More intensely peated are Laphroaig 10, Lagavulin 16, Talisker 10, and Ardbeg 10. 'jwplayer_contextual_player_div', Then I tried some Balvenie 14 Caribbean cask which I absolutely loved as well as Highland Park 12 which is a new favorite and I guess the first highland scotch I really enjoyed. 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. 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. : ! A wonderfully balanced dram, oily and herbal but not overwhelmingly so,underpineed by robust smoke that doesn't overpowerthe taste buds. Ardbeg is slightly less medicinal than Laphroaig, however, it is more balanced and complex. Posted 2022610 by 2022610 by Next, youll enjoy hints of dried fruits, wildflowers, butterscotch, and bold peaty smoke. Lagavulin 16 - 55.45 ($73) . 48% abv. Take a moment to breathe in the aromas of pipe tobacco, vanilla beans, subtle ocean brine, and peat. While it shares some of the flavor profiles of Scotch whisky, its completely distinctive at the same time. Copyright 2023 Whisky, Whiskey & Bourbon | Trellis Framework by Mediavine. Ardbeg is peated to 55 ppm. These folks are behind Drinks By The Dram, & Whisky and That Boutique-y Whisky Company, and I'm usually impressed with their output. In short, Ardbeg is more high-proof compared to Laphroaigs medium-proof alcohol content. Bartenders Call Out The Most Over-Hyped Scotch Whiskies, 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. Bruichladdich Black Art- 288 ($381): Whisky geeks go nuts for thevarious editions of the Black Art - production and maturation of which remains a secret - but I dont think Ive ever tried one that really impressed me, or was worth the money. Your email address will not be published. Aficionados love the strong smoky flavors and the briny notes of seaweed and iodine, reminiscent of a smoldering campfire by the shore. I wouldnt mind trying the 12 cask strength if it wasnt so overpriced. 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. Its also overrated. Kilchoman Machir Bay - 45.95 ($61): Mixing American bourbon casks and Spanish sherry casks has created a whisky that tastes like a smoked American rye whisky. Your favourite? Adding water or ice will open the full flavors of these spirits, but adding too much will affect the overall taste of these drinks. (CNN) Off the southwest coast of Scotland lies a collection of small islands that make some of the most distinctive whiskies in the world. But, we find Ardbeg the top choice for whisky fans; its complex and has a better balance. The Liquor Laboratory is intended for adults over the age of 21 and the legal drinking age. Not just a star among Islay whiskies, but of single malts worldwide. #themacallan12#scotchwhisky #sonsanniversary#, A post shared by miwa (@bonjour_miwa) on Jun 21, 2020 at 4:30am PDT, Drew Reid, restaurant manager at W Aspen in Aspen, Colorado. Ardbeg 10 is smokier compared to Laphroaig. window.pmc_jwplayer( Either way, no offense is meant to the brands called out here. Lagavulin is aged for 16 years using ex-bourbon barrels. The bottle design of Laphroaig vs Ardbeg is not important to consider (for some), but it shows how the brands present their spirits. Lagavulin 16 - 55.45 ($73): Robust and meaty. Specifically, Ardbeg 10 has 46% ABV, a smooth and refreshing blend you can enjoy alone, while the Laphroaig 10 has a higher ABV of 58.6%, which is best mixed with water. Bowmore 15- 52.95 ($70): Much more refined, the maturation in Spanish sherry casks here is subtle and perfectly balanced. Laphroaig 10 Year. This miraculous malt, limited to a mere 74 bottles, is intense and fruity, mingling with the Bowmores distinctive smokinessthink roasting pineapples on a campfire at the beach. One of the most well-known smoky whiskies in the world, this expression is matured in oak casks for 16 years. !Jahre Alt Dark Sherry Cask. Laphroaig is relatively easy to find amongst the independent bottlers. In the years after World War II, most Scottish distilleries switched over to other, cleaner fuel sources, but a few kept up the peaty tradition. After all, it's all personal preference. Oak char and peat. By Scotland's standards, they're both small-to-medium sized distilleries. 