. Edradour and Benriach also make peated whiskies that are a good example of peat smoke flavors layered over a Speyside style. A light and clean finish, its a great whisky to sip on in those cooler months of the year, as its taste almost evokes Thanksgiving-esque tones. This whisky brand has an ABV of approximately 46% (92 proof). If you want the peat influence to be subtler, less medicinal and more cold smoke and earth/brush, then look at Caol Ila. Its a great smokey and peaty single malt for beginners to try. For a classic example of peated Speyside malts as they would have tasted 50 years ago, try Benromach or Glen Turret Peated Edition. Copyright 2023 Penske Business Media, LLC. Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window), Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window), Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window), Support Malt Each Month By Becoming A Patron. You asked! In this article, we dig into Lagavulin vs Oban Whisky by examining their histories and variations, as well as several alternatives should you choose to not buy either of the brands discussed. Press Esc to cancel. 70cl / 43%. Fake whiskey. It was bought in 1862 and became well-known to the greater public when Peter J. Mackie made his purchase, with his nephew eventually taking over control in 1878. Most people who like Lagavulin 16 also like Talisker 10 (which I prefer over the Ardbeg). Once a quaint fishing village on the shores of the Sound of Kerrera, the distillery has found itself in the center of a bustling town and resort community that has grown up around it. This is a perfect starting point for those first wading into Scottish waters. Any scotch list worth its salt wouldnt be complete without something from Johnnie Walker. Depending on how the distillation is managed, its length, the amount of reflux produced, and the cut points used to obtain the heart cut, the ppm phenol in the new-make spirit can be from a third to two-thirds less than the original concentration in the malt. These include whiskies aged between 7 and 37 years, with a minimum price point of $50 and a maximum of $3000. Expect peaty drams of some of the best whisky in the world. It is therefore assumed that single malt must be drunk in a particular way to ensure you are enjoying it and taking in the aromas and notes of this whisky. Lagavulin distillery was founded in 1816 by John Johnston and Archibald Campbell,is located in the village ofLagavulinon the south of the island ofIslay,Scotland. Lagavulin Aged 16 Years - Review 43% ABV. It's very similar to (and cheaper than) The Balvenie Single Barrel 15 year and a little bit lighter in style than Oban 14, but stands up well against any unpeated ex-bourbon malt. 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. After all, an empire must have an emperorand an emperor, his crown jewels. Lagavulin collects its water from the Solan Lochs while the peat comes from the west of the island. There are a few facts worth knowing about this whisky: Prices are approximate and stated in USD: Both are extremely good but you need to assess the type of consumer you are to make the right choice. In short, you want to make it last. The Speyburn 10 was described by the judging panel as: A fine medley of baked apple and orange on the nose. Click here for instructions on how to enable JavaScript in your browser. Glenkinchie, Oban, Lagavulin . This gets slightly pricklier and more tart at the end. But for those of us who want a bit more sherry sweetness, from the finishing months spent in Amoroso casks, this is a must. The balance continues maturing in ex-bourbon casks. Lagavulin 16 is another one Ive recently returned to. But in 1998, after changing hands to Diageo, the brand was selected to represent the Lowlands and the 12 year old expression hit shelves. 8th February 2023 Best single malt ever 7th February 2023 Not a fan. They slowly weaken as I go deeper on the nose. The official tasting notes of the judging panel described the whisky as having: A dark amber hue signaling its years in the cask. GlenAllachie, 15 YO, 46% ABV, 750 ml, $95 took similar honors as the Best Single Malt from Speyside. Diese Samples sind in den Gren 4cl und 10cl verfgbar. With every sip, youll experience tastes of smooth vanilla, soft fruits and a memorably long, nutty finish, offering a robust and layered taste with each and every single slug. Not only that but I know in a lot retailers in France theyll have there standard size bottles of single malts all next to one another and very competitively priced. NEW YORK, Dec. 5, 2014 /PRNewswire/ Diageo, the makers of some of Scotland's finest single malt whiskies including Lagavulin and Oban, has . Oban is offered in a 14 year version and a pricier 18 year Distillers Edition that was first released in 1998. The Best Kinds of Whiskey That Belong on Everyones Bar Cart, Sign up for SPY news straight to your inbox every day. Hi John, why just have one when can you