This is the tenth iteration of the beloved 100% Islay Series. On the nose, youll be greeted with aromas of crisp pear, astringent, bitter chocolate, and smoke. For those unaware, peat is a decaying, highly compact organic matter that is found all over the island of Islay and various other places in Scotland, Ireland, and the world. Unfortunately I don't have many whiskey bars in my area so I buy bottles at a time. In fact, back then it was the oldest expression ever. The peat is accompanied by toffee, butterscotch, caramel, some light pickled seaweed with sesame seeds on top, nori and some more coastal aromas. A classic. Located on the Isle of Islay, Laphroaig and Ardbeg have unique characteristics. Theyre one of the few Scotch producers that can process their own barley. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. Its well known for its combination of bold peat smoke as well as a mellow, sweetness, and a pleasing dry finish perfectly suited for sipping. I belong in the former. Distillation: Laphroaig and Ardbeg spirits undergo distillation twice using wash stills and spirit stills within Islay Island. And some of the notable Scotch whisky from Laphroaig include the Select whisky, PX Cask, Triple Wood, the Cairdeas series, and older whiskies like the 18-Year-Old and 25-Year-Old. Ardbeg is peated to 55 ppm. ), [] is a good introductory bottle to smoky whisky before going for Scotch Whiskies from Islay that hit hard with the [], Connemara Peated Single Malt Review: (Is it Good? Ardbeg 10 and Talisker 10 are more distinctive for me, but they're still close. The Capital Gin Small Batch WhiskyBrother&Co Gin Review and Tasting Notes, Teeling Single Grain Whiskey Review and Tasting Notes. We felt that it was a bit one dimensional and boring. Johnnie Walker Blue label comes to mind. When it comes to high-proof, potent, smoky whiskies, its pretty difficult to beat this expression from Laphroaig. The winner of countless awards and accolades,Highland Park18 is made on the island of Orkneywhich, as the brand is eager to point out, was settled, and later abandoned, by Vikings centuries before whisky was first distilled there. In any case, welcome to another side-by-side tasting where, together with . For this guide, I'll classify Islay whiskies into four categoriess: unpeated, medium smoke, super smoky and peated fruity. On the other hand, Ardbeg is produced by Louis Vuitton Mot Hennessy, a Paris-based luxury goods group. ).setup(jwConfig).whenReady( The bottle proudly lists all of those "dirty-sounding chemical compounds" which make . Glenlivet has been a staple of mine, especially the 15. In the same year (1815), Alexander MacDougall founded the Ardbeg Distillery within Islay Island two miles away from Laphroaigs. Taking a break from more media-friendly, well-distributed expressions gives you a chance to branch out into something different. While Islay gets all the press for peated whiskies, its important to note that there are plenty of mainland distilleries making peated expressions. The Laphroaig distillery was started by brothers Donald and Alexander Johnston in 1815 and has been operating for over 200 years. The region's most notable outlier is Bunnahabhain, where, since 1881, it's. On the palate, Stauning Smokes sweet creaminess and slightly tart lemony flavor are balanced by sharp, dry woody notes. Theyre all a little different. But, this smoky, peated, flavorful whisky comes from BenRiach up in Speyside. Take a sip and youll find flavors of salted caramel, spicy cinnamon, dried fruits, and more peaty smoke. Main Differences between Ardbeg 10 and Laphroaig 10: Ardbeg 10 has BV (46%) and can be sipped alone, whereas Laphroaig 10 has higher ABV (58.6%) and benefits from water (for some) Ardbeg 10 is a bit more grassy and herbal with rosemary and mint, whereas Laphroaig 10 is strongly medicinal with flavors of bandaid and iodine A great mix of ginger, lemon peel and teriyaki sauce. Were simply reminding fellow aficionados to taste their whisky, rather than going off of brand perceptions. It comes with a separate outbox, which holds the whisky bottle, adding sophistication to the expression. $150.00. She used to work as a bar manager in Paris and is a self-taught mixologist whose passion for crafting unique cocktails led her to create Liquor Laboratory. Take a sip and youll find flavors of pipe tobacco, raisins, sticky toffee pudding, and campfire smoke. The Liquor Laboratory is intended for adults over the age of 21 and the legal drinking age. Ardbeg all day for me. Lagavulin is known for its use of a slow distillation speed and pear-shaped pot stills. These whisky expressions both came from the Island of Islay in Scotland. Lagavulin 16 has a strong aroma ofsmoke and sea salt along sweet notes of vanilla and caramel. On the nose, Lagavulin has smoky notes and an oak-fire taste compared to the clear sea and bonfire-like scent of Laphroaig. But unlike some Islay competitors, it does so in an intricately balanced way that doesn't punch you in the face. The Ardbeg is drinkable and delicious and invites you back time after time. Lagavulin is smoky due to its tobacco and peat notes. The famed Black Bowmore, distilled in 1964 and released in several, increasingly pricey editions since the 1990s, almost singlehandedly kicked off the modern single malt craze that continues unabated to this day. I like a scotch that has more bite and/or is peated. Since then, Laphroaig has seen tremendous growth, switching hands between a couple of international conglomerates after the company was sold in 1972. This is one of thebest malts for smoke enthusiasts. Lagavulin's capacity is around 2.6M litres of alcohol per year; Laphroaig is a bit larger at 3.3M. A favorite of bartenders and scotch fans alike, Caol Ila 12 is well-known as one of the best smoky/briny Islay whisky gateway bottles. Lagavulin and Laphroaig are single malt whisky expressions made from pure malted barley sourced from a