore
I'll slam Laphroaig 'till I'm on the floor.

I start my morning with Highland Park
I finish my a'bunadh when it's getting dark.

Linkwood and Talisker fill my glass
Glendullan and Oban put me on my ass.

I'll guzzle Springbank and Cardhu
Dalwhinnie and Cragganmore, to name a few.

With all the malts, I'll give you a schoolin'
But I just don't like that Lagavulin."

[Ryguy]

None. I do not like Lagavulin.

I don't know why this post made me think of Dr. Seuss. . .

"I drink whisky, I'm not foolin'
But I don't like that Lagavulin.

I'll drink Macallan and Bowmore
I'll slam Laphroaig 'till I'm on the floor.

I start my morning with Highland Park
I finish my a'bunadh when it's getting dark.

Linkwood and Talisker fill my glass
Glendullan and Oban put me on my ass.

I'll guzzle Springbank and Cardhu
Dalwhinnie and Cragganmore, to name a few.

With all the malts, I'll give you a schoolin'
But I just don't like that Lagavulin."

Nice one Bill! I like it!!

[Knolly]

None. I do not like Lagavulin.

I don't know why this post made me think of Dr. Seuss. . .

"I drink whisky, I'm not foolin'
But I don't like that Lagavulin.

I'll drink Macallan and Bowmore
I'll slam Laphroaig 'till I'm on the floor.

I start my morning with Highland Park
I finish my a'bunadh when it's getting dark.

Linkwood and Talisker fill my glass
Glendullan and Oban put me on my ass.

I'll guzzle Springbank and Cardhu
Dalwhinnie and Cragganmore, to name a few.

With all the malts, I'll give you a schoolin'
But I just don't like that Lagavulin."

Holy #&*!$#@ that was brilliant!

[UUNetBill]

[UUNetBill]

Only had the 16. Finished this one a few weeks ago, it wasn't until the last dram that I liked it.

Ras,

If it'll help you, feel free to buy a bottle and send it to me. I'll take care of all those 'bad drams' at the top of the bottle and send you back the good one at the bottom.

[lohssanami]

Nice one Bill...now you just need to illistrate it.

[jazz lover]

Lagavulin 21 for me
I'm stuck with 2 cases.

[jazz lover]

Roflmao!

[Reggaeblues]

Lagavulin 21 for me
I'm stuck with 2 cases.

Well lucky you! I'm stuck with the remains of a 100ml sample which I sniff once in a while...

[borgom]

Wow, I'm kind of shocked the DE beat the CS by a reasonable margine.
Admittedly i've only tried a bottle of the 1990 DE and whilst I enjoyed it I actually thought the sherry finishing dulled the character and simplified the palate. Were there any particular vintages of DE people liked/disliked?

[lexvo]

But I wonder how many of the people who voted DE have actually tasted the 12yo borgom?

DE is more easily available (certainly here) which may skew the result?

Could very well be.
Here in the Netherlands I would say availability of the 12CS and the DE is on par (maybe DE slightly better available).

The 16 is still number one for me, but the other two are close second.

[The Third Dram]

Were there any particular vintages of DE people liked/disliked?

I found the 1979 and 1980 DEs quite excellent. Interestingly enough, these were of greater maturity than the regular 16YO bottling (the 1980DE being in the neighbourhood of 20 years of age when marketed) - not to mention recent DEs, which more closely follow the 'time-line' of the 16YO. And this reality is true not only of the Lagavulin releases, but also of other single malts in the DE series. Honestly, I'm not certain whether this fact has to do with an adjustment undertaken solely for the sake of better overall quality or simply because of the cost of keeping whiskies in cask for longer periods.

[I_SPEY]

Recently I tasted the 21 yo and the 25 yo, both just great, very fine and dilicious whiskies, but I think the 16 yo beats them

[TreacleSponge]

I loved the 12yo when we had the tasting last month and I tried it against the 16yo. So I voted 12, but I've not tried the DE.

[Reggaeblues]

My vote for DE was based on the 1979

Yes, I remember the 79...

Stunning dram...

...or was it because it was the morning of my 5oth, my girlfriend had bought me the bottle(on a tip-off from me!), I was relatively young in my whisky adventure, having probably only tasted and got to know about 7 malts. But it was like the best of Macallan(which I loved already - the 10YO) combined with the best of the Lag 16 which was my first ever, and an adventure in every sip!

The later bottles somehow lack bite...and think I currently prefer the 16. But if someone said "pick one" i'd go for the 12.

...and if someone says "money's no object" I too would own a case of the 21!!

[Lucas]

Laga 16 ahead:D good to see that.

I was considering giving the top spot to Lagavulin Distillers Edition, which I love just as much, but I recalled what a friend of mine said to me in September: “Lagavulin 16 is perfection itself and Distillers Edition is perfection with extension, what would you rather have?”

And that's another friend comparing DE to Scottish national rugby team here:
"It’s the same feeling you get when Italy put that first penalty between the posts, Scotland go 3-0 down and you’re staring at the wooden spoon. You desperately hope that things will get better with the finish but instead of that beautiful smoky tar of the 16 year old, the Distillers Edition leaves you with a weird sweet barbeque sauce thing. And Scotland are propping up the 6 Nations table looking up at Italy. Either way, you’re left wondering what the hell you paid £45 for."

[borgom]

Interesting responses on the DE. It's unlikely but i'll be sure to pick up an older vintage if I ever come across it down here.

[Knolly]

Lagavulin 21 for me
I'm stuck with 2 cases.

I wonder how many of us were competing to buy up cases of these bottles and also Laphroaig 30 over the past year? I certainly noticed big "blocks" of these bottles disappearing at a time from well known internet retailers

[dramtastic]

I haven't tried anything but the 16 and it's still my favorite SMS. Seems to me though a lot of people just pigeon hole it as a peat monster but I find it incredibley well rounded, complex and consistent. Layer upon layer upon layer. Great from the start of the bottle till the end!!