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Whiskey Review: Lagavulin 16 Year Old

The Whiskey Noobs, in their latest review contribution, check out the very classic Lagavulin 16 Year Old Scotch.
  • Jim Kee is a pharmacist and Scotch enthusiast who co-founded The Whisk(e)y Noobs blog.
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Credit: Master of Malt
Editor’s Note: We welcome another whiskey review from the Whiskey Noobs review team.
Lagavulin was our 1st journey into the world of Islay. The 1st time we breathed in the peaty goodness that is Lagavulin and experienced the taste of a peat bog, we knew that scotch was for us. Lagavulin is a distillery located on the island of Islay off the south-western coast of Scotland. The distilleries there are known for their peaty character, and Lagavulin is one of the leading distilleries in the world. They have been distilling peaty goodness since 1816 (just two years after the Star Spangled Banner was written and the British burned the White House!).

I still don’t understand why it took as long as it did for us to sample such a delicious spirit! Getting the idea yet that we enjoyed this scotch?

Aged in bourbon barrels, the 16 Year Old is their flagship whisky and can be found in just about any liquor store. It is on the pricey side, coming in around $100 a bottle, so if peated whisky is not your thing, you may want to pass on this one, but for peat lovers, this bottle is well worth the price.

Matt

Color:  Amber

Nose:  Peat, an iodine saltiness, smoke, underlying sherry sweetness

Palate:  PEAT!  smoky oak, sea salt, orange, toffee, with spice towards the end

Finish:  Smoke, peat, freshly cut grass, peppery, long and heavenly.

w/ Water:  Ruins a great scotch.

SCORE:  95

Jim

Color:  Deep amber

Nose:  Peat, smoke, salt, oaky sweet.  All that is good in a well peated Scotch.

Palate:  Peat punches you in the face, followed by his buddy smoke.  Then it hits you up with salt and orange and spice.  Great for a fireside drink on a brisk autumn day.

Finish:  Smoky, long, & peaty.  Long with pepper, too.  Surprisingly more complex than just peat and smoke everywhere.

w/ Water:  Completely falls apart.  Better without.

SCORE:  94

Whiskey Noobs

Jim Kee, a pharmacist with a 20-year passion for Scotch, and Matt Dee, an American history teacher who shares a deep appreciation for whiskey, embarked on a journey of documenting their tasting experiences to discern the Scotches worth revisiting. Last year, they decided to share their insights with the world through their blog, The Whisk(e)y Noobs.

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