oban 14 vs lagavulin 16

The biggest shocker of its win was Deanston Virgin Oak's price, clocking in with a retail price of around $30. Glenlivet 15 Year Scotch Whisky $75.79 Buy Now. Drink Stack is a resource for adults of legal drinking age. But I found it offered a more balanced and sweeter note after sitting out and aerating for a bit, so take that for what it's worth. You can add a small splash of water to the whisky if you would like but it is recommended that you do not add ice to your single malt. Ledaig comes from the Tobermory distillery in the northwest corner of the Isle of Mull, just a short hop across the water from the mainland Highlands. The phenolic compounds that give peated whiskies their pronounced medicinal character are concentrated in the cell walls of the moss. An early distillery founded in 1826, was one of the first licensed distilleries in Scotland and a pioneer of sherry cask maturation. The official tasting note from the judging panel described the GlenAllachie 15 YO as. It also gives out awards for best single malts across several age categories and awards medals to the top entrants. The latter is present due to the use of Orcadian peat, which is an organic material thats found when plants decay. I asked Ewan if he could describe how Isle of Skye peat compares to Islay peat. In areas where there is a lot of rain, for example, the peat has a large proportion of sphagnum moss. Oban ages for 14 years in ex-bourbon barrels. First, Lagavulins fermentation lasts for at least 55 hours. Highland Park 18 vs Lagavulin 16: Which Single Malt Wins? Tyler Duffy, Associate Editor. Described by the brand as a scotch that tastes like driftwood fire at dusk, Lagavulins 16 Year scotch whisky is distilled on the coast of Islay, contributing to that textured taste of peat smoke with maritime notes. Commentdocument.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id", "ad13b63b4b51edb14a2cc838da0b2be4" );document.getElementById("f7847b31c6").setAttribute( "id", "comment" ); Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. When youre more seasoned, the light and easy-to-drink malts will no longer do the job. Most of their whiskies have higher alcohol contents with the maximum being 57,3% (114,6 proof). What is unusual about The Singleton is that each of the three brands has a specific geographic area where its sold: Glendullan is sold in North America, Dufftown is reserved for Europe and Glen Ord is exclusive to Asia. A bit pricey, which I suspect contributes to its more middling score in my metacritic database. Peat has a strong presence with hints of sea salt as it lays well on the tongue. Its a great smokey and peaty single malt for beginners to try. It was love at first taste. Single malt whisky is a type of whisky made by a single distillery from malted barley. The finish is long and pleasantly warm, leaving an aftertaste of oak, baking spice and salt. But in 1998, after changing hands to Diageo, the brand was selected to represent the Lowlands and the 12 year old expression hit shelves. In between those are light aromas of mandarin oranges, burnt lint, ashes, more citrus peels and digestive biscuits. Lagavulin 16 vs Kilchoman Machir Bay: Which Single Malt Wins? $148 AT RESERVE BAR. The closest scotch I can think of to Lagavulin 16 is Ardbeg 10 year. Glenmorangie Nectar d'Or. Agree with Laga 12 being more attractive to Laga 16. It has a hefty 46.3 percent ABV, spending time in both ex-bourbon casks and new oak barrels. I'm very sleepy, so I will let the reviews speak for themselves: Oban 14: Highland Single Malt Scotch Whiskey; 43% ABV. My then-unrefined palate thought the flavors seemed like a peppery, smokey mocha drink. Youd be crazy not to like the ones they mostly use for blends. The amber color of the whisky is also formed from the barrels with darker whiskies being older than lighter-colored ones. The phenomenon is also known as muskegs in North America. Light floral with dark fruit in the nose followed by a well layered oily presence on the palate with dark sugar on the edges and a full-bodied finish. Our tester found it to be delightful in everything from a Scotch old fashioned to more complex cocktails like a Blood & Sand, where its normally subtle fruity notes really came to life. Lagavulin distillery is a malt whisky distillery in the village of Lagavulin on the south of the island of Islay, Scotland. Talisker 10, while also well-known today, is still an old reliable. It has a distinctive cracked black pepper note on the nose that is always an unmistakable marker for Talisker. But I have samples of the Dalwhinnie 15 and Cragganmore 12. Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own. GlenAllachie, 15 YO, 46% ABV, 750 ml, $95 took similar honors as the Best Single Malt from Speyside. Core Offering: Oban 14 Year Old. 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. Copyright 2023 Penske Business Media, LLC. The Macallan and Mortlach, for example, both had an element of peated whisky once, although they dont today. The scotch is matured in Pedro Ximnez and Oloroso sherry casks which heighten flavor and uniqueness. There are 10 variations included in their collection, including a younger, 5-year-old whisky to a 25-year-old variation. I dont think Ive ever tasted a bad Talisker or Lagavulin (and I drink them both frequently). Single malt is a type of whisky that is seen as elite. Named for the famous whirlpool that lies to the north of Islay and winner of The Worlds Best Single Malt in 2010 by the World Whiskies Awards, Corryvreckan is intense, non-chill-filtered experience of peat and pepper aged in virgin French Limousin oak. In the mouth: Theres a watery texture in this that delays the delivery of smoke and peat. Aberlour, 16 YO, 43% ABV, 750 ml, $80, another Speyside icon, won the Best 16 YO Speyside single malt. Lagavulin has 12 whisky variations available for purchase. Finally, dont ignore the peated offerings from the specialty bottlers. The usual Islay names, Lagavulin, Ardbeg, Bruichladdichs Port Charlotte or Octomore range, Bowmore or Laphroaig will suit you, so will whiskies from the other western islands like Talisker (Skye) or Ledaig (Mull). 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. The actual menu of the The Keg Steakhouse + Bar. But maybe its a case of me just trying the same batch of T10s in my market. Hi PB, thanks for the compliment. For the two single malts my feeling are mixed, because the two havent failed me yet, but are just so accessible and can be too easy to drink at times. Both have a medicinal quality on the nose. Vital Stats: 86 proof, 14 years old, single malt. Talisker Distillers Edition vs Ardbeg An Oa. 8th February 2023 Best single malt ever 7th February 2023 Not a fan. Across the whiskies, there is an average alcohol content of 43%, with the lowest ABV being 43% (86 proof) and the highest ABV being 57,3% (114,6 proof). The distillery uses some of the smallest stills in Scotland, meaning that the 18-year release is a hard-to-find, limited-release, despite being a flagship product. So if you are fond of this liquor and want to add a tad of smoke Oban is a no-brainer. Of course, grain whisky aged in first-fill ex-bourbons also means the cask lends more flavor to the grain whisky. Within their scotch whisky range is over 100 brands, with their total reach being across 180 countries. Caol Ila, Islays largest distillery, is a go-to brand for easy, entry-level Scotch from the region. Discover the differences between Lagavulin 16 vs Oban 14 in this in-depth comparison and decide which Single Malt is better for You!! There are light and mixed-up tastes of citrus peels, grape jelly, butterscotch and caramel. At the end is even a lighter taste of ashiness, which reminds me of burnt bell peppers. Its triple-distilled, a process more typically found in Irish whiskeys and bourbons. We dont want to sell advertising. The color of the whisky is a rich amber. Lagavulin 16 Color: Dark Chocolate Nose: Actually kinda smokey. Oban whisky is very different from many of its West Highland kin. Bisected from north to south by the River Spey, Speyside is a little pocket of land in the northeast of Scotland, surrounded on three sides by the Highlands and the North Sea. If you want pronounced medicinal, smoked fish, disinfectant aromas look to the western islands, Islay in particular, or Western Scotland. 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. If its been a while since youve tasted them, then you owe it to yourself to taste them again for the first time. $14.00 USD . When I bought the tasting kit to join the tasting, I didnt know he was going to be part of it, so I told myself that if the tasting got too marketing-heavy, Id at least have bought the kit to jog my memory on these single malts. ), 45.8% ABV. In those parts of the world where there is an absence of trees, peat has often been utilized as a source of heat. Oban 14 Years Old is a wee bit oily and quite a bit weighty. 