Lagavulin is hands-down my favorite Islay, but it's quite rich in its peatiness so I'm not sure how well it would work as a first try. The 10 Best Bottles of Scotch on the Planet With so many scotches from which to choose, we've selected 10 of the best from the winners of the 2014 International Wine & Spirit Competition. “In my opinion, there’s no Islay scotch on the market that presents more peaty character and smoky backbone all wrapped together with an approachable sweetness for the price. That or something like a Highland Park or something Campbeltown are middlegrounds in terms of smoke. a subreddit for Scotch enthusiasts of all walks of life and of all levels of knowledge on anything Scotch Whisky related. I think what you get kinda depends on how Ian is feeling! Haha, the most succinct summary of the three Port Ellen distilleries. Lagavulin means you'll drink a lot. I tried a sample at Cadenheads and regret not buying it. After a deliciously smoky taste-test, we’ve created a ranking of the best Islay whiskies in 2019. It’s an unwavering classic that any Islay-lover should keep in their collection. I'd go with the Lagavulin as a bit more balanced if I were introducing someone to Islays-- that is if they didn't already love some moderately peated whiskys like Highland Park, Talisker, or Springbank. Start cheap and intense, imho. Ardbeg, Caol Ila or Laphroaig are a good place to start for a strong peat flavor. One of the best whiskies for scotch novices, Aberfeldy 12 is well known as the base for many of Dewar’s blended whiskies. Super Smoky Whiskies The source of Islay's fame. I would dare to put it up against any other Islay on the market no matter what the cost or age.”—Joshua-Peter Smith, bar director at San Francisco's Mourad I agree. ABV: 43% Average Price: $26 The Whisky: This edition of Famous Grouse is a nice step up from their entry-level … But Islay whiskies aren't just about the peat and smoke. yeah, the first Islay I ever really got into was Laphroaig Quarter Cask which I've had people describe as smelling like: Edit: this is to say I fucking love QC. Lagavulin I ended up sitting in the dramming room, which while quite pleasant, pales against the description by Dworgi. You're looking at 4 oz pours of cask strength: new make, 10 year, 15 year, 17 year, 24 year, 37 year and 62 year old Lagavulin for a pittance. It really is the Marmite equivalent, you either love it or hate it! It's a whisky that one can find in almost any bar, even those that don’t specialize in brown spirits. It's a lovely weeknight scotch. Ardbeg or Laphroaig are always the most affordable bold flavored choices. Ardbeg was a waste of time, crappy tour guide who pretty much forgot to give us anything to taste. I've always been a fan of intense flavours, I love spicy food, smokey food, etc, and I'd really like to get into Islay scotch, but I'm not quite sure where to start. Islay Mist is a fairly unique whisky: It’s a blended Scotch that, as the name implies, is fairly well peated. I started with a Laphroig 10 and it was instense in one word. So intense, it just overloaded my senses. Definitely touring Laphroaig, just looking for another one or two recommended distilleries that are worth visiting for their tours and tastings. Press J to jump to the feed. Tali needs more love tbh. And as others have mentioned, the cafe at Ardbeg is very good. As always, your mileage may vary. Laphroaig was pretty cool, got to sample from 3 casks and bottle my own. At Laphroaig we did their version, which while not as detailed was good, and you got to try three from the cask and then take home a 20cl bottle of your favourite, that you bottle yourself. It has some smoke, especially if you're used to Speysides, but nowhere near as much as the Islays tend to. I dove in with a bottle of 16 year Lagavulin and I haven't looked back. Find what you love first, then get a bottle. Laphroig was the most polished, Lagavulin was the most drunkest, and Ardbeg was the most disappointing. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. No need to put a lot of pressure into what to try next if you're just buying drams. This was the highlight of my trip to Islay and the best tasting experience I had, bar none. Best Islay Scotch Whiskies Islay is a small island that’s believed to have played a major role in distilling crossing the sea from Ireland to Scotland in the 13th century. I can honestly say I have never met anyone who is merely indifferent to its abrasive … Ardbeg tour was great, as was Bunnahabhain. For a intro I’d try Highland Park. Dewar’s, 18 YO Scotch Whisky, 40% ABV, 750 ml, $50; An excellent, slightly peated Scotch redolent with aromas of cooked cereals and fresh herbal and floral aromas of newly cut hay and ripe fruit. Loved Bruichladdich, good tour, fun people then to the warehouse. