Lagavulin 16 Year Old

Hailing from Islay, Lagavulin is one of the more recognizable peated scotch brands out in the market.  What I like most about peated single malts is how distinctly different each flavor profile  is within the peat category.  I wrote about this a bit in my Talisker Distillers Edition review, and the Lagavulin 16 is no different.  For those of you that are fans of American sitcoms, the Lagavulin 16 was the go-to scotch for Ron Swanson from Parks & Recreation.  The character was so tightly tied to this bottle that Lagavulin released an 11 year old version named after the actor, Nick Offerman, who plays Ron in the show.  I’m going to have to grab one of those next….

ABV: 43%

How it smells…big ole whiff of peatiness, rubber, Band-Aids, and a hint of sweet fruitiness

How it tastes…Surprisingly smooth and light throughout, starting with some next-morning-campfire smokiness and sweet oyster brine ending in black cherry and that hint of honey.  Finally, it finishes bittersweet and drying with some spice lingering along with the peat.

Price...I purchased my bottle for a steal at $75ish, but I see them now more in the $85-$100 range.

Rating...🥃🥃🥃🥃

Final thoughts…This can be a great peated scotch for those that want to break into the category as well as those who like the bigger peatiness of some other labels.  It is a well rounded single malt scotch and worth the price.  I admittedly do not burn through my peated bottles as I tend to dip into them sporadically or weather/mood dependent, so even at this increased price point (which for a 16 year old, ain’t bad) I’m always going to keep a bottle on my shelf.  Compared to ones I have already reviewed, the Lagavulin 16 is a step up in peat from the Talisker Distillers Edition and the BenRiach Smokey 12, but still not an overpowering peatiness compared to a Laphroaig or an Ardbeg.