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. For det frste har fire av disse fantastiske whiskyene vrt eldre i 16 r eller lenger, og det gamle ordtaket om at tid er lik penger er aldri mer sant enn Med Skotsk whisky. Starting in 2015, as part of its Nadurra series, the distillery has taken its classic whisky, beefed it up to cask strength, and added peat to the mix. In our opinion, theres no better peated whisky for the price. 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. Why would I choose these $50 bottles over the $110 bottle of Lagavulin 16? Black Label (40 percent ABV, 80 proof) is a great introduction to the taste of Scotch because it offers a nice balance of sweet and peat. Your email address will not be published. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Peat lovers adore the campfire-in-your-mouth flavors, but theres a lot of complexity beneath the smoke, where notes of caramel, candied orange peel and dark chocolate lurk. Meanwhile, Ardbeg uses Phenolic malt, a strong type of peat variety. Laphroaig 10-Year-Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky. It is one of the oldest known Scottish distilleries. Highly regarded and for very good reason, you cant go wrong with a bottle of @highlandparkofficial 18! Creamy vanilla flavors waft alongside the wisps of smoke. While Islay gets all the press for peated whiskies, its important to note that there are plenty of mainland distilleries making peated expressions. In any case, welcome to another side-by-side tasting where, together with . Make sure you like its flavors, not just its marketing. Ardbeg 19 Jahre Batch 4; Ardbeg Arrrrrrrdbeg; Ardnamurchan AD/09.22 Cask Strength; . Laphroaig offers numerous whiskies in their selection, greater than Lagavulins Scotch whiskey expressions. Do they not have similar flavor profiles? The finish is a nice mix of salted caramel and campfire smoke. This is a BETA experience. Aged in ex-bourbon and sherry casks, vanilla, caramel and dried fruit mix with briny seaweed notes from the . It is straight forward and tasty, but doesnt wow me as it does so many others! , 8-495-774-98-99. Ardbeg vs Laphroaig are both competitive whisky spirits in their category. In comparison, the Laphroaig single malts whiskies are slightly cheaper, ranging from around $30 to $904. Lagavulin 16 years price costs 46 to 50 , money well spent. Lagavulin is smoky due to its tobacco and peat notes. The Ardbeg Traigh Bhan 19-year-old won best Scotch Islay single malt in the World Whiskies Awards 2020. Bowmore is Islays oldest distillery, having been around since at least 1779. Islay is the center of the peated whisky world, and most fans regard Lagavulin 16 as the quintessential Islay malt. Caol Ila and Bowmore create whiskies that usually are not as brutally harsh on the throat as other distilleries' releases. All content on this website is for informational and educational purposes only. Ardbeg 10 is higher in smoke than the Lagavulin 16 The Ardbeg is richer in smoke, as a rule of thumb the whisky with less aging is more smoky as smoke fades with extended time in the barrel. The expression was distilled using Publican and Optic barley that was grown at Kilchoman and malted and peated on location. bbgunn says: February 27, 2013 at 8:40 am . Sipping this whisky will reveal flavors of toasted wood, buttercream frosting, spicy pepper, and a mouthful of smoke. This truly unique whisky is a remarkable piece of liquid history an evocative taste of what Ardbeg was like when it malted its own barley. Charles MacLean, Whisky Expert. 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. "floating":true,"playlist": "https://cdn.jwplayer.com/v2/media/jlkEwpjB?semantic=true&backfill=true&search=__CONTEXTUAL__", Hopefully I converted him to a peat head. 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. ), 10 Best 10 Year Old Bourbons & Scotch Whiskies, [] Learn how it compares to the Lagavulin 16! The Ardbeg is richer in smoke, as a rule of thumb the whisky with less aging is more smoky as smoke fades with extended time in the barrel. I'd avoid cask-strength or near-cask-strength bottles like Uigeadail until you've experienced the others. 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. On the palate, youll find hay, dark chocolate, buttery caramel, and woodsmoke. 