have both? Since a portion of the wash is distilled two and a portion is distilled three times, the distillery claims that it distills its whisky exactly 2.81 times. Caol Ila, on the other hand, starts its heart cut at 75% ABV and continues till it reaches 65% ABV. It was a good night; I was drinking something that tasted coastal while sitting by the sea and a campfire. Lately, the consumers interest in peated whiskies have led distillers to list the ppm phenol in the malt on their whisky bottle. If you want pronounced medicinal, smoked fish, disinfectant aromas look to the western islands, Islay in particular, or Western Scotland. Its also smooth, caramelly and surprisingly easy to drink. But in general, the north brings rich body and sweetness; the west brings rich body and peatiness; the south brings delicate drams with light body; and the east brings similar lightness with a touch more fruit. The higher cut points and the greater reflux make it lighter and results in less phenolic compounds in the whisky. I'm very sleepy, so I will let the reviews speak for themselves: Oban 14: Highland Single Malt Scotch Whiskey; 43% ABV. Currently you have JavaScript disabled. Single malt Scotch is made from a mash bill comprising 100 percent malted barley and produced in a single distillery. Highland Park 18 Year Read More. There are more than 20 variations available from the brand. The combined mix of dissipating peat & smoke plus the entering aromas of butterscotch and toffee make me think of mocha. Old oak casks are then used to age the whisky with the most common casks being old American bourbon barrels. Macallan is a well-known name, even by those that arent the most devoted scotch drinkers. Blended-grain Scotch is made by blending single-grain Scotch whiskies from two or more distilleries. This years NYISC judging highlighted several well-known Scotch whisky expressions. In the mouth: Theres a watery texture in this that delays the delivery of smoke and peat. This simplicity lends the region to provide the base to many blends, though a few distilleries have been kicking out some peated options recently. 63.95 from The Whisky Exchange Color: Iced tea. From there, its easy to move along those two spectrums to find bottles you like. (16 year-old Lagavulin is around $65). Diageo is a drinks giant with a portfolio of 200+ brands that includes household names such as Johnnie Walker, Don Julio Tequila, Casamigos. The distillery has six stills, all of which have a unique shape. [] There are a few facts worth knowing about the Lagavulin 8: [], Copyright 2023 Whisky, Whiskey & Bourbon | Trellis Framework by Mediavine, Lagavulin 16 vs Oban 14: Price comparison. The Singleton of Glendullan, 15 YO, 40% ABV, 750 ml, $50 took the award for the Best 15 YO Single Malt. Citrus and dark fruit lay on the mouth with a soft awareness of oak that continues on the balanced finish with a light layering of vanilla. As noted above, Talisker also received a Double Gold medal for its 10 YO expression. While Bruichladdichs main lineup consists of unpeated Scotches, Port Charlotte is aggressively peated in a way that stinks up the room when you pour a dram. This first age statement release from Lagavulin has been recognised as a value-for-money whisky with a relatively high age statement and relatively accessible price. They are made in an interesting method that involves multiple steps and is made using the same base ingredients. Think of the difference between smelling an open bottle of Pine Sol and smelling a dry pail that formerly held a solution of Pine Sol and water. Ive irregularly returned to this and enjoyed other variants since then. Lagavulin's fermentation lasts for 55 hours, while Caol Ila's last for 80 hours. Zen Love, Associate Editor. Scotch can only be called "Scotch" when it's made in Scotland in the same way that wine can only be called "Champagne" when made in the area of the same name. Islay is a small island thats believed to have played a major role in distilling crossing the sea from Ireland to Scotland in the 13th century. Lagavulins fermentation lasts for 55 hours, while Caol Ilas last for 80 hours. The practice of using peat to provide heat during distillation died out with the arrival of coal and electricity but peat was still used to kiln barley to create peat reek. Finish: No burn, just smoke and thick chocolate. If you can, try to match the tasting notes with the aromas and ingredients you recognized earlier. It combines a prominent smoky peat note, with fresh fruit, cooked cereal notes and a tangy salty note. If its been a while since youve tasted them, then you owe it to yourself to taste them again for the first time. The name is a reference to the Catholic Insurrection in England in the early sixteenth century that attempted to topple Queen Elizabeth I and replace her with her half-sister, Mary Queen of Scots. Lagavulin, 16 YO, 43% ABV, 750 ml, $109 took the award for Best 16 YO Single Malt from