Lagavulin 16 year old (2023)

You're asking yourself, "Didn't he just do a Lagavulin 16yo Triple Taste Off?" And the answer is yes, "just" 2½ years ago. The thing is, I have (or rather, had) a 700mL of Lagavulin 16 that was bottled 11 months ago, so it's almost relevant! That bottle was part of a Lagavulin trio I brought to a Columbus Scotch Night event a couple months ago. The other two Lag reviews will also post this week. First, lemme see if this whisky is any good.....

Distillery: Lagavulin

Owner: Diageo
Region: Southern Islay
Maturation: ???

Age: minimum 16 years

Bottle code: L3237CM002 00009917
Alcohol by Volume: 43%

Chillfiltered? Yes
e150a? Yes

(from the bottom third of my bottle)

NOTES

The nose begins with a familiar mix of moss, brine, and coal smoke. Notes of baked peaches, brown sugar, and ham drift beneath. After 30+ minutes, seaweed, soot, and a whiff of manure appear.

This has one of the loudest L16 palates I've ever experienced, with savory, salt, and kiln leading the way. Then picture Talisker's pepper, quadruple it and smoke it. Milder notes of mint, lemon, almond cookies, and sugar cookies barely sneak around the dark wall.

The finish, quite long for a chillfiltered 43%abv whisky, is made of seaweed, brine, kiln, almond cookies, lemon, and salted licorice.

WORDS WORDS WORDS

In 2022's Lagavulin 16 year old Triple Taste Off, I expressed concern about the thinness and sweetness in a 2018 bottling. I do not have that concern with today's bottle from batch L3237CM002. While not as complex as many older bottlings, it's a surprising powerhouse that slugs above its weight, swatting away current batches of Ardbeg and Laphroaig 10s with ease. Reassured that some classics still kick ass, I would be happy to get another bottle, though I prefer Europe's price over Ohio's ($105).

Availability - Wherever fancy people buy single malts
Pricing - Europe: $65-$100 w/o tax; Japan: $60-$90; and USA: $85-$125 w/o tax

Rating - 88