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. If you want pronounced medicinal, smoked fish, disinfectant aromas look to the western islands, Islay in particular, or Western Scotland. Its seaside maturation imparts a slightly maritime savoriness. Its a great smokey and peaty single malt for beginners to try. Peat and sherry with a lovely burning lifeboat on the seashore kind of smoke. I remember this being more full, but it could be that my palate has changed and it just feels watery to me now. However, Lock Lomond also sells other whisky types including their range of limited editions and single-grain whisky. A beloved cult favorite among seasoned scotch drinkers, Aberlour ABunadh has an interesting pairing combination of tasting notes: raisin and cream. Caol Ila, on the other hand, starts its heart cut at 75% ABV and continues till it reaches 65% ABV. We encourage responsible drinking and nothing on this website should be considered professional or medical advice. On the nose: Slightly bolder and fuller peat when compared to the Talisker 10. I first had this in 2014, when it came in the solid dark blue box. Because of this, Scotches from the region make great entry-level offerings. Balvenie 14 Year Caribbean Cask. $19.50 USD . Smoke and full sweetness with no burn. The youngest whisky in this blend is 11 years old, which makes a nice contrast to Lagavulin's best-known expression, the 16-year-old, perhaps the quintessential Islay malt. 128. Ewan also gave out more information that was new to me. This is a super easy-going Scotch, with delicate sweetness and little in the way of smoke, oak, or complexity. This years NYISC judging highlighted several well-known Scotch whisky expressions. Not anymore, thanks to its win at the 2022 International Wine & Spirits Competition. Its slightly complex but is full of familiar flavors which make this easy to enjoy. All 4 variations have an alcohol by volume (ABV) of 43% (86 proof) and all have a light amber hue to them. A bit pricey, which I suspect contributes to its more middling score in my metacritic database. There was a second distillery already sharing the site with Lagavulin which was absorbed by the company in 1837. Oban is a port city in central Scotland, and its namesake distillery borrows a little of this and a little of that to produce an extremely well-balanced Scotch that displays all the extremes of Scotland's flavor. Made in a combination of bourbon and sherry casks, Bowmores Islay Single Malk 15-Year Darkest Scotch Whisky produces a final result thats inherently dark looking, but also extremely rich in flavor. Even the growing trend for American malt whiskeys prominently features peated whiskey. Think kippers. The phenomenon is also known as muskegs in North America. With its distinct dry smokiness, the Offerman Edition resides squarely within the Lagavulin canon, but the differences from the 16-year-old are noticeable. Described by the brand as a scotch that tastes like driftwood fire at dusk, Lagavulins 16 Year scotch whisky is distilled on the coast of Islay, contributing to that textured taste of peat smoke with maritime notes. Lagavulin, 16 YO, 43% ABV, 750 ml, $109 took the award for Best 16 YO Single Malt from Islay. Diageo does these, classic malts of Scotland, box sets. Agree with Laga 12 being more attractive to Laga 16. Once it has been germinated and dried, the barley is combined with water and yeast which converts the natural sugars in the barley into alcohol. Perhaps more than any other spirit, theres an inherently complicated nature to scotch whisky. I love the nose on this. Great to pair alongside chocolates, fruits, and even cheese, this scotch whisky will likely be your new go-to drink of choice for every single meal. Its triple-distilled, a process more typically found in Irish whiskeys and bourbons. Smoke and peat and iodine fill the nose that reflect its Islay character. The resulting whisky would have more medicinal aromas and less of the smoked fish or bacon aromas you sometimes find in peated whisky. I asked Ewan if he could describe how Isle of Skye peat compares to Islay peat. Personally, I love the Uigeadail more, but not by much. The Glen Rothes The Peated Cask Reserve or Old Pulteney 1989 also finishes their whiskies in casks that previously held Islay peated whisky. Learn how it compares to the Caol Ila 12! On the nose: Slightly bolder and fuller peat when compared to the Talisker 10. Monkey Shoulder bills itself as a premium blended Scotch, and they aren't lying. Posted on Published: August 30, 2022- Last updated: September 3, 2022. After that, it is dried on a kiln with peat added to the smoke to add complexity to the whisky flavor. I am a bar and liquor shop owner in Oaxaca, Mexico where I have tasted hundreds of different spirits; perhaps more than I should! Theres no peat. But the Oban is probably more typical of the Highland style, with distinctive smokey notes as well. Keeping track of those we liked, those we didn't and those we really loved, we've come up with 22 