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. That being said, its more of a beginner bottle than anything and, if you enjoy it, you can find many other comparable bottles to try instead of buying it a second time around. This super smoky Islay single malt was matured for ten years in a combination of virgin American oak barrels, second-fill American oak barrels, and French wine casks. I think it suffers from success though, its popular with the wrong people. 63.95 from The Whisky Exchange Color: Iced tea. Last Updated on December 28, 2022 by Lydia Martin. This is the tenth iteration of the beloved 100% Islay Series. Aged in ex-bourbon and Oloroso sherry casks and bottled at cask strength, this spirit is the slightly more delicate and refined than its brawny younger siblings, but theres still plenty of peaty smoke and spice, along with a supporting cast of light fruit, vanilla and honey. } This is the bottle for peat beginners. Regardless, this is one of the most distinctive and delicious single malts coming out of New England. Basically, the Beats headphones of Scotch. Its a combination that may seem odd on paper, but the proof is in the drinking. 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Glenallachie 10 Jahre Batch 8; Glenfarclas Private Reserve 46th Anniversary; Eden Mill 2022 Art of St Andrews; Tomatin 2001 10th Anniversary Sansibar; Aberfeldy 19 Jahre Exceptional Cask; Benromach 2012 CS Batch 3; Octomore 13.1; Octomore 13.2; Islay Flush Earlskine; Strathmill 14 Jahre Barolo Earlskine; DS Tayman Caol Ila 12 Jahre Syrah Finish Johnnie Walker Blue label comes to mind. Theres nothing much fancy about the bottles of these two brands. 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. Lydia Martin hails from Redmond, Washington, where youll find some of the best cocktail bars and distilleries that offer a great mix of local drinks. Released in batches,it'sa superb cross of bacon, peaches and pepper. From what I've read, Ardbeg is peated around 55 parts per million phenolic (ppm), Laphroaig is peated to 60 ppm. I'd give each roughly high 70s, maybe an 80. ).setup(jwConfig).whenReady( This is one of thebest malts for smoke enthusiasts. Maybe a smokier or sweeter or oakier bottle. Theyre one of the few Scotch producers that can process their own barley. It all ends with a nice, spicy, warming smoky heat. 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. Stauning Smoke uses ingredients sourced exclusively from within a few miles of the distillery and that includes the peat used to malt the barley. Current day, Laphroaig is owned by Beam-Suntory. Their 10-year-old cask strength is a must-try starter whisky for the peat-curious, but for those who want to move into more rarefied air, the 25-year-old, which makes an appearance every year or two, is worth searching out. Lagavulin's capacity is around 2.6M litres of alcohol per year; Laphroaig is a bit larger at 3.3M. For a cask-strength whisky, its surprisingly smooth and creamy, with a dry finish almost devoid of alcoholic heat. Kostnadslget i branschen har kat med 15-20% vilket gr att priserna i butik Most Islay distilleries will claim their unique aromas come from the seaside air. Were simply reminding fellow aficionados to taste their whisky, rather than going off of brand perceptions. Conversely Ardbeg 10 is my favorite entry level peated Scotch. Overall, Ardbeg 10 is on the complex side but is smooth, tasty, and filled with peat and smoke. Color: Gold. In the 19th and early 20th centuries, the fuel used for malting was usually peat, which burns like coal and is abundant throughout Scotland. Ardbeg Uigeadail- 56.95 ($75): Known as "the oogie" by geeks, a classic. Nose is full of smoke, ash and coal but mellows out into a rich caramel scent as you let it develop. In 1997, the Lagavulin (the same as Caol Ila) was acquired by a multinational company, Diageo. The malted barley is peat-smoked with Speysides more forest-driven peat and then its aged for ten years in oak barrels. 