Lagavulin Whisky – 16 Year Old Single Islay Malt Whisky
This is a tasting that both Jim and Dougie were looking forward to for a long long time, but thanks to Jim’s son-in-law for giving the Whisky Boys an unopened bottle of Lagavulin Whisky for us to enjoy.
Lagavulin Distillery
Port Ellen
Isle of Islay
PA42 7DZ
telephone: 01496 302400
website www.malts.com
Lagavulin Distillery on the fabulous Isle of Islay one of Jim’ most favourite places in the world sits on the southern half of the island and is the middle distillery in what we like to call the trio of smoke and peat, (Laphroaig, Lagavulin and Ardbeg) and these distilleries all within walking distance of each other produce the fullest bodied, robust, complex, peatiest and smokiest of all the Islay Malts.
It came the time to open the box and uncork one of the worlds greatest single malts and Jim took the honour.
We sat around Jim’s dinning table glasses and jug of water at the ready, we got ourselves ready as with something as powerful as this great malt Dougie thought it might be a good idea if we had seat belts fitted to the dinning chairs, just in case.
Colour…Deep golden amber.
Dougies tasting
Nose…Initial sweetness giving way to a huge hit of smoke, iodine and freshly smoked kippers.
Taste…A robust mouthful of peat smoke and liquorice, almost chewable.
Finish…Ever lasting peat smoke with a pleasant dry bitterness.
Jim’s tasting
Nose…A full on peat smoke attack – a touch of ocean spray and quite a nose tickler.
Taste…Full bodied, complex, strong and insists on your full attention – a dry peatiness and away in the background a hint of sweetness.
Finish…Long with warming peat and smoke, and a big chunk of 85% cocoa organic dark chocolate.
That was great tasting Lagavulin, lets do it again next week, and the week after. Both the Whisky Boys do really enjoy their peaty malts and without doubt the Islay ones are way at the top of the list, can Whisky tasting get any better, we will continue with our journey through the world of single malt Whiskies, especially from our native land, Scotland.
This distillery does tours and is open all year round but you must phone ahead and make an appointment, it is worth it, everyone should go round this distillery and see how they make this, one of the greatest malts ever produced.
The Whisky Boys feel that at £36.00 plus, it is quite an expensive dram, but boy, it is surely worth it. Readily available in most supermarkets and all specialist Whisky shops.
This is another location on Islay that all visitors should visit it is stunningly beautiful, and when you pop into the distillery, remember to tell them that the Whisky Boys sent you.