single distillery within the Island of Islay in Scotland. Its got everything Islay fans love and newbies fearlots of ashy smoke (35 ppm) and salty sea air, some seaweed and iodine. The Week of Peat employs Highland peat, which is found inland, rather than the maritime Islay peat, and it imparts a more earthy flavor to the whisky. Peat makes its entrance at the very beginning of thewhisky-making process, before distillation, when barley is roasted, or malted, to stop the seeds from sprouting fully. But, once youve tried some of the beginner malts, this is the kind of bottle that will find a forever home on your whisky shelf. Anything Octomore (Varies): Some of the most peated whiskies in the world, released by Bruichladdich. The most heavily peated whisky ever recorded, Bruichladdichs Octomore 8.3, released in 2017, measured a completely bonkers 309 ppm. Its astringent, smoky, perfectly salty, and sweet. Adding water or ice will open the full flavors of these spirits, but adding too much will affect the overall taste of these drinks. function(jwInstance){ Rather than using it during the malting process, however, they employ it during aging, finishing the liquid for up to three years in casks that formerly held heavily peated whisky. Nose is full of smoke, ash and coal but mellows out into a rich caramel scent as you let it develop. It gives a nice balance, making it an impressive Scotch whisky. It's the sister distillery to Glenmorangie in the Highlands, and generally appeals to. If you feel overwhelmed by the Ardbeg add a few drops of water releasing sweet and floral notes making it easier to drink. 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). However, it is on the premium side but perfect for special occasions. 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. Aat Verhoog Its not complemented by the peat, its smothered by it. var jwConfig = { Earlier the Laphroaig was established in 1815 by Alexander and Donald Johnston. Hopefully, this release doesn't garner so much attention that it makes LVHM discontinue the 10 Year. The palate is swirling with candied orange peels, sweet treacle, peppery spice, iodine, and smoked bacon. the 16 Year Old, the Distillers Edition, and an 8 Year Old. Its even a tad floral, courtesy of the heather thats also used to smoke the grains. The long aging period diminished the smoky notes a bit whilst adding the sweet vanilla from the bourbon barrels. Older Laphroaigs can really deliver on this like no other whiskies. The Laphroaig 10 costs around $64.79 per 750ml bottle, while Ardbeg 10 costs around $61.99 per 750ml bottle. During the time of Prohibition, this was one of the few legally imported Islay whiskies into the US due to its medicinal notes. Caol Ila Unpeated (varies): One of the islands less-known distilleries (though it produces the most whisky,mainly used inblends), Caol Ila releases unpeated whisky fairly regularly that can sometimes be found in specialist shops or online. Whatever your taste preference, I can promise that you won't regret the trip. Definitely among my favorite sipping whiskies with a great depth to both the aroma and flavor. This whisky is creamy and smooth and pleasantly warm. After a long history of mergers and acquisitions, the company that owns and operates the famous Laphroaig distillery is Beam Suntory. The finish is dry, warming, and ends with a nice combination of vanilla, smoke, and brine. Regardless, this is one of the most distinctive and delicious single malts coming out of New England. #oban14 #singlemalt #scotch #scotchwhisky #whisky #whiskey #alcohol #dram #whiskyporn #angelsshare #angelssharewhisky, A post shared by angelssharewhisky (@angelssharewhisky) on May 20, 2018 at 8:58pm PDT. Laphroaig is easily available compared to the spirits from Lagavulin, which are rarely seen by the public. A perfect peaty gateway for the uninitiated. Each of these whiskies are for those looking to either get into the style or take a step up with their already smoky palates. First released in 2018, this is the flagship expression for Bruichladdichs Port Charlotte line. Lagavulin used the Laphroaig for blending with their own grain Whisky and therefore limited Laphroaig's ability to sell their own pure malt Whisky to a wider market. Its herbal, smoky, slightly medicinal, and perfect for slow sipping near the ocean or in front of a painting of the sea. Rejlt. They also bottle a Distiller's edition, finished in Pedro Ximnez Sherry casks. It all ends in a dry, pleasingly warm, smoky finish. I'd also like to know what type of scotches I should avoid in the future, especially if they share the same profile as Lagavulin. Bunnahabhain 12-year-old vs Lagavulin 12-year-old. 810 ! Ardbeg 10 vs. Lagavulin 16 ? A full 99.9% of unpeated Islay whiskies come from Bruichladdich and Bunnahabhain distilleries. Ardbeg hits hard with smoke and peat while also delivering a medicinal taste which is not so easy to like and more like an acquired taste. smoked tofu, 2 types of jackfruit, red peppers, onions, portabello mushrooms on whole grain ciabatta From using locally grown barley, to bottling their whiskies far younger than what was considered acceptable, to producing the most heavily peated malts in the world by an order of several magnitudes, Bruichladdich has repeatedly broken the mold and made delicious whiskies while doing so. Both deliver a long-lasting finish, but there are peat and spicy notes on Lagavulin, compared to Laphroaigs sweet and peat notes. In the last few years, demand has increased its price reminiscent of Pappy Van Winkle. 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Distiller & # x27 ; s the sister distillery to Glenmorangie in Highlands! The tenth iteration of the heather thats also used to smoke the grains however, it is the! The trip, Laphroaig and Ardbeg have unique characteristics Grain whiskey Review and Tasting notes malts smoke...
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