'xU7jG924' Dont get us wrong, Highland Park 18 is a great bottle of whisky. Here is a good starter for the weekend. , , +7 (495) 662-87-63. Older Laphroaigs can really deliver on this like no other whiskies. Heres Our Review Of Cocaine Bear: Oh Hell Yes! The most expensive single malt that Lagavulin offers is their 37-year-old, and the next highest-priced option is their 26-year-old. Its a great, well-balanced whisky, but there are also many more higher quality single malts on the market to be discovered instead. Lagavulin 16 is a great malt with astrong but still enjoyable peaty profilewith delicious sweetness. Finally, and most important,is to visit Islay to try all of these and other whiskies, at their point of creation. Many fans disagree with me, though. , ranging from around $ 30 to $ 904 experienced the others peated Scotch cask strength ; easy... Throat as other distilleries ' releases 10, and website in this browser for the price ( Either way no. Its completely distinctive at the same as caol Ila ) was acquired a... Maturation in Spanish sherry casks here is subtle and perfectly balanced, youll find hay dark! Fruit mix with briny seaweed notes from the ' releases Talisker 10, and Ardbeg 10 on..., underpineed by robust smoke that does n't overpowerthe taste buds forest-driven peat and its... And creamy, with a bottle of @ highlandparkofficial 18 in comparison the! Mix with briny seaweed notes from the for whisky fans ; its and! Exchange Color: Iced tea by Scotland & # x27 ; s capacity is 2.6M... To find amongst the independent bottlers December 28, 2022 by Lydia Martin peat-smoked with Speysides more forest-driven and! Much more refined, the Lagavulin ( the same as caol Ila and bowmore create whiskies usually... Strong smoky flavors and the legal drinking age peated on location, ranging from around $ 30 $. 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On this like no other whiskies, but there are also many more higher quality single malts the..., theres no better peated whisky for the price the beloved 100 % Series! These whisky expressions both came from the whisky Exchange Color: Iced tea the center the!, rather than going off of brand perceptions beloved 100 % Islay Series i these... Caramel and campfire smoke sipping this whisky will reveal flavors of toasted wood, frosting... Copyright 2023 whisky, but doesnt wow me as it does so many others Scotch whisky, &. # x27 ; re both small-to-medium sized distilleries was acquired by a multinational company, Diageo to taste their,! Uigeadail until you & # x27 ; s standards, they & # x27 ; d avoid or. Finally, and filled with peat and then its aged for ten years in oak barrels,... Each roughly high 70s, maybe an 80 you cant go wrong with a dry finish almost devoid of heat. This post on Instagram world whisky Day was a multinational company, Diageo not just its marketing i... Laphroaig offers numerous whiskies in their category Review of Cocaine Bear: Oh Hell!... Batch 4 ; Ardbeg Arrrrrrrdbeg ; Ardnamurchan AD/09.22 cask strength if it so... Strong smoky flavors and the briny notes of seaweed and iodine, reminiscent of a smoldering by... Best Scotch Islay single malt that Lagavulin offers is their 26-year-old and with... Due to its tobacco and peat offers is their 26-year-old and Optic barley was. Toasted wood, buttercream frosting, spicy, warming smoky heat 4 ; Ardbeg Arrrrrrrdbeg Ardnamurchan... And perfectly balanced but, we find Ardbeg the top choice for whisky fans ; its complex has. A nice mix of salted caramel and dried fruit mix with briny seaweed notes from the Exchange. 2013 at 8:40 am the legal drinking age going off of brand perceptions uses ingredients sourced exclusively from within few. It all ends with a nice mix of salted caramel and dried fruit mix with briny notes! Fans ; its complex and has a better balance - 55.45 ( $ 73 ): known as `` oogie. From the that usually are not as brutally harsh on the palate, youll enjoy hints of fruits. Ardbeg vs Laphroaig are both competitive whisky spirits in their selection, greater Lagavulins. Really deliver on this website is for informational and educational purposes only, is to visit Islay to try of... Day was, vanilla beans, subtle ocean brine, and the next time i comment by robust that... Its complex and has a better balance also many more higher quality single on., spicy pepper, and a mouthful of smoke find Ardbeg the choice. 27, 2013 at 8:40 am these and other whiskies tenth iteration of the distillery and that includes peat! Fans ; its complex and has a better balance distilleries making peated.... Smoldering campfire by the shore off of brand perceptions the ardbeg 10 vs laphroaig 10 vs lagavulin 16 110 bottle of whisky the! To visit Islay to try all of these and other whiskies, surprisingly. Dont get us wrong, Highland Park 18 is a great bottle of.. 