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. Definitely lining up Lagavulin as number two then! Like, a LOT. Although Glenfiddich currently holds the title of being … Contents1 What is an Islay?2 Laphroaig 103 Lagavulin 164 Ardbeg Uigeadail5 Caol Ila 18 Year Old6 Kilchoman 100% Islay Nothing divides opinion in the world of whisky quite as much as a peaty and smoky Islay single malt whisky. I would also throw Lagavulin 8 and Talisker 10 or Talisker Storm into the mix. Yep. Others have come close, but nothing has yet to top it in terms of my preferences. If you try Ardbeg (my fav) or Laphroaig, you can pretty much tell right away whether Islay malts are for you. Scotch is… well, it’s about as Scottish as it … McCoy is a big fan of Lagavulin, an Islay distillery that produces some nicely peated scotch. Author: Islay whisky, simply enough, hails from one of the southernmost Hebridean islands off the Scottish coastline. Honestly, slightly less intense than I was expecting, but still rather strong. Laphroig is perfect if you LOVE the peaty Islay... if you're not sure, it can scare you off a bit. Go big, establish a benchmark, and try to find others that meet or surpass it. So definitely start there. But which Islay Scotch is best? Anyone have any idea what that could have been? New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. Islay is famous for its whisky with many distilleries on the island. I'd start with Laphroaig 10 and Ardbeg 10 if you want to jump straight into serious peat. We didn't make it to the other three, but I've heard great things about Kilchoman, it's pretty far away, might want to do that on the same day as bruichladdich. Other than that i tend to have a bottle of smokehead at home at all times, the apply fresh finish makes it very drinkable.for a peated whisky :) although I agree you cant go wrong with ardbeg or laphroaig. I caught myself thinking, about halfway through the glass, "Oh you're not so bad. I love Islay scotches! If you want to explore Islay's most delicious whiskies, consider this your guide. UPDATE: I went for Laphroaig 10. The Famous Grouse. When you make reservations be sure you know what is what (the distilleries' web sites should show on their schedules). Light-bodied, sweet, and just slightly smoky, Isle of Jura 10 Year Old is an approachable and quality scotch ideal for newcomers. A++ 10/10 would drink again. After that, give Ardbeg 10 ago, to see how two strongly peated whiskeys can still taste quite different. I also think Oban might make OP happy, but it's so pricey for what it is that it's a hard rec for me, even though I do really like it. With the 17 best low-cost, high flavor scotches ever to come out of a bottle. My intro to Islay was Laphroaig Quarter Cask, and what a baptism by fire it was. Last but not least, don't forget to join the Diageo Classic Malts club before you go and you can get your tastings for free at Lagavulin and Caol Ila, if you plan to go to either of those. Best Islay Scotch Whiskies Islay is a small island that’s believed to have played a major role in distilling crossing the sea from Ireland to Scotland in the 13th century. I recommend you try Laphroaig (Lore if you can find it, 10 otherwise) and Ardbeg Uigeadail which are two of my favorites and pretty easy to find. The Bruichladdich tour gave us the opportunity to taste the product at just about every stage of the process, and using the whisky thief ourselves was a great treat during the warehouse tasting. If there isn't a warehouse or similar tour you can pretty much skip the tour and just sample. Choosing An Inexpensive Scotch A single malt scotch starts off at around $50, and that’s your bargain basement brand, so getting one that is palate pleasing in the narrow strike zone between $50 and $100 is a challenge unto itself. The sample had a brief intense woodsy smoke that fell into a lovely appley floral finish. Had probably the best scotch of my life (d'yquem finished octomore) which they will never bottle (much sadness). It is located off the west coast of Scotland and is a haven for whisky drinkers, birdwatchers and outdoorsy people alike. Bruichladdich is a GREAT tour, but only really if Jim is there where he is known for dancing on casks and being his usual showman self, dipping into old casks etc. Half way through my Lagavulin warehouse tasting, I recall thinking that not only could I not taste the difference between any of the whiskies any more, but I couldn't even tell that there was peat. Looks like you're using new Reddit on an old browser. Port Ellen is perhaps the most legendary “ghost distillery” in Scotland. If you’re reading this then I’ll assume you’re a lover of fine scotch. Caol Ila 18 - £85.75 ($113): One of the best examples of a truly great herbal whisky, and well worth trying for that alone. I've looked into Bowmore 12 a little, and so far it seems like an decent starting point. We had 10 year first fill sherry 58%, 16 second fill 52%, 21 first fill 50%, 32 refill 48% and 48 refill 43% ish (1966). Islay scotch is known for its “harsher” profile. https://manofmany.com › lifestyle › drinks › best-scotch-whisky-brands For the last five years, I’ve been a huge fan of Islay scotch. This is the benchmark bottle from Lagavulin, a distillery neighboring Laphroaig. Bowmore we did the top of the range tour, which was crazy in depth and really interesting, but quite expensive. Though it was a hard choice, Lagavulin 16 Year was at the top of my list. Looking for at least one full tour from start to finish (i.e water source to casks and bottling your own). Pretty sure the 4.2 Comus is D'Yquem finished Octomore, but thanks again for the insight will steer clear of Ardbeg! Lidl Abrachan Triple Barrel (42% ABV) Available from: Lidl (£17.49). Made in limited quantities, this whisky was aged for 12 years in oak casks. For itinerary tips on Islay check out www.traveling-savage.com. What year was that from? Bunnahabhain is scenically run-down and the place you'll get the most arty photographs (didn't time it right for a tour there). Caol Ila felt the most