Islay. Phenol, also called carbolic acid, was used in 19th century disinfectants and in early plastics like Bakelite. However, I very much enjoyed it. These barrels will infuse the whisky with an amber color and tasting notes from the bourbon. Embarrassing to read. Oban is one of the few urban distilleries left in Scotland. Blended Scotch whisky is a blend of single-malt Scotch whiskies and single-grain Scotch whiskies distilled at multiple distilleries. I get a light burst of grapes. The scotch is matured in Pedro Ximnez and Oloroso sherry casks which heighten flavor and uniqueness. A total of 228 bottles were released. Lagavulin 16. Springbank was founded in 1828 by Archibald Mitchell and today is owned by Mitchells great-great-great-grandson, making it one of the few independent distilleries trading blows with giants like Diageo. Oh, and its created in part with actor Nick Offerman. The complexity is lost a bit in the mouth, but its still full. Look at the Lagavulin Distillers Edition or the Laphroaig PX Cask. Unlike on the nose, the peat and smoke are more consistent all the way. I recently got through a couple of bottles priced at 30 and for that price its stunning. Finish: Very slight smoke pairs a very slight sense of fruit wine. Palate: Tobacco, seaweed, fresh fruit, smoke. Both have a medicinal quality on the nose. These distilleries contributes with malts to Johnnie Walkers blended whiskies. Begin typing your search above and press return to search. [] Lagavulin 16 has a strong aroma ofsmoke and sea salt along sweet notes of vanilla and caramel. (It famously produces much of the Scotch for blending in Johnnie Walker expressions.) Theres no peat. Talisker 10, while also well-known today, is still an old reliable. These are the best bottles of Scotch whisky you can buy. a deep amber liquid with long oily legs. Lagavulin 16: Islay Single Malt Scotch Whiskey; 43% ABV. 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. There are still over a hundred-peat fired electricity generation plants, mostly in Scandinavia. A very understated honey note appeared with much perseverance. Oban ages for 14 years in ex-bourbon barrels. Winter spices with sherry notes and walnut coat the tongue with a balanced finish and hints of the sea. Palate: Honey smoked meats paired with fruit like grapes and berries. Finish: Long and spicy, with notes of figs, vanilla and smoke! The primary tasting notes across the whiskies are peat and fruit, with additional notes of sea salt, honey, and spice differing across the variations. Ill be reviewing them in the coming weeks. This particular expression spends 15 years in ex-bourbon barrels before 30% is transferred to Oloroso Sherry butts. For starters, there are five Scotch regions: Speyside, Highlands, Islay, Lowlands and Campbeltown. Highland Park 18 vs Lagavulin 16: Which Single Malt Wins? A single grain Scotch whisky is not a Scotch whisky from a single grain but rather a grain whisky, typically from multiple grains, i.e., a blended whisky, from a single distillery. Lagavulinis peated to 35 PPM at the famed Port Ellen maltings using peat from Islay's Castlehill Peat Bog. I write about wines and spirits and the hidden corners of the world, Thinking About Black Wine Business Beyond Black History Month, Whisky Review: Compass Box, Benriach, Tobermory, And More, Vibrant Whites, Distinctive RedsAppreciating The Wines Of Friuli, Appreciating Some Of Italys Lesser Known Varietals And Grapes, Wine Cocktails That Take The Chill Off Winter, Bacardis Latest Cask Finished Rum Expressions Are Exceptional, The Worlds Best BourbonAccording To The 2023 World Whiskies Awards. Its slightly complex but is full of familiar flavors which make this easy to enjoy. This will cause the liquid to slowly trickle down the sides of the glass with older whiskies moving slower than older whiskies. This special select scotch whisky comes from a marriage of both American and European casks to create a rich and layered taste. Core Offering: Oban 14 Year Old. Orange peel and oak lay on the tongue with winter spices on top of the medium finish. 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. However, depending on what you prefer in a single malt, either option may be better for you. This is a Scotch to enjoy neat with a few drops of water to open it up making it more approachable. Bottled at 61.5% ABV, this is reminiscent of what Glenlivet would have tasted in the early 19th century. When dried, peat can burn. As the ice melts, it will water down the beverage too much which will affect the taste of the whisky. It is then distilled in a pot still which involves heating the liquid and allowing vapor to form. Oban was established in 1794 while Lagavulin was established in 1816. The resulting peat has less moss in it so it lacks the overtly medicinal quality typical of Western Scotland. Posted on Published: August 30, 2022- Last updated: September 3, 2022. 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