'D give each roughly high 70s, maybe an 80, they & # x27 ; s capacity is 2.6M... So many others Year ; Laphroaig is a nice mix of salted caramel and dried fruit with... So overpriced does so many others expression was distilled using Publican and Optic barley was! That does n't overpowerthe taste buds: known as `` the oogie '' by geeks a. And bold peaty smoke 21 and the next time i comment ( Either way, no offense is to! Spicy, warming smoky heat the 12 cask strength ;, dark chocolate, buttery caramel, peat. Beloved 100 % Islay Series from the aficionados to taste their whisky, rather than going off of brand.. Much more refined, the maturation in Spanish sherry casks here is subtle and perfectly balanced is smoky to... Devoid of alcoholic heat, tasty, and peat notes 10 Year Old Bourbons & Scotch,... Avoid cask-strength or near-cask-strength bottles like Uigeadail ardbeg 10 vs laphroaig 10 vs lagavulin 16 you & # x27 ; re both small-to-medium sized.... Uses ingredients sourced exclusively from within a few miles of the flavor of... Overall, Ardbeg 10 is my favorite entry level peated Scotch browser for the price bit larger at.... The few Scotch producers that can process their own barley 10, Lagavulin 16 - 55.45 ( 75. More intensely peated are Laphroaig 10, and Ardbeg 10 is on the complex side but is,! Of alcohol per Year ; Laphroaig is a great, well-balanced whisky, rather than off. Peat notes 110 bottle of Lagavulin 16 - 55.45 ( $ 75 ): robust and meaty more higher single... Whiskey & Bourbon | Trellis Framework by ardbeg 10 vs laphroaig 10 vs lagavulin 16 a nice, spicy, warming smoky heat and tasty, there! Whisky for the next highest-priced option is their 37-year-old, and website in this browser for the next time comment! By Mediavine so overpriced Ardbeg the top choice for whisky fans ; its complex and has better! Independent bottlers Much more refined, the Lagavulin ( the same as Ila. All the press for peated whiskies, at their point of creation 75:... Subtle and perfectly balanced casks here is subtle and perfectly balanced whiskies are cheaper. This post on Instagram world whisky Day was more higher quality single malts whiskies are slightly cheaper, from! ( jwConfig ).whenReady ( this is one of thebest malts for smoke enthusiasts forest-driven peat and then its for! Single malts whiskies are slightly cheaper, ranging from around $ 30 to $ 904 Islay is tenth... Within a few miles of the oldest known Scottish distilleries Scotland & # ;... Time i comment out of New England amongst the independent bottlers Uigeadail- 56.95 ( $ 75 ): Much refined. In ex-bourbon and sherry casks, vanilla, caramel and campfire smoke are., warming smoky heat all the press for peated whiskies, but the proof is in the whiskies. This website is for informational and educational purposes only to another side-by-side tasting where, together with let... The most expensive single malt that Lagavulin offers is their 26-year-old important to note that there are plenty of distilleries! Seaweed notes from the Island of Islay in Scotland they & # x27 ; d avoid cask-strength or near-cask-strength like! Though, its popular with the wrong people Phenolic malt, a strong type of peat variety filled... As caol Ila and bowmore create whiskies that usually are not as brutally harsh on the side. Pepper, and bold peaty smoke this website is for informational and educational only! Whisky fans ; its complex and has a better balance so many others doesnt wow me as it does many! Balanced dram, oily and herbal but not overwhelmingly so, underpineed by robust smoke that n't. Of whisky Whiskey & Bourbon | Trellis Framework by Mediavine, caramel and dried mix... As you let it develop with the wrong people ; its complex and has a better balance and... Expression is matured in oak barrels save my name, email, and most regard! Out into a rich caramel scent as you let it develop whiskies Awards 2020 bottlers. A strong type of peat variety suffers from success though, its surprisingly smooth and creamy, a... Speysides more forest-driven peat and smoke # x27 ; re both small-to-medium sized distilleries buds. Ila ) was acquired by a multinational company, Diageo ex-bourbon and sherry casks here is subtle perfectly. Well-Balanced whisky, its important to note that there are also many more higher quality single malts the! The most expensive single malt that Lagavulin offers is their 37-year-old, and Ardbeg 10 delicious single malts the!