The flavors of the Highlands are too diverse to pin down with a single broad stroke; the region is so big that its home to distilleries that represent the entire flavor spectrum. I have watched with mild dismay over the years as my two favorites eventually became vastly popular. Flavor hits with dried fruit at first, followed by pear and apple shrouded in baking spice and a gentle tad of smoke. The 12 and Limited Edition are yearly releases and werent officially available here. Lagavulin 16 will increase by +42%. Great Scotch? Score: 77/100. . I first had this in 2014, when it came in the solid dark blue box. Degustao de Johnnie Walker . Under the official Scotch Whisky Association guidelines, the Highlands region is made up of all Scottish islands (except Islay) and the mainland of northern Scotland (except Speyside). Price is (usually) a better indicator of quality. Kilkerran 12 has since proved a worthy torchbearer, with light peat working off bright sherry and bourbon casks. The biggest shocker of its win was Deanston Virgin Oak's price, clocking in with a retail price of around $30. The competition is unusual in that it is one of the few competitions that relies entirely on judges drawn exclusively from the beverage trade. There are a few facts worth knowing about this whisky: Prices are approximate and stated in USD: Both are extremely good but you need to assess the type of consumer you are to make the right choice. Smells like lemons and pears sprinkled with sea salt, set atop a table that had recently been on fire. #oban14 #singlemalt #scotch #scotchwhisky #whisky #whiskey #alcohol #dram #whiskyporn #angelsshare #angelssharewhisky In Eastern Scotland, the climate is much drier. Sometimes the familiar is the hardest to appreciate. Finish: Very slight smoke pairs a very slight sense of fruit wine. Be the first to know when we publish new content on the blog and get exclusive Members Only content & giveaways. Both Lagavulin and Oban have an alcohol by volume (ABV) of 43% (86 proof). The Glenmorangie 18 YO, 43% ABV, 750 ml, $109 is part of Glenmorangies Prestige Range. Not anymore, thanks to its win at the 2022 International Wine & Spirits Competition. The distillery is now owned by Diageo, having been bought in 1989 through a merger with the UDV merger. For much of its history, Glenkenchie was producing the light-bodied Scotch typical of the Lowlands for use in blending. 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. A light and clean finish, its a great whisky to sip on in those cooler months of the year, as its taste almost evokes Thanksgiving-esque tones. In short, Ron Swanson and Brian Cox know their shit. The phenol guaiacol, for example, imparts flavors of kippers, smoked bacon and old cheese to a whisky, while cresol, another phenol, imparts medicinal flavors of disinfectant and antiseptic. The nose is filled with a hearty mix of tobacco and leather. Lagavulin is aged for 16 years using ex-bourbon barrels. For serious Scotch drinkers, the conversation typically begins and ends with single-malt varieties, with many often turning their noses up at blended Scotch. If youre a beginner, youre highly likely to go through brands of theirs like Johnnie Walker, Talisker, Lagavulin, and Singleton. The ethanol is barely prickly. I did Ardbeg 10 last year. Newbie me thought $50 was great for a 16-year single malt, but in 2014, the 16 was the only regular release. We dont want to partner with brands. This whisky has a light gold to deep amber color with an average price of $81 and an alcohol by volume (ABV) of 46,7% (93,4 proof). 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. Oban is one of the few urban distilleries left in Scotland. 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. You may opt-out by. I end up taking them for granted, which allows me to spend time and money on other spirits. The Controversy Explained, Love Buffalo Trace Bourbon? Thats why peated whiskies can sometimes have a medicinal/disinfectant or plastic-like aroma. Lagavulinis peated to 35 PPM at the famed Port Ellen maltings using peat from Islay's Castlehill Peat Bog. Give the widely available Lagavulin 16 year old (92 points; around $70) a try, or chase down the latest edition of Lagavulin 12 year old Cask Strength (85 points; $135), a staple of Diageo's annual Special Releases collection. Each bottle has been finished in Guinness barrels from the Open Gate Brewery in Maryland just outside of Baltimore, making it a Scot/American hybrid nobody was expecting. The practice of using peat to provide heat during distillation died out with the arrival of coal and electricity but peat was still used to kiln barley to create peat reek. This whisky is the holy trinity doing the 4 hand reel in your mouth. In short: its an affordable bottle to get for your bourbon-loving friends to tempt them into a different kind of brown liquor. We encourage responsible drinking and nothing on this website should be considered professional or medical advice. When peat was burned to kiln malted barley, however, the smoke would be absorbed by the grain, a phenomenon referred to as peat reek, and it would be passed on to the whisky. Lagavulin 16 vs Oban 14: Which is better? We may earn a commission on items bought through our links. 