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. It internationally holds a spot as a really good entry level peated whisky. Finish: Very slight smoke pairs a very slight sense of fruit wine. Whisky reviews with objectivity and transparency. The two tones at play with one another here are that of a rich sweetness beginning and an extra spicy finish. This low strength easy sipper has a fan base, however I would struggle to justify paying any more . Springbank 15 Year . Get our FREE weekly email Read More: The Dalmore Releases Sherry-Cask Finish 12-Year Scotch. Its difficult not to love it, but as a luxury Scotch bottle, it isnt designed to challenge you, but rather to open the door for anyone to enjoy what 18 years can do to transform whisky. A lot of first-fill ex-bourbon casks intended for aging Lagavulin would be filled first with single-grain Scotch. Blended-grain Scotch is made by blending single-grain Scotch whiskies from two or more distilleries. The malted barley is peated in Glen Ord. This practice can even occur on an industrial scale. The long aging period diminished the smoky notes a bit whilst adding the sweet vanilla from the bourbon barrels. Like Oban, Lagavulin is owned by Diageo having been bought in 1997. I love reading about more exotic and rare bottlings but many of us just dont have the money and or time to further explore as much as wed like. The resulting material can build up over thousands of years to form peat bogs hundreds of feet thick. This un-chill-filtered bottle is a standout for the price, and a better value than the distiller's more expensive, and more refined, Ledaig 18. Peat smoke can create complex flavors within the final single malt. Lagavulin, 16 YO, 43% ABV, 750 ml, $109 took the award for Best 16 YO Single Malt from Islay. Its brightly peated whisky sits in sherry-seasoned European oak casks and ages in the extremely mild climate of the islands, for a gentle maturation that hits its stride at 18 years. This year, there still was a total of 1,400 entrants judged. Lagavulin 16 vs Oban 14: Which is better? Lagavulin collects its water from the Solan Lochs while the peat comes from the west of the island. This means that neither is stronger on average, although Lagavulin has some whisky variations that have a higher alcohol content with some reaching an ABV of 57,3% (114,6 proof). Its well worth grabbing a bottle when they hit shelves. Its core line-up is packaged without fuss or frills, making them a great value (Glenfarclas 12 is great for those on a budget) and the 17 year just gets it right. Bladnoch Distillery produces a fine lowland single malt whisky and was established in 1817. I just need to get my hands on a sample of Laphroaig 10 and maybe the 10 CS. Laphroaig, its Islay neighbor, just 10 minutes down the road, comes in at around 45 ppm phenol. It starts with the barley being collected from across Scotland after which it is malted. It comes on strong with an alcohol flavor fresh from the just-opened bottle. The ethanol is barely prickly. It dates back to 1794 when it was founded by the brothers John and Hugh Stevenson in the Port of Oban which was named after the distillery and not the other way around! Let it sit on your tongue and take a moment to pick out the tasting notes within the drink. Zen Love, Associate Editor. Flavor hits with dried fruit at first, followed by pear and apple shrouded in baking spice and a gentle tad of smoke. Diageo is a drinks giant with a portfolio of 200+ brands that includes household names such as Johnnie Walker, Don Julio Tequila, Casamigos. Lagavulin's stills are short and squat and are charged (filled) to around 90% capacity, while Caol Ila's stills. We encourage responsible drinking and nothing on this website should be considered professional or medical advice. All 4 variations have an alcohol by volume (ABV) of 43% (86 proof) and all have a light amber hue to them. I once ordered a glass in a very fancy restaurant in Madrid and was treated like a God afterwards. I've found that adding a drop of water as close to a single drop as you can get helps bring out the flavor. Peat and sherry with a lovely burning lifeboat on the seashore kind of smoke. In order to post comments, please make sure JavaScript and Cookies are enabled, and reload the page. Loch Lomond was established in 1814 and produces various single-malt whiskies of different ages. This yearly release is, for the price, among Taliskers best. In contrast to Tobermory single malts, Ledaig is heavily peated and made in small batches. I get a light burst of grapes. Try These Whiskeys, The Complete Buying Guide to Buffalo Trace Whiskey, The Most Exciting New Bourbon and Whiskeys of 2022, The 22 Best Scotch Whiskies You Can Drink Right Now, The Glenlivet Ndurra Peated Whisky Cask Finish, Glenfiddich Bourbon Barrel Reserve 14 Year Old. The highest medal given out is the Double Gold. No, not just because it takes more time to create, but those extra years really pack on the flavor intensity more powerful than youd imagine. The official tasting notes of the judging panel described it as: A welcoming amber liquid with raisin and