My first Lagavulin 16 !!

[MoreDalmore]

After reading many good things about the Lagavulin 16 I couldn't resist any longer. I was intending to wait until the autumn or winter before entering into Islay territory but as they say the flesh is weak and as I discovered ( again ) today so is the mind ; so today I just bought my first bottle of Lagavulin 16.

So here are my first impressions ( to be updated after a couple of more drams ).

Colour : much darkes than expected ( keeping Caol Ila 12 in mind ); it clearly shows it's years.

Nose : I poured my first glass and after the initial nosing left the room for about 3 minutes. After re-entering the room I could smell it clearly; this was a first for me! As far as I think I understand the difference between peat and smoke it has a lot more peat on the nose than smoke. It reminds me a bit of HP but stronger and even a bit sweeter.

Palate : Peaty for this novice to Islay ( the Caol Ila 12 was too long ago ) but whith the nice sweetness as promised by the nose. Can't put a name yet to the sweetness; that will take a couple of more drams ( it's a tough job but 'll manage )

Finish : Long and dry; giving much warmth....

Comments : All in all much eacher accessible than I thought it would be and paving the way for many more Islay whiksies to try out!!

Not sure they will enter easily in my top 10 ( if at all ) but I like to try new stuff so it will certainly have is change to impress the hell out of me in the coming months and years!!

[pkt77242]

After reading many good things about the Lagavulin 16 I couldn't resist any longer. I was intending to wait until the autumn or winter before entering into Islay territory but as they say the flesh is weak and as I discovered ( again ) today so is the mind ; so today I just bought my first bottle of Lagavulin 16.

So here are my first impressions ( to be updated after a couple of more drams ).

Colour : much darkes than expected ( keeping Caol Ila 12 in mind ); it clearly shows it's years.

Nose : I poured my first glass and after the initial nosing left the room for about 3 minutes. After re-entering the room I could smell it clearly; this was a first for me! As far as I think I understand the difference between peat and smoke it has a lot more peat on the nose than smoke. It reminds me a bit of HP but stronger and even a bit sweeter.

Palate : Peaty for this novice to Islay ( the Caol Ila 12 was too long ago ) but whith the nice sweetness as promised by the nose. Can't put a name yet to the sweetness; that will take a couple of more drams ( it's a tough job but 'll manage )

Finish : Long and dry; giving much warmth....

Comments : All in all much eacher accessible than I thought it would be and paving the way for many more Islay whiksies to try out!!

Not sure they will enter easily in my top 10 ( if at all ) but I like to try new stuff so it will certainly have is change to impress the hell out of me in the coming months and years!!

Nice notes. Laga 16 is a classic.

Sean

[johan brugge]

Nice notes indeed but don't let the colour fool you. It's darker because they add spirit caramel to the whisky. When the whisky is maturing, no two casks ever produce an identical colour of spirit as it is felt that consumers would be disturbed to see bottles of malt whisky sitting side by side and yet totally different colours. You can read more about it on this link:
http://www.morrisonbowmore.co.uk/faq.aspx

[I_SPEY]

After reading many good things about the Lagavulin 16 I couldn't resist any longer. I was intending to wait until the autumn or winter before entering into Islay territory but as they say the flesh is weak and as I discovered ( again ) today so is the mind ; so today I just bought my first bottle of Lagavulin 16.

So here are my first impressions ( to be updated after a couple of more drams ).

Colour : much darkes than expected ( keeping Caol Ila 12 in mind ); it clearly shows it's years.

Nose : I poured my first glass and after the initial nosing left the room for about 3 minutes. After re-entering the room I could smell it clearly; this was a first for me! As far as I think I understand the difference between peat and smoke it has a lot more peat on the nose than smoke. It reminds me a bit of HP but stronger and even a bit sweeter.

Palate : Peaty for this novice to Islay ( the Caol Ila 12 was too long ago ) but whith the nice sweetness as promised by the nose. Can't put a name yet to the sweetness; that will take a couple of more drams ( it's a tough job but 'll manage )

Finish : Long and dry; giving much warmth....

Comments : All in all much eacher accessible than I thought it would be and paving the way for many more Islay whiksies to try out!!

Not sure they will enter easily in my top 10 ( if at all ) but I like to try new stuff so it will certainly have is change to impress the hell out of me in the coming months and years!!

Nice notes. Laga 16 is a classic.