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. It starts with the barley being collected from across Scotland after which it is malted. This whisky is creamy and smooth and pleasantly warm. Dark color sherry cask finish with toasted nuts and chocolate on the nose. . Even the growing trend for American malt whiskeys prominently features peated whiskey. Black, Gold, 18 anos . Perhaps more than any other spirit, theres an inherently complicated nature to scotch whisky. I dont like that theyre massive and tend to focus on efficiency. Monkey Shoulder bills itself as a premium blended Scotch, and they aren't lying. The use of worm coil condensers limits the amount of copper contact the vapor receives, resulting in notable meaty aromas of bacon fat and raw steak. Laphroaig, its Islay neighbor, just 10 minutes down the road, comes in at around 45 ppm phenol. 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. This practice can even occur on an industrial scale. The tweaks and variations that go into each bottle of Scotch are intimidating, especially for bourbon and rye drinkers who may not be accustomed to the price of a whiskey thats been aged for 18 years or more. Every peat bog has a unique chemical signature and imparts a particular aroma and flavor profile. Ephemeral, though my sinus are redolent with the reverberations of dark fruits for some time after swallowing. From the initial distillation of the whisky, both brands have a similar method. Glenmorangie 10 has long been one of my favorite single malts for when I just want a good scotch but dont want to break out the good scotch. For someone like me that likes smoothness and complexity, it provides an accessible balance thats a nice break from some of the other smoky scotches I like. In short: its a drinking mans scotch, full of full-bodied tones that all combine together for an intense, but still delicious, scotch. The higher cut points and the greater reflux make it lighter and results in less phenolic compounds in the whisky. It's very similar to (and cheaper than) The Balvenie Single Barrel 15 year and a little bit lighter in style than Oban 14, but stands up well against any unpeated ex-bourbon malt. Whatever your tastes, we've got a recommendation. One of the most recognizable scotch brands, Glenlivets 15 Year scotch gets its atypical taste from maturing the spirit in French oak casks (in fact, they were one of the first brands to use these particular kinds). On the nose: Slightly bolder and fuller peat when compared to the Talisker 10. Aberfeldy 12 vs Glenmorangie 10: Head to Head! If you want an intense blast of flavor then opt for a younger whisky, whereas if you want those medicinal flavors to be less pronounced, better integrated but still discernible, then opt for an older whisky. It has a peat and oyster, rockpool, character. Its 12-year-old expression has a delightful smoky sweetness, complemented by herbs and spices that show why this distillery has been around since 1846. I'm very sleepy, so I will let the reviews speak for themselves: Oban 14: Highland Single Malt Scotch Whiskey; 43% ABV. First, Lagavulins fermentation lasts for at least 55 hours. In addition to the Double Gold medalists, the NYISC also recognizes outstanding distilleries in some of Scotlands key producing areas. Its a very well made whisky. The distillery has six stills, all of which have a unique shape. The distillery, among the best known in the world, is one of the oldest distilleries on Islay, although its history of distillation activity reaches much further back than its official start date. Great article-These are the staples and benchmark of good Islay single malts. Lagavulins stills are short and squat and are charged (filled) to around 90% capacity, while Caol Ilas stills have much longer necks and larger pots and they are only filled to 50% capacity. Lagavulin 16 has a strong aroma ofsmoke and sea salt along sweet notes of vanilla and caramel. Smoke and peat and iodine fill the nose that reflect its Islay character. This low strength easy sipper has a fan base, however I would struggle to justify paying any more . raisiny sweetness that marries beautifully with the smoky power of the renowned Lagavulin 16 Year Old to create a massive, rich tasting . The Best Kinds of Whiskey That Belong on Everyones Bar Cart, Sign up for SPY news straight to your inbox every day. Compare the aroma and flavor of Laphroaig to Lagavulin. The most affordable option from Oban is the Little Bay variation ($67) with the most expensive being the Limited Edition, 18-year-old variation ($167). (As a side note: as Diageo and Talisker continue to grow, I hope they dont shorten Taliskers 65-hour fermentation in wooden mash tuns. Charl is a trainer, public speaker, and professional writer. Ive had hotter whisky with lower ABV. For most whiskies, it drops by about 40% or so during distillation. With tasting notes of vanilla, peach, mango, nutmeg and gingerbread, Johnnie Walker Gold has a rich taste thats both warm and gentle, a veritable contradiction between fruit and smoke. Both Oban and Lagavulin have whiskies available at an alcohol content of 43% *86 proof), although Oban only has this strength while Lagavulin has 43% as the minimum. Ardbeg is a brand of Scottish single malt that is situated a short distance from Lagavulin. On the nose, this is a classic Lagavulin. Pratos principais. The malted barley is peated in Glen Ord. Definitely. Named the Best Single Malt Whisky at theSan Francisco World Spirits Competition in 2013. Bottle Price: N/A (paid $14 plus tip for a dram at a St. Petersburg, FL bar) Consumed neat in a very tiny tumbler. Think of the aroma of a pile of burning dry leaves. There are a number of additional differences between the sister distilleries. 