If it wasn’t obvious enough, we here at The Good Stuff absolutely adore our Islay whiskies. So far we’ve talked about two of Islay’s greats; Laphroaig and Ardbeg. That being said we’ve barely scratched the surface of the wonderfully smoky world of Islay whiskies.
As Malaysians, don’t feel discouraged if you haven’t heard of either of these brands since they don’t necessarily fall under the category of ‘go-to-liquor’, unless you’re a very experienced whisky drinker.
I stand by the belief that knowledge is power and the more you know, the more bottles for you to try out during your adventures in finding the best of the best. Excuse my digression and let’s take a step back to focus on Islay whiskies – specifically, Lagavulin.
For those in the know, what generally comes to mind when someone says Islay whisky is Lagavulin… but why is that? Let’s take a deeper look into why Lagavulin is one of the most renowned single malt scotch whiskies to this day.
Centuries of Good Single Malt
With roots dating back to 1742, the Lagavulin distillery was once a collection of 10 illicit distilleries. Sometime in 1816, John Johnston – a local farmer and distiller merged these distilleries to legally form one giant distillery which was Lagavulin’s first official area of operations.
A year after the first Lagavulin distillery launched, another distillery popped up nearby and was eventually absorbed into the Lagavulin fold. Thankfully, their main distillery is still operational allowing Lagavulin to produce some of Islay’s finest whiskies.
You might be wondering how to get your hands on a bottle of Lagavulin right about now. Fret not dear reader for we here at the The Good Stuff are now providing 3 of Lagavulin’s finest expressions which are:
1. Lagavulin 8 year Old
*Click on the photos below to view each bottle on our shop page
Lagavulin 8 year old was created in conjunction with the distillery’s 200th anniversary. It’s also an homage to Arthur Barnard, an author for The Whisky Distilleries of the United Kingdom back in the 1880s.
He was served an 8 year old Lagavulin and loved it so much that he describe the spirit as ‘exceptionally fine’ in his publication. Bottled at an ABV of 48% this expression was left to mature in refill European and American oak casks
- Nose: sweet, nutty, buttery, cedarwood
- Palate: smoky peat, nodes of barley, mixture of spices
- Finish: apple crumble, toasted almond, more spices
2. Lagavulin 16 Year Old
8 years longer of ageing makes a huge difference seeing how this bottle of Lagavulin has a more distinctive peaty smokiness in comparison to the Lagavulin 8 year old. Without a doubt, Lagavulin 16 year Old is a much drier and richer whisky with hints of sweetness to it.
Additionally, if you’re looking for a good first peated whisky, Lagavulin 16 Year Old will not disappoint as the smoky flavours, while still dominant palate-wise, is not too overwhelming and is sure to provide a pleasant drinking experience altogether.
- Nose: immensely smoky, sweet spices, mature Sherry, creamy vanilla.
- Palate: pleasantly thick and rich, extremely malty, sweet, peaty, hints of oak.
- Finish: long, spicy, figs, dates, peat smoke, vanilla.
3. Lagavulin 2003 (bottled 2019) Pedro Ximénez Cask Finish – Distillers Edition
While only slightly older than the 16 year old, Lagavulin 2003 (bottled 2019) is a by-product of leaving single malt to mature in Pedro Ximénez sherry casks, adding a layer of pleasant sweetness to this blend.
Don’t let that fact fool you as Lagavulin’s signature smokiness can still be found in this spirit. Some have even described Lagavulin 2003 to be a savoury whisky. Whether you’re curious or a fan of older whiskies, this bottle is definitely worth trying.
- Nose: dark chocolate, smoked almond, dried fruit.
- Palate: Peat smoke, dates, cinnamon, toasty oak, hints of cherry.
- Finish: minty dark chocolate.
Browse through our shop page and have your favourite spirits delivered to you!
The Good Stuff’s Lagavulin collection:
