Lagavulin and Laphroaig are single malt whisky expressions made from pure malted barley sourced from a single distillery within the Island of Islay in Scotland. The Lagavulin Distillery and Laphroaig Distillery specialize in crafting heavily medicinal, smoky, and peaty whiskies. 8 Best Well Whiskey Brands Listed (2023 Updated), Alcohol Content in Beer vs Wine: Explained (2023 Updated), Angels Envy Bourbon Bottle Review (2023 Edition), How To Open A Tequila Bottle: Full Guide (2023 Updated), 7 Best Whiskeys For A Toothache (2023 Updated), Don Julio Primavera Tequila Review & Tasting Notes (2023). - WineStyle! It all ends with a warming mouthful of immersive campfire smoke. Their 10-year-old cask strength is a must-try starter whisky for the peat-curious, but for those who want to move into more rarefied air, the 25-year-old, which makes an appearance every year or two, is worth searching out. Laphroaig 10 Year Old That being said, its more of a beginner bottle than anything and, if you enjoy it, you can find many other comparable bottles to try instead of buying it a second time around. Hopefully I converted him to a peat head. Lagavulin 16 has a strong aroma ofsmoke and sea salt along sweet notes of vanilla and caramel. Theres terroir in peatsince its composed of partially decomposed vegetation, what grows in the area affects the aroma and the flavor of the peat smoke. Laphroaig Quarter Cask - Review. If you are new to this type of whisky you might find it overwhelming hence dont expect to like it as much as I do on the first date. But its a perfectly constructed malt that belongs in every serious whisky fans liquor cabinet. On the nose, youll find vanilla cream, dried fruits, charred wood, and herbal, smoky peat. $150.00. Ardbeg all day for me. First released in 2013, this no age statement expression from the Talisker is matured in a combination of refill and toasted American oak barrels for under 12 years. Lagavulin is gentler with the smoke making it a more approachable whisky. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA Enterprise and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Definitely worth trying. Your email address will not be published. Stauning Smoke uses ingredients sourced exclusively from within a few miles of the distillery and that includes the peat used to malt the barley. Ardbeg 19 Jahre Batch 4; Ardbeg Arrrrrrrdbeg; Ardnamurchan AD/09.22 Cask Strength; . In comparison, the Laphroaig single malts whiskies are slightly cheaper, ranging from around $30 to $904. 'Single' malt whisky is the product of an individual distillery. Hopefully this is a harbinger of Nordic whiskies to come. While Islay gets all the press for peated whiskies, its important to note that there are plenty of mainland distilleries making peated expressions. Ardbeg is a robust Islay whisky, which at about 50 ppm is slightly peatier than its neighbor Laphroaig. I suspect they think it's the smokiest due to lack of experience with others. Lagavulin 16 Lagavulin ABV: 43% Average Price: $100 The Story: One of the most well-known smoky whiskies in the world, this expression is matured in oak casks for 16 years. Bruichladdich Black Art- 288 ($381): Whisky geeks go nuts for thevarious editions of the Black Art - production and maturation of which remains a secret - but I dont think Ive ever tried one that really impressed me, or was worth the money. The venerable Islay distillery celebrated its 200th anniversary in 2015, and its still going strong, with a never-ending stream of new, limited-edition expressions. Ardbeg 10 and Talisker 10 are more distinctive for me, but they're still close. With its trademark vanilla-and-honey flavor profile, theBalvenieis a quintessential example of a Speyside malt, which is pretty much the opposite of a classic smoke-and-seaweed Islay whisky. A few years later it was discontinued. I mostly write about the water of life, better known as whisky. Taste Test: Forget Jack Daniels. Bottles from both are a great way to start appreciating smoky whiskies. Bunnahabhain 12-year-old vs Lagavulin 12-year-old. So if youre new to this type of whisky, this can be a bit harsh. Lagavulin, on the other hand, is rarely seen or bottled by the independents. In this article, we are going to pick apart Lagavulin vs Ardbeg whisky by looking at their history, differences, similarities, and products available. Caramel, white chocolate, hints of citrus. The most overrated Scotch is Glenlivet 12. et up to 61% off Robb Report, plus a free tote bag. !Jahre Alt Dark Sherry Cask. Ardbeg 10 - 41.95 ($56): Where Lagavulins smoky element is meaty, and Laphroaigs more medicinal, Ardbegs is earthy. It has the right balance of sweetness and smoke. Adding water or ice will open the full flavors of these spirits, but adding too much will affect the overall taste of these drinks. But if youre a novice in this whisky type, we suggest starting with Laphroaig, as it wont overwhelm your palate. Cheers! 1. Ardbeg 10 is a good example of over-hyping. Peated American single malts, while still unusual, are becoming more common in the American whiskey landscape. Aged in ex-bourbon and sherry casks, vanilla, caramel and dried fruit mix with briny seaweed notes from the peat, along with smoke and a hint of mushroom. A full 99.9% of unpeated Islay whiskies come from Bruichladdich and Bunnahabhain distilleries. The bottle proudly lists all of those "dirty-sounding chemical compounds" which make . The 10-year age statement isnt particularly sexyits not bottled at a high proof, and even the peat content is pretty low (about one-tenth of the peatiest Octomores). A wonderfully balanced dram, oily and herbal but not overwhelmingly so,underpineed by robust smoke that doesn't overpowerthe taste buds. The Ardbeg is drinkable and delicious and invites you back time after time. They have strong peated notes. The Glenlivets sweet, gentle flavor is so at odds with the in-your-face style of typical peated malts that its hard to imagine a combination of the two. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. It was previously marketed under the Classic Malts range of single malts, which is now defunct. Toiteach a Dha is the first peated malt to be added to the brand's permanent range. Sipping this whisky will reveal flavors of toasted wood, buttercream frosting, spicy pepper, and a mouthful of smoke. The Ardbeg 10 yo every time. Confused? But age and distilling techniques all have an effect on how a whisky actuallytastes, no matter how peaty it looks in a lab. "aspectratio": "16:9", I'd give each roughly high 70s, maybe an 80. Laphroaig and Ardbegs Islay whisky is a Scotch spirit protected by Scottish law. All content on this website is for informational and educational purposes only. Talisker 10 and Ardbeg 10 to me are on a similar level. Next, youll enjoy hints of dried fruits, wildflowers, butterscotch, and bold peaty smoke. Theres plenty of smoke for peat lovers to wallow in, of course, but the many layers of flavor reward repeated tasting. Talisker Storm lives up to its bold name. Lagavulin is owned by Diageo, a multinational beverage alcohol company headquartered in London. Ardbeg 10 Lagavulin 16 Bowmore 12 From this starting point, it would depend on what do you enjoy the most, in order to select the next ones. It is a lighter expression with the right amount of smokiness and quality. Corryvreckan named for a nearby whirlpool in the sea is a perfect blend of those two notes. Soon, threenew distilleries will join their brethren on the island. This Tennessee Craft Distillery Is Making Some of the Best Whiskey in the State. Tyrconnell Single Malt Review: (Is it Good? It was run by the Johnston family till 1954 when the last member of the family died without an heir. 'jwplayer_contextual_player_div', Gekauft direkt bei Thomas Ewers im Malts Of Scotland Shop fr 999 UVP, aktueller Preis in der Base liegt bei 2400 und auch die letzten Versteigerungen lagen bei knapp 2000. Viking Pride is aged in both European and American Oloroso sherry casks. Mind you I enjoy the Ardbeg 10, and their other offerings from the distillery have plenty of character, but the Ardbeg 10 is quite one dimensional to me. Ardbeg Uigeadail Ardbegalong with Lagavulin and Laphroaigforms a triumvirate of 200-year-old Islay distilleries known for serious peat smoke. Peat lovers and sherry lovers will be equally delighted by this one. If youre a beginner in peated whiskies, then Laphroaig 10yo is the better choice. It was owned by Archibald Campbell Brooks and John Johnston, and the spirits from the brand were crafted by Peter Mackie, who crafted the White Horse Blend. Kostnadslget i branschen har kat med 15-20% vilket gr att priserna i butik This Highland whisky is just about as well-rounded and classic as Scotch gets. Many fans disagree with me, though. For more information, please see our - Winehelp Lagavulin malt 16 years old 16 43,0% 700 . Ardbeg is slightly less medicinal than Laphroaig, however, it is more balanced and complex. A classic. the 16 Year Old, the Distillers Edition, and an 8 Year Old. I included the 18 in my Top 10 whiskies of 2016 list. Those bourbon whiskey notes are present in these whiskies. Were simply reminding fellow aficionados to taste their whisky, rather than going off of brand perceptions. I have a hard time with Macallan, it's almost too sweet for me, and the 15 was overbearing on the chocolate smell. We felt that it was a bit one dimensional and boring. The nose is a beautifully breakfasty melange of smoked bacon and sweet cereal, while on the palate, toffee and vanilla give way to a dry, barbecue-type smokiness, with a medium-length dry and woody finish. After all, it's all personal preference. A favorite of bartenders and scotch fans alike, Caol Ila 12 is well-known as one of the best smoky/briny Islay whisky gateway bottles. Port Charlotte 10 - 48.90 ($65): All the whiskies listed in this section are "core whiskies" that serve as the introductory bottles from a distillery. A great mix of ginger, lemon peel and teriyaki sauce. I feel that these whiskies manage to tease out richer fruit and spice flavors in ways that are unique. , , . ), 10 Best 10 Year Old Bourbons & Scotch Whiskies, [] Learn how it compares to the Lagavulin 16! The Laphroaig distillery was started by brothers Donald and Alexander Johnston in 1815 and has been operating for over 200 years. Prices are sourced from The Whisky Exchange and Master of Malt, butyou may well find something cheaper either online or at your local store. One of my favorites. This whisky isnt just in your face with smoke like some of the previous expressions in this series, its more well-rounded with fruity sweet flavors. Peat lovers adore the campfire-in-your-mouth flavors, but theres a lot of complexity beneath the smoke, where notes of caramel, candied orange peel and dark chocolate lurk. Cookie Notice Ardbeg 10 vs Lagavulin 16: Price comparison Prices are approximate and stated in USD: Ardbeg 10 vs Lagavulin 16: Which is better? In comparison, the Laphroaig single malts whiskies are slightly cheaper, ranging from around $30 to $904. Take a sip and youll find flavors of pipe tobacco, raisins, sticky toffee pudding, and campfire smoke. On the other hand, Ardbeg is produced by Louis Vuitton Mot Hennessy, a Paris-based luxury goods group. A rich flavour explosion, I've heard it described as the "depth charge" of whiskies - very popular with experienced drinkers for its complexity and long finish. The whisky is younger, butdraws morefrom the woodfromits maturation in smaller casks. It's certainly different and gives us a peek at what younger Ardbeg is like. The Ardbeg Distillery was founded in 1815 and produced in the Scottish island ofIslay(pronounced ai-luh). The distillery of Ardnahoe on the eastern side is almost finished, the company behind online whisky giants The Whisky Exchange will be building a new oneand legendary, long-shuttered distillery Port Ellen will be rebuiltandoverseen by ex-Lagavulin manager Georgie Crawford. WID 142719. Score: 5/10. When John and I first tasted the Lagavulin 16 yo whisky, we looked at each other and frowned. 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