105. The peat is accompanied by toffee, butterscotch, caramel, some light pickled seaweed with sesame seeds on top, nori and some more coastal aromas. Lagavulin 16 Year Scotch Whisky $92.35 Buy Now 11. Johnnie Walker Gold Label Reserve Scotch Whisky $94.99 Buy Now. Bladnoch Distillery produces a fine lowland single malt whisky and was established in 1817. Bottled at 61.5% ABV, this is reminiscent of what Glenlivet would have tasted in the early 19th century. According to the official tasting note submitted by the judging panel, the whisky exhibits: Whiffs of tobacco and dark chocolate and berries are found in the nose. $22.00 USD . The official tasting notes from the judging panel described the whisky as. As a result, you just cant not try more complex, different and heavy single malts from distilleries such as Mortlach, Clynelish, Benrinnes, Dalwhinnie and Cragganmore. Tyler Duffy, Associate Editor. Diageo, the brands owner and the largest Scotch whisky producer on the planet, has announced plans to make The Singleton, in all of its three forms combined, the best-selling single malt whisky in the world. For example, it must be made in Scotland and oak barrel-aged for at least three years. The distillery had remained quiet since 1925, when it closed following an economic downturn, and August 2016 was the first time Glengyles new flagship hit shelves. Hey, if the shoe fits). These are the best bottles of Scotch whisky you can buy. Macallan is a well-known name, even by those that arent the most devoted scotch drinkers. I had an idea that the casks Lagavulin used are mostly refill ex-bourbon casks due to the lack of first-fill ex-bourbon cask flavor, but I didnt know for sure, and I thought that Diageo moved their casks around different distilleries. Aberfeldy 12 vs Tomatin 12: Head to Head! It has a distinctive cracked black pepper note on the nose that is always an unmistakable marker for Talisker. The result is a robust, powerfully flavored, whisky that noted spirits writer Dave Broom has nicknamed the Beast of Dufftown. I asked Ewan if he could describe how Isle of Skye peat compares to Islay peat. Oban is a port city in central Scotland, and its namesake distillery borrows a little of this and a little of that to produce an extremely well-balanced Scotch that displays all the extremes of Scotland's flavor. Lagavulin 16 is a great malt with astrong but still enjoyable peaty profilewith delicious sweetness. Zen Love, Associate Editor. Edradour and Benriach also make peated whiskies that are a good example of peat smoke flavors layered over a Speyside style. A couple of years ago I bought a travel retail, 1 litre, bottle that was way below par and it put me off for quite a while but the last bottles Ive had a perfectly fine. The process allows for a series of interesting contrasts: smoky and sweet with a perfect balance. Both Oban and Lagavulin have whiskies available at an alcohol content of 43% *86 proof), although Oban only has this strength while Lagavulin has 43% as the minimum. Grade: 4 Oban 14 Color: Milk Chocolate The line-up of the tasting consisted of Dalwhinnie 15, Cragganomore 12, Talisker 10, and Lagavulin 16. Highland Park 12 Year Scotch Whisky $56.99 Buy Now. When dried, peat can burn. It would be devastating if Talisker really fell off but it hasnt really yet. Springbank 15 Year . My usual opinion on Diageo is that theyre like an evil empire. The only common denominator is peat and different peat at that. The 43% ABV, as opposed to their standard 40%, fixes the wateriness (or smoothness, depending on your preference) and helps tip this as our go-to Glendfiddich bottle. For starters, to even claim the title of scotch, the spirit must abide by some strict rules. Learn how it compares to the Talisker 10! Oban 14 has a very pleasant smoky taste that doesnt overwhelm other notes making it a good choice for those who want smoke in moderation when compared to Smoky Islay Malts that offer blasts of smoke. The scotch is matured in Pedro Ximnez and Oloroso sherry casks which heighten flavor and uniqueness. $14.00 USD . Caol Ila 10 is similar as well, but milder. Its solid all around. Click here for instructions on how to enable JavaScript in your browser. A bit pricey, which I suspect contributes to its more middling score in my metacritic database. Nothing is the star here, everything works together for the common good. Flavor is rich, with a deliciousblast of smoke, caramel, along fruity sweetness. Ill be reviewing them in the coming weeks. Appearance: Oban 14-Year-Old is packaged in one of the whisky industry's most beautiful canisters, a cream-and-blue affair adorned with a gorgeous, evocative line drawing of sea birds resting on craggy cliffs. 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