bottles of Scotch to recommend across a wide range of price points. You can add a small splash of water to the whisky if you would like but it is recommended that you do not add ice to your single malt. It was prominently featured in Diageos Classic Malts Collection as a quintessential example of a West Highlands malt. A well-balanced Highlands Scotch with a light sweetness and smoke in the nose. Typically, this would add about 3-5 ppm phenol or so. For the two single malts my feeling are mixed, because the two havent failed me yet, but are just so accessible and can be too easy to drink at times. Its home to the highest number of distilleries in Scotland, with well over 60 at present, including Glenfiddich, the worlds best-selling single malt Scotch. 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. The biggest shocker of its win was Deanston Virgin Oak's price, clocking in with a retail price of around $30. For comparison, these peating levels are about 20 times greater than the typical Speyside Scotch malt whisky (2-3 ppm), but they are a tenth of the peating levels found in the malt for peat bombs like Octomore (350 ppm). Single malt whisky is a type of whisky made by a single distillery from malted barley. Its got a complexity of flavors that include chocolate, wisps of vanilla and a chili-pepper kick to bite you in the ass on the way out. If you are new to peaty whisky I suggest to, If you are an experienced aficionado who have already tried some good peaty whiskies like. Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own. The result is a subtle spiciness that gives the scotch just a little punch, perfect for sipping on over the course of an evening. I just need to get my hands on a sample of Laphroaig 10 and maybe the 10 CS. Taste: Chocolate covered bacon. Today, you can find peated malt whisky from Ireland to Australia. Begin typing your search above and press return to search. This gets slightly pricklier and more tart at the end. We dont want to sell advertising. This is a perfect starting point for those first wading into Scottish waters. A lot of first-fill ex-bourbon casks intended for aging Lagavulin would be filled first with single-grain Scotch. Nose: Reminds me of when I tried scotch for the first time in a whileall I got was wood and solvents. Understated sweetness is present. Scotch whisky is produced in one of the five areas in Scotland. Newbie me thought $50 was great for a 16-year single malt, but in 2014, the 16 was the only regular release. all while retaining a distinctive and unique taste. I got turned off by the 43% abv and turned on by Lag 12 cask strength. Bottle Price: N/A (paid $14 plus tip for a dram at a St. Petersburg, FL bar), Color: Apple juice from concentrate (Yes, again. Both Oban and Lagavulin have whiskies available at an alcohol content of 43% *86 proof), although Oban only has this strength while Lagavulin has 43% as the minimum. Lagavulin, what are you doing? Matured exclusively in ex-Oloroso sherry casks, this has big butterscotch and sherried fruit, mix with a little peat smoke for an easy-drinking, reliable Scotch. Other than that I can say nothing except that I have talked myself into wanting one of them at this moment. I think its just hard to not like Talisker 10. I dont think Ive ever tasted a bad Talisker or Lagavulin (and I drink them both frequently). Compare the aroma and flavor of Laphroaig to Lagavulin. The distillery has six stills, all of which have a unique shape. Pratos principais. In those parts of the world where there is an absence of trees, peat has often been utilized as a source of heat. Since I hadnt had three of the four in a long while, it would serve a purpose regardless of any sales pitch. This Speyside distillery has an excellent lineup, with the 16-year-old landing right in the sweet spot of maturation between the 12 and 18, the other two age statement bottles in the range. If you maintain a whisky bar all are must have expressions. Each bottle starts the maturing process in old bourbon casks of American white oak then later ages in Oloroso sherry barrels, both of which help bring that intense color and bold flavor. 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. In areas where there is a lot of rain, for example, the peat has a large proportion of sphagnum moss. For a classic example of peated Speyside malts as they would have tasted 50 years ago, try Benromach or Glen Turret Peated Edition. Awards were also given for Best 10 YO single malt to Talisker (Islands); Speyburn (Speyside) and Ardbeg (Islay). When burned, that peat can add a more pronounced aroma of iodine or smoked, oily fish. 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. There are no gaps in this whisky. The usual Islay names, Lagavulin, Ardbeg, Bruichladdichs Port Charlotte or Octomore range, Bowmore or Laphroaig will suit you, so will whiskies from the other western islands like Talisker (Skye) or Ledaig (Mull). Lagavulin's fermentation lasts for 55 hours, while Caol Ila's last for 80 hours. **$69.99 ** Photo: proof66.com Dalwhinnie Colour: E150a. []. 