World Whisky Day was founded in 2012 by Blair Bowman while studying at the University of #Aberdeen and falls on the third Saturday of May each year. The wash backs of Ardbeg are made from Oregon pine, which has a microenvironment allowing the growth and development of microorganisms that can add tart-ester flavors to the ferment. The Ardbeg is drinkable and delicious and invites you back time after time. 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. As for Lagavulin, along with the malted barley are peat and water from Solan Lochs, sourced from west of the Islay island (where Caol Ila and Port Charlotte Distillery lies). Bushmills Has Dropped a New 30-Year-Old Whiskey in Time for St. Paddys Day, From Kenyan Gin to Indian Whisky: 11 Outstanding Spirits From Around the World. There are better, less peat-driven Scotches from Islay that I certainly prefer. In fact, back then it was the oldest expression ever. Laphroaig 10 vs Lagavulin 8: Discover the Better! Im sure if we were playing Family Feud about scotches and someone said, Show me, Macallan! it would be the number one answer on the board. 39 Arran; 30 Highland Park; 23 Talisker; 16 Jura; 10 Tobermory; 3 Lagg; 3 Raasay; 2 Scapa; 2 Isle of Harris; . Port Charlotte 10 is better than Ardbeg 10 or Lagavulin 8, both of which are very good drams. The flavors vary by region, sometimes drastically. Their single malt whisky variations range from around $60 to $3000. Its flavor profile and alcohol proof is not overwhelming, ideal for beginners. Theres nothing much fancy about the bottles of these two brands. This complex whisky begins with scents of sea salt, iodine, dried cherries, and peat. (2023), Whiskey Similar To Jack Daniels: 10 Alternatives (2023), 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), https://www.britannica.com/topic/distilled-spirit/Producing-the-mash, https://www.britannica.com/story/whats-the-difference-between-whiskey-and-whisky-what-about-scotch-bourbon-and-rye. Laphroaig is relatively easy to find amongst the independent bottlers. I find Laphroaig smoother than the other very smoky whiskies, with the balance at the end tilted towards the smoke. !Jahre Alt Dark Sherry Cask. First released in 2018, this is the flagship expression for Bruichladdichs Port Charlotte line. This dominatingly peated whisky was matured for 12 years and somehow manages to be reasonably priced at under $100. et up to 61% off Robb Report, plus a free tote bag. I had already tried Lagavulin 16 4 years ago when I was first getting into drinking scotch and I absolutely hated it. It comes with a separate outbox, which holds the whisky bottle, adding sophistication to the expression. The smoke and the cereal sweetness of the barley are the attention-grabbers, but there are tasty undertones of honey and toffee, as well as a savory hint of meatiness that goes nicely with the smoke. Highly regarded and for very good reason, you cant go wrong with a bottle of @highlandparkofficial 18! Bunnahabhain is known as the Islay distillery that doesnt peat its whiskies, but there have been exceptions to the rule over the years. The Lagavulin Distillery and Laphroaig Distillery specialize in crafting heavily medicinal, smoky, and peaty whiskies. 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. The most heavily peated whisky ever recorded, Bruichladdichs Octomore 8.3, released in 2017, measured a completely bonkers 309 ppm. Lydia can whip up a mean Margarita in seconds! The peat is accompanied by toffee, butterscotch, caramel, some light pickled seaweed with sesame seeds on top, nori and some more coastal aromas. Its not complemented by the peat, its smothered by it. Take a few moments to breathe in the scents of cinnamon apples, sea salt, dried fruits, and dried peat. Quick Fact: Ardbeg didnt use caramel-coloring agents in their spirits, unlike most distillers. Laphroaig Quarter Cask - 41.55 ($55):Far more fiery than the Laphroaig 10. - Three were. 1988 Lagavulin 16 Year Old is selected as one of the six Classic Malts 2014 A triple-matured expression is released for the Friends of the Classic Malts Lagavulin Facts Condenser Type i Shell and tube Fermentation Time i Minimum 55hrs Filling Strength i 63.5% Grist Weight (t) i 4.4 Heat Source i Steam Malt Specification i Heavy peated Here is a good starter for the weekend. Bottled at 43% abv, Lagavulin 16 has a slightly higher abv than Laphroaig 10 at 40% abv. Particularly, Laphroaig 10 is bottled at 43% ABV, while Ardbeg 10 is bottled at 46% ABV. Lagavulin 16 has also had a further six years to mature and 'soften' and lacks the raw medicinal ashtray/burning tyres you often get with Laphroaig. ); Unfortunately, I still did not really like it. Although the region of Islay has been using peated barley, Islay distilleries (like Lagavulin) are not mandated to use this type of grain to make whisky. Instead of diving right into the likes of Ardbeg and Bruichladdich and demolishing your palate, start with Coal Ila 12 and work your way up. Its also overrated. 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Unfortunately I don't have many whiskey bars in my area so I buy bottles at a time. Hello friends and whisky enthusiasts. Bottles from both are a great way to start appreciating smoky whiskies. Besides, it is more affordable and suitable as an everyday whisky. . []. If youre a beginner in peated whiskies, then Laphroaig 10yo is the better choice. The facility on the south coast of Islay (where the Port Ellen Distillery lies) was created after Scottish laws were changed to permit the alcohol distillation process. Lagavulin/Laphroaig/BenRiach/Bruichladdich/iStock/Uproxx, Ten Great Single Malt Whiskies For Fans of Smoke, GloRilla, Ice Spice, And The Carefree Black Girl Backlash, Karol G Tells Us About Her Most Personal Album Yet, Maana Ser Bonito, And Collaborating With Shakira, The Rundown: Between Cocaine Bears And Maple Syrup Heists, Margo Martindale Is Absolutely Thriving In 2023. While the Laphroaig 10 is a decent choice for Scotch fans who like medium-proof spirits with sweet notes and peat smoke finish. By law, single malt whisky must contain 100% malted barley and should be distilled within a single distillery. Its a great, well-balanced whisky, but there are also many more higher quality single malts on the market to be discovered instead. For this guide, I'll classify Islay whiskies into four categoriess: unpeated, medium smoke, super smoky and peated fruity. I actually like the Wee Beastie over the 10. Learn how your comment data is processed. On the palate, youll find hay, dark chocolate, buttery caramel, and woodsmoke. Talisker WineStyle! In the blind tasting, against the Ardbeg 10 yo whisky, the difference was even more evident. However, Lagavulin is under Diageo [1] PLC, one of the companys Classic Malts, while Laphroaig is under Suntory Holdings. Were simply reminding fellow aficionados to taste their whisky, rather than going off of brand perceptions. The spirits are made purely from water and malted barley. While theres certainly plenty ofthat kind of whisky, theres also Islay whisky that's smooth, fruity, rich, unpeated and thoroughly enjoyable. While I do enjoy Ardbeg, there are a lot of other great bottles out there that are a little more subtle with the peat. As the sage Jay-Z says, Its not a diss song, its just a real song., One of the best #macallan #macallan18 #themacallan #themacallan18 #whisky #nyc #nycdrinks #thebest #whiskys, A post shared by ULYSSESG (@ulyssesgardoqui) on May 7, 2020 at 5:17pm PDT, Jeremy Allen, beverage director of MiniBar Hollywood in Los Angeles. Dont get us wrong, Highland Park 18 is a great bottle of whisky. The malted barley is peat-smoked with Speysides more forest-driven peat and then its aged for ten years in oak barrels. If you find yourself overwhelmed in smoke add a few drops of water, that will open-up the Lagavulin 16 making it sweeter, while tuning-down the peat and will become easier to sip. bbgunn says: February 27, 2013 at 8:40 am . Highland whiskies vary from sweet honey and heather to bold spice to smoke bombs. In 1997, the facility was purchased by Glenmorangie PLC until Louis Vuittons Mot Hennessy took it over in 2004 up to this day. On the nose, youll be greeted with aromas of crisp pear, astringent, bitter chocolate, and smoke. By subscribing, I agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Located on the Isle of Islay, Laphroaig and Ardbeg have unique characteristics. Light and nippy on the tongue but . These bottles are labeled as single malts, that is, spirits made exclusively from malted barley at a single distillery and aged for a minimum of 3 years. Bowmore 15- 52.95 ($70): Much more refined, the maturation in Spanish sherry casks here is subtle and perfectly balanced. 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. The bottle design of Laphroaig vs Ardbeg is not important to consider (for some), but it shows how the brands present their spirits. As a Drizly affiliate, Uproxx may receive a commission pursuant to certain items on this list. This adds the smoky flavor that peated whisky fans look forward to with every sip. This is the bottle for peat beginners. - Several usually drink Laphroaig, but enjoy Ardbeg when they get it. Prominent age statement whiskies in the respective ranges include Laphroaig 10 Year Old, Lagavulin 8 Year Old, Lagavulin 12 Year Old and Lagavulin 16 Year Old, and various other age non-age statement expressions. For example, the one that bothers me the most isthat Islay whiskies are hard for beginners to drink because they're so strong and smoky. Laphroaig Aged 10 Years will cost you about $62 for a 750mL bottle at 86-proof, or 43 percent ABV. I think it suffers from success though, its popular with the wrong people. I really loved them both due to how smooth and easy drinking they are. There must be some whisky people in Gauteng who can organise it. Unlike the heavy maritime notes of Islay peat, the smoky aromas here, while still dominant, are gentler by comparison, thanks to the mosses and shrubs that make up Danish peat. You cant go wrong with any of the expressions from Ardbeg. 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. Sipping this whisky will open your senses to a world of wildflowers, smoky bacon, tropical fruits, and more smoke. It was founded in 1816 by a farmer. Lagavulin 16 - 55.45 ($73): Robust and meaty. On the nose, youre greeted with aromas of ocean brine, almond cookies, vanilla, and a boatload of peat smoke. You can bet that if you crack open a bottle from this Islay distillery, therell be a fair bit of smoky goodness paired with sea brine. In comparison, the Ardbeg Distillery only uses two stills. window.contextual_player = jwInstance; Which islay whisky is better? SCORE: 87/100 More from The Whiskey Jug Bottled at a burly 52.8 percent and distilled from 100 percent peated barley malted at the distillerys own malting floor (a rarity among modern distilleries), Smoke Season is a complex and fascinating whisky that belies Speysides reputation as the home of sweet and easy drams. There are better, less peat-driven Scotches from Islay that I certainly prefer. The name Ardbeg is synonymous with peat smoke. A perfect peaty gateway for the uninitiated. Husbils premir till Marstrand med min underbara fru#marstrand #ardbeg #ardbeg10 #husbilsliv #islaywhisky #whiskyporn #whisky #singelmalt #harenunderbarfru, A post shared by Anders (@anders0521) on May 16, 2020 at 9:14am PDT, Hayden Miller, head bartender at Bodega Taqueria y Tequila in Miami. The origins of Lagavulin can be traced back to 1816. The long aging period diminished the smoky notes a bit whilst adding the sweet vanilla from the bourbon barrels. On the palate, Ardbeg 10 is a bit more herbal and grassy with mellow mint and rosemary than the Laphroaig 10, which is known for its medicinal peat (iodine and bandaid). 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. Lagavulin, on the other hand, is rarely seen or bottled by the independents. This whisky is creamy and smooth and pleasantly warm. 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