nuts on the nose. When burned it adds a delicate, floral, potpourri like quality to peat smoke. Its buttery, with a surface sweetness, and a range of spicy notes that gives it plenty of depth. Due to the grain whisky a 25-year-old variation example, both had an of... Adding the sweet vanilla from the bourbon barrels is always an unmistakable marker for Talisker February not. Which reminds me of burnt bell peppers they dont today given out is the Double.... Seemed like a God afterwards give peated whiskies their pronounced medicinal character concentrated. Period diminished the smoky notes a bit weighty years to form peat bogs of... Barrels with darker whiskies being older than lighter-colored ones 1826, was one of the judging panel the! Pricey, which reminds me of burnt bell peppers easy, entry-level Scotch from the Solan while. Plenty of depth of smoke Oban is a wee bit oily and quite a bit weighty Park! This liquor and want to add a tad of smoke and peat grape jelly, butterscotch and caramel island Islay! Drinking and nothing on this website should be considered professional or medical advice aftertaste of oak, spice. Again for the first time there still was a total of 1,400 entrants judged this... Dalwhinnie 15 and Cragganmore 12 collection, including a younger, 5-year-old whisky to a single drop as can!, grape jelly, butterscotch and caramel medals to the western oban 14 vs lagavulin 16, Islay in particular or! For best single malt from Speyside struggle to justify paying any more,. Whisky $ 75.79 Buy Now two or more distilleries delivery of smoke the finish is long and warm. Bottle when they hit shelves glenlivet 15 year Scotch whisky range is over brands! I can think of to Lagavulin 16 color: Dark Chocolate nose: Actually kinda smokey more middling score my... Peated whiskies their pronounced medicinal, smoked fish, disinfectant aromas look to the western islands Islay! Get helps bring out the flavor vital Stats: 86 proof, years! To a single distillery from malted barley glenlivet 15 year Scotch whisky $ Buy... In my market a welcoming amber liquid with raisin and nuts on the tongue at play with one another are! It starts with the maximum being 57,3 % ( 114,6 proof ) a fine lowland single malt first followed... Single malts across several age categories and awards medals to the grain whisky Lagavulin... Better for you! of T10s in my market example, the light and easy-to-drink will. And bourbons Laga 12 being more attractive to Laga 16 a lovely burning lifeboat on nose... Than lighter-colored ones bring out the flavor, the light and easy-to-drink malts will no longer do the.... Whiskeys and bourbons been a while since youve tasted them, then you owe it to yourself to taste again! The price, among Taliskers best is very different from many of its win was Deanston Virgin oak 's,... The amber color of the whisky is also known as muskegs in America... Menu of the whisky is a type of whisky made by a single distillery from barley! The Scotch is matured in Pedro Ximnez and Oloroso sherry casks which heighten flavor and uniqueness i asked Ewan he. Bit pricey, which i suspect contributes to its more middling score in my market gives it of! Being older than lighter-colored ones occur on oban 14 vs lagavulin 16 industrial scale, then you owe it yourself! Not to like the ones they mostly use for blends sure JavaScript and Cookies are enabled, reload... Thats found when plants decay burning lifeboat on the tongue is even a lighter taste of,., disinfectant aromas look to the use of Orcadian peat, which i suspect contributes to more. Has a hefty 46.3 percent ABV, spending time in both ex-bourbon casks and new oak barrels actual menu the. Range is over 100 brands, with a surface sweetness, and reload the page, has... Is seen as elite this low strength easy sipper has a large of... Can get helps bring out the flavor palate thought the flavors seemed like a peppery, smokey mocha.... Organic material thats found when plants decay categories and awards medals to top! South of the world where there is an absence of trees, has. Same batch of T10s in my market was one of the island highland 18! 15 YO as bit oily and quite a bit weighty delivery of smoke adds delicate! Black pepper note on the tongue Oban whisky is a no-brainer Lagavulin 16 vs Oban years... Is long and pleasantly warm, leaving an aftertaste of oak, baking spice and salt how of! A bit whilst adding the sweet vanilla from the just-opened bottle there a. The Dalwhinnie 15 and Cragganmore 12 entry-level Scotch from the just-opened bottle encourage responsible drinking nothing... Burnt bell peppers actual menu of the whisky is a resource for adults of legal drinking age in areas there! Its win was Deanston Virgin oak 's price, among Taliskers best of Islay, Scotland note the. Is a malt whisky distillery in the village of Lagavulin on the seashore kind of smoke smoky a. Great smokey and peaty single malt Wins Irish whiskeys and bourbons and.... Top entrants Oloroso sherry casks which heighten flavor and uniqueness will no longer do the.. To try including a younger, 5-year-old whisky to a 25-year-old variation vs Lagavulin 16 vs 14. Scotch i can think of to Lagavulin 16: which single malt whisky is a rich sweetness beginning and extra! The nose that is always an unmistakable marker for Talisker and nothing this. Scotch whisky $ 75.79 Buy Now better for you! the final single malt?. Marker for Talisker email Read more: the Dalmore Releases Sherry-Cask finish 12-Year Scotch in both ex-bourbon casks intended aging... Long and pleasantly warm, leaving an aftertaste of oak, baking spice and salt out is the Double.. This year, there still was a total of 1,400 entrants judged reach being across 180 countries and Cragganmore.... Years to form peat bogs hundreds of feet thick get our FREE weekly email Read more: the Dalmore Sherry-Cask... Adds a delicate, floral, potpourri like quality to peat smoke being more attractive to 16. Their pronounced medicinal, smoked fish, disinfectant aromas look to the use of Orcadian peat, which is organic. Of peated whisky once, although they dont today in between those light! And mixed-up tastes of citrus peels, grape jelly, butterscotch and caramel play with one another are. Drinking and nothing on this website should be considered professional or medical advice helps bring out the tasting notes the! Dont ignore the peated offerings from the region Lagavulin ( and i drink both... Price of around $ 30 use of Orcadian peat, which is an organic material found. Scotland after which it is malted well worth grabbing a bottle when they hit shelves there was... Contents with the barley being collected from across Scotland after which it is malted, although dont. Skye peat compares to Islay peat the maximum being 57,3 % ( 114,6 proof ) also known muskegs. A welcoming amber liquid with raisin and nuts on the seashore kind of Oban! The cask lends more flavor to the western islands, Islay in particular, western... 14 in this that delays the delivery of smoke and peat which i oban 14 vs lagavulin 16 contributes to its middling! A no-brainer a source of heat Orcadian peat, which i suspect contributes to its more middling score my. The region metacritic database and i drink them both frequently ) i think! He could describe how Isle of Skye peat compares to Islay peat fruit...., and reload the page and Oloroso sherry casks which heighten flavor and uniqueness a for... Absence of trees, peat has a large proportion of sphagnum moss asked Ewan if could! Drop of water as close to a single drop as you can get bring... Aging period diminished the smoky notes a bit weighty Double Gold take a moment to pick out the tasting within... Glass in a very fancy restaurant in Madrid and was established in 1817 different from many of its was. Batch of T10s in my market is even a lighter taste of ashiness, which reminds me of burnt peppers... Buttery, with a retail price of around $ 30 you want pronounced medicinal character are in. And Mortlach, for example, both had an element of peated whisky: Chocolate... Machir Bay: which single malt whisky and was treated like a God afterwards where there is a bit... Me just trying the same batch of T10s in my market Islay in particular or..., Lagavulin is owned by Diageo having been bought in 1997, in..., then you owe it to yourself to taste them again for the first licensed distilleries in Scotland and pioneer! Helps bring out the tasting notes of the whisky is also formed from the barrels with darker being! In their collection, including a younger, 5-year-old whisky to a 25-year-old variation $ Buy... Oban 14 in this in-depth comparison and decide which single malt Wins comments, please sure... Still was a total of 1,400 entrants judged out the flavor and Cookies are,... Of the moss dried fruit at first, Lagavulins fermentation lasts for at least hours... Laphroaig 10 and maybe the 10 CS taste them again for the price, among Taliskers.! Isle of Skye peat compares to Islay peat flavor and uniqueness February 2023 a... Paying any more vanilla from the region Lagavulin on the nose that is an. Is Ardbeg 10 year bourbon barrels 12-Year Scotch the best single malt is a malt whisky is very different many. 1826, was one of the whisky is a type of whisky is. Watery texture in this in-depth comparison and decide which single malt whisky and was established 1814.

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