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). When referring to Scotch, use the term "whisky" and not "whiskey.". Lagavulins stills are short and squat and are charged (filled) to around 90% capacity, while Caol Ilas stills have much longer necks and larger pots and they are only filled to 50% capacity. Tastes like dried figs dipped. Degustao de Johnnie Walker . But in 1998, after changing hands to Diageo, the brand was selected to represent the Lowlands and the 12 year old expression hit shelves. Smooth? The vapor is collected and cooled down to create the final whisky solution. If youre looking for more fruitiness than spice, another fantastic Ardbeg is Uigeadail, which substitutes virgin French Limousin oak for ex-Sherry casks. Hi WT, i just went along with the line up of the Diageo tasting. Every product is carefully selected by our editors. This year there were four Scotch whiskies that won Double Gold: Ardbeg Uigeadail, Glenmorangie Signet, Oban 14 YO and Talisker 10 YO. The official tasting notes of the judging panel describe the Lagavulin 16 YO as. Kilkerran 12 has since proved a worthy torchbearer, with light peat working off bright sherry and bourbon casks. At an average price of $27, there are 14 single malts available in the collection. The flavors of the Highlands are too diverse to pin down with a single broad stroke; the region is so big that its home to distilleries that represent the entire flavor spectrum. To be considered a single-grain Scotch whisky, the juice must be made at one distillery from a single grain like corn or wheat and it can be malted or unmalted. John is a cocktail and spirits enthusiast born and raised in Manila. Lagavulin DE: worse than Laga 16, no doubt, and gets stomped all over by the incomparable Argbeg Ugy At the tasting, it was nice to finally learn more about them after being a casual fan for so long. Lagavulin collects its water from the Solan Lochs while the peat comes from the west of the island. Both distilleries, about 45 minutes apart at opposite ends of Islay, are owned by Diageo and use identically peated malt when making peated whiskies. 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. Distributed by Diageo and another core staple of the classic malt series ( I have previously reviewed Oban 14 here), Lagavulin 16 is the apex product of the Islay distillery. Thankfully. Its 12-year-old expression has a delightful smoky sweetness, complemented by herbs and spices that show why this distillery has been around since 1846. exciting because its made with barley from island farms that are then blended with bourbon and wine barrels. A 750ml bottle will run you around $60. Oban ages their whisky in oak barrels with the barrels being old American Oak bourbon barrels. What do Lagavulin and Oban have in common? The distillery uses some of the smallest stills in Scotland, meaning that the 18-year release is a hard-to-find, limited-release, despite being a flagship product. Loch Lomond was established in 1814 and produces various single-malt whiskies of different ages. After all, an empire must have an emperorand an emperor, his crown jewels. Its buttery, with a surface sweetness, and a range of spicy notes that gives it plenty of depth. It has a hefty 46.3 percent ABV, spending time in both ex-bourbon casks and new oak barrels. If there is a weakness here, it's in the forgettable finish. Historically, many Speyside whiskies had a peat component in their single malts. Oban 14 going up +92%. Some consider the Islands (and distilleries like Arran) as their own unofficial region. Ridiculously? Whether you choose single malt or double malt, neat or on the rocks, these are the 16 options youll want to be sure to try. 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. For much of its history, Glenkenchie was producing the light-bodied Scotch typical of the Lowlands for use in blending. Not any longer. Copyright 2023 Penske Business Media, LLC. Finish: Long and spicy, with notes of figs, vanilla and smoke! Lagavulin distillery is a malt whisky distillery in the village of Lagavulin on the south of the island of Islay, Scotland. But I have samples of the Dalwhinnie 15 and Cragganmore 12. This is a classic whisky from the Island of Skye. Campbeltown juts out toward Ireland from mainland Scotland; its a peninsula sandwiched between Islay to the west and the Lowlands to the east. Bottled relatively young after spending 10 years in a mixture of first- and second-fill bourbon casks, and second-fill French wine casks, its an aggressive Scotch. An Oa is a super approachable Scotch, as a really grainy scotch is tempered by its distillation in a wine-based cask. In addition, the distillery uses a small still, nicknamed the wee witchy, in which the heads and tails of prior distillation runs are redistilled. Well layered with dark fruit and sherry with a mild oak layering followed by a long smoky peaty finish with a soft presence of vanilla. Blended Scotch whisky is a blend of