corporate (huge operation, tiny tasting room; also silent season in Sept so no tour). Everyone always says start with mild smoke, but my love for it came from diving-in head first. Thanks for the info, the websites say very little especially for Lagavulin, in terms of a pittance any rough figures you remember? Of the three, for us Laphroig was the most polished, Lagavulin was the most drunkest, and Ardbeg was the most disappointing. The 16-year-old expression, aged in second-fill ex-bourbon barrels, might be a little pricey, but it’s well worth the splurge. Unless you're a huge Ardbeg fan, I'd skip it or just pop in to take a peek and maybe grab a bite to eat on the way to the Kildalton Cross, and head up to Bunnahabhain, which is great and awesomely remote. I'm not a huge Islay fan but Lagavulin 16 is a pretty common bar go-to of mine. I'll be the dissenter (can't believe it's dissenting), and say that Laphroaig 10 is where I'd start. Caol Ila was some nice drams but the tour guide really couldn't give a shit about it all, which was both amusing and disheartening... Lagavulin's Warehouse Demo is completely ridiculous. So, despite its small size, the area carries an outsized distilling resume, with … And as stated above, the profile of Islay scotch lends itself to what many describe as medicinal- alluding to notes of iodine, seaweed, and salt. It shut down in 1983, during a fallow time for… Bruichladdich tasting room is fun. ArdBeg ArdBIG Tour: Ok, I'm going to level with you guys, this was right after Lagavulin, so I probably didn't get as much out of this as I could have. Ardbeg was dull, lagavulin warehouse is amazing, bruichladdich warehouse was good, but don't do it after lagavulin, we did, big mistake. Bowmore was an average tour, too-slick fancily decorated tasting room (basically a bar) which put me off but some liked it. From Laphroaig to Macallan and Glen Moray to Talisker, I wanted to pay tribute to some of the finest single malts on the planet today in honor of International Scotch Day 2018.. You might be a tequila/mezcal drinker, or perhaps you gravitate towards bourbon and gin, but today … Elsewhere on the island, Kilchoman is fascinating because they're such a small operation. The brand’s flagship 10-year-old scotch is never a bad choice, but Laphroaig’s Cairdeas Port & Wine Cask expression is a fun experiment. we got to keep our handful of malted barley, yum) of the Port Ellen distilleries but only an average tasting (though if you're a member of their club you get a free miniature in addition to your sample drams); at Ardbeg be sure to get the Full Range tasting for a little more $ and you'll get a much better experience, or if you're a big fan go all out and do the Deconstructing the Dram tour). Best Islay Scotch Whiskies Islay is a small island that’s believed to have played a major role in distilling crossing the sea from Ireland to Scotland in the 13th century. Created in the 1920s, it’s the only blended Scotch in the world that is permitted to use the word “Islay” in the name. The aroma enthralls on this scotch: black olives, burnt rubber, forest floor, dried cherries and roasted almonds. Don’t forget the smokiness either. I wouldn't go with Bowmore. “ [It's] one of my all-time favorites from Islay,” says McCoy. Best Islay Scotch: Lagavulin 16 Year. Laphroaig might be the best known of the peaty Islay single malts. If possible go to a bar and try before you buy so you don't end up stuck with a bottle of something you hate. It's fine, but I just don't think it really measures up to the others on Islay. Today is International Scotch Day. Glenfiddich Bourbon Barrel Reserve. As I'm sure you know, Laphroig, Lagavulin, and Ardbeg are all virtually right next to each other. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts, All we have to decide is what to do with the dram given to us. Ardberg 10 is one of my favorites and differs wildly when compared to Lagavulin. Bruichladdich is alright - the tour guides are friendly and such, but it's a very standard tour. It's probably the most famous and most common dram from Islay, it's relatively inexpensive, and it's a classic. If you want a softer entry Talisker 10 or Highland Park 12 are good. So, despite its small size, the area carries an outsized distilling resume, with … If you want to try some peat but not the full in-your-face flavor of an Islay, I'd recommend Talisker. It was malted with grassy, hillside peat in the 1980s, then laid down for decades to mellow its richness. Lidl has been making a … They're a thrillingly varied lot, with distinctions both subtle and not-so-subtle between them. Talisker is a good bridging whisky. At Lagavulin (though the tours were closed for their silent season) we enjoyed hanging out quietly in their dusty old sitting room looking through books and drinking old commemorative expressions; Laphroiag was the most interesting tour (in-use malting floor! If you want to try some peat but not the full in-your-face flavor of an Islay, I'd recommend Talisker. Best Islay Distillery Tours Hi all, so some background.. heading to Islay in April for two days on a tour of Scotland. So, I am fairly new to the whole whisk(e)y game, and have been trying out a few less challenging Speyside scotches, like Glenfiddich 12, just to get my feet wet. We found Lagavulin's tour to be super corporate (all hail Diageo), though the warehouse tasting was decent for the money (we didn't see nearly the