Sean

One of the best, imho. Good choice, thanks to your flesh

[MoreDalmore]

Nice notes indeed but don't let the colour fool you. It's darker because they add spirit caramel to the whisky. When the whisky is maturing, no two casks ever produce an identical colour of spirit as it is felt that consumers would be disturbed to see bottles of malt whisky sitting side by side and yet totally different colours. You can read more about it on this link:
http://www.morrisonbowmore.co.uk/faq.aspx

I know about the colouring ( Dalmore does it but I still very much like their whiskies ). I just wasn't sure Lagavulin used it to. It's not mentoined on the bottle of Lagavulin so I was not sure but I do know a lot of distilleries use it ( I read a lot of the old posts here ).

At the moment I also have a ( opened ) bottle of The Dalmore 15; now there's a dark whisky for you!!

[johan brugge]

I just sent you a PM.

[The Third Dram]

Finish : Long and dry; giving much warmth.

Coincidentally, I poured myself some of the 16YO last night.
And guess what?
It was that incredible finish that impressed most of all.

[AnttiH]

It is indeed an incredible dram, and the one that lured me into single malts for good.
I recently opened a Lagavulin Distiller's Edition 1991 and I have to say it's very even between those two. If you enjoy any sherry flavours in your whisky I think you would enjoy the Distiller's Edition Lagavulin. This particular spirit was bottled in 2007 and partly matured in Pedro Ximenez sherry casks.

To me, the peatyness, smoky flavours and the sherry sweetness in Lagavulin DE = a match made in heaven.

[johan brugge]

No thanks. I had that one last year. I though it was too sweet. I like the 12yo CS very much though.

[MoreDalmore]

If you enjoy any sherry flavours in your whisky I think you would enjoy the Distiller's Edition Lagavulin. This particular spirit was bottled in 2007 and partly matured in Pedro Ximenez sherry casks.

To me, the peatyness, smoky flavours and the sherry sweetness in Lagavulin DE = a match made in heaven.

I most certainly will pick up a Lagavulin 16 DE for sure. In fact; if they had it in the shop today I most likely would have bought it first.

I sure do love some sherry flavours in my whisky ( some Dalmore expressions come to mind ) and another favourite is Highland Park ( although totally different from Dalmore ). See the Whisky Poll for my top ten ( very obvious try to get more votes on my 1st poll )

[Minnesota Malt]

I too got my first bottle of Laga 16 a few weeks ago. I have tried it before awhile back and it is just as good as I remembered it. In a way, I can't wait for it to get colder since it seems to me that drinking scotch is more enjoyable, especially Islays when it is colder outside. I love summer and the Minnesota winters seem to get longer each year, but now that I have a love for single malts, all the winters to come will be a little easier.

[pkt77242]

I too got my first bottle of Laga 16 a few weeks ago. I have tried it before awhile back and it is just as good as I remembered it. In a way, I can't wait for it to get colder since it seems to me that drinking scotch is more enjoyable, especially Islays when it is colder outside. I love summer and the Minnesota winters seem to get longer each year, but now that I have a love for single malts, all the winters to come will be a little easier.

MM, I think you live in the wrong state if you love summers. Come on out here it is summer 8 months a year.
It is very difficult to drink Laga 16 when it is 115F outside. It occasionaly makes me cheat on my whisky with a Gin and Tonic.

Sean

[Drammed]

I gave it a try for the first time today, and thank the makers it was stored in sherry casks! Without that I might not have been able to finish it. I am waiting patiently for the DE to come to my region at the end of October.

[lockejn]

I recently cracked my first bottle, as well. My initial impression is that it's too much sherry. I'll come back to it a few more times before making a final verdict.

[MoreDalmore]

I am now about down to the last 15cl of my first Lagavulin 16 and I'm still not sure how to describe the sweetness.

But I do get the ( pleasant ) sensation of the sea from the peat; both on the palate and in the finish. Some days I could still taste the sea well into the next morning!

A friend of mine whom I let have some too said he should be carefull drinking too much of it or otherwise he would get hooked on whisky too.

My journey will continue ........

[borgom]

Some days I could still taste the sea well into the next morning!

Ahhhhh, the good old days......

[bbrownri]

I was thinking about it today and while I really enjoy the Laga 16, I don't really think it's worth the extra $15-20. Don't get me wrong: it's a classic, fantastic whisky. And I must add the caveat that I'm just a poor student, so maybe once I pay off my student loans that extra money won't make as much of a difference to me. However, when I can get a Caol Ila 12 or Ardbeg 10 for $50, I'm pretty content. IMHO, I don't think the Laga really has enough of an edge in terms of flavor to warrant the step up in price.

[dlh11]

Hello all!!
Would love some advice....Laga 16 or Laga 1991 DE matured in sherry?
Have not had either, where would you suggest that a beginner start and why? I have read that the sherry really compiments the peatiness and is really excellent. But purists have said that the sherry detracts from the essence of the Laga style. Thanks for the help!!