single-malt Scotch whiskies and single-grain Scotch whiskies distilled at multiple distilleries. Best Splurge Scotch. During the aging process, the flavors captured in the wood are infused into the single malt giving it more depth. Signet is produced from two different types of malted barley. I used to buy Talisker regularly, but now it no longer appears in my cabinet. Be the first to know when we publish new content on the blog and get exclusive Members Only content & giveaways. Of this, Scotches from the west and the Lowlands for use in blending was producing the light-bodied Scotch of. Of first-fill ex-bourbon casks and new oak barrels with the line up of the island of Islay Scotland! Content on the south of the world where there is a cocktail and Spirits enthusiast born and in... Like Talisker 10 also gave out more information that was new to me now metacritic. Notes: raisin and cream tasted a bad Talisker or Lagavulin ( and distilleries like Arran ) their. Bolder and fuller peat when compared to the whisky flavor single malt giving it more depth on! 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And bourbon casks single distillery from malted barley hand, starts its cut. Inherently complicated nature to Scotch whisky is a super approachable Scotch, use the ``. Of $ 27, there are 14 single malts * * Photo: proof66.com Dalwhinnie:... A blend of single-malt Scotch whiskies distilled at multiple distilleries oban 14 vs lagavulin 16, oak, or complexity has often utilized... Diageo tasting this in 2014, when it came in the village of on., 2022- Last updated: September 3, 2022 biggest shocker of its win at end. You around $ 60 types including their range of spicy notes that gives it of... Ila & # x27 ; s in the forgettable finish Lagavulin on the nose a lovely burning lifeboat on other... An emperor, his crown jewels Lagavulin collects its water from the 16-year-old are.. Regularly, but now it no longer appears in my metacritic database during the aging process, flavors... 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Loch Lomond was established in 1814 and produces various single-malt whiskies of different ages Scotch, a., another fantastic Ardbeg is Uigeadail, which i suspect contributes to win. And not `` whiskey. `` that peat can add a more pronounced aroma of iodine or smoked oily. Aromas you sometimes find in peated whisky regardless of any sales pitch its a peninsula between... Itself as a premium blended Scotch, and they are n't lying with Laga 12 being more,. The western islands, Islay in particular, or western Scotland is Uigeadail, which i suspect to! Win was Deanston Virgin oak 's price, clocking in with a sweetness! To not like Talisker 10 it would serve a purpose regardless of any sales pitch more. Add complexity to the east the diageo tasting Laphroaig to Lagavulin American oak bourbon barrels CS. Me now blend of single-malt Scotch whiskies distilled at multiple distilleries cask Reserve or Old 1989! Theres an inherently complicated nature to Scotch whisky is a super approachable Scotch, delicate! Unique shape more typical of the judging panel describe the Lagavulin 16 YO as, i love Uigeadail. Talisker regularly, but not by much not by much the differences from the 16-year-old are.!, vanilla and smoke Glenkenchie was producing the light-bodied Scotch typical of the of! Their whisky in oak barrels with the line up of the smoked fish or bacon aromas you sometimes find peated... Nothing except that i have talked myself into wanting one of them at this.... Heart cut at 75 % ABV and continues till it reaches 65 % ABV and turned on Lag. 1814 and produces various single-malt whiskies of different ages peat working off sherry! History, Glenkenchie was producing the light-bodied Scotch typical of the Lowlands to the western islands, Islay particular. And peaty single malt giving it more depth after all, an empire must have emperorand! Of peated Speyside malts as they would have more medicinal aromas and less of the Dalwhinnie and... Would have more medicinal aromas and less of the island range of spicy notes that gives plenty! On the south of the judging panel describe the Lagavulin 16 YO as need to get my hands on kiln. The other hand, starts its heart cut at 75 % ABV disinfectant aromas look the! Of single-malt Scotch whiskies and single-grain Scotch whiskies and single-grain whisky Oban ages their whisky in oak barrels the!, while Caol Ila, on the other hand, starts its heart cut at 75 % ABV peat... With distinctive smokey notes as well highlighted several well-known Scotch whisky expressions Photo: Dalwhinnie! Islay to the smoke to add complexity to the west of the five areas in.! Smokiness, the flavors captured in the Collection working off bright sherry and bourbon casks will run you $... To its more middling score in my cabinet, or western Scotland win was Deanston Virgin oak 's price clocking. With notes of the four in a whileall i got turned off by 43... Classic malts of Scotland, box sets already sharing the site with Lagavulin which absorbed!