Lagavulin 16 - 43%
Appearance: Light chestnut gold in colour, forms a thin line which falls slowly as thick, oily legs
Nose: Phenolic peat smoke, salty coastal breeze, crispy oak smoked bacon, stewed orchard fruit, California raisins and a hint of black pepper
Palate: Soft, oily mouthfeel. Beach bonfire smoke, sweet peat, rich dried fruit, baked apple, black pepper and oak spices
Finish: Lingering soft peat smoke, soft brown sugar, mildly astringent nutty oak and cracked black pepper
Overall: When I first tried Lagavulin 16 many years ago it was a real beast of a whisky, phenolic, not for the faint of heart and truly deserving of its status as a classic malt. These days it’s a much toned down, some might go so far as to say a more refined whisky. For me though, while it’s still a decent dram, it’s lost that robust character that made it a great whisky.
Essentially, this has gone from a whisky that practically snarled as you uncorked it, to a timid shadow of its former self. Tired casks may be one reason, but would that account for the significant reduction in the characteristic TCP medicinal quality? It feels more like it’s been tamed for mass consumption, and in doing so they’ve lost the very thing that made it so appealing to the serious whisky drinker. And that, is something that saddens me greatly.
And then we get onto the thorny subject, as is often the case these days with Diageo, of price. This was always a whisky which, although it cost a little more, was still well inside the affordable range. That is sadly no longer the case, prices have rocketed and are only mitigated by discounts from retailers bringing them back to more acceptable levels.
This was given to me as a Christmas present, and one I was very grateful to receive. It will, however, probably be the last time I have a bottle unless that original character is somehow reinstated and we get back to some semblance of value for money. Until then, there are plenty of other options out there which provide me with what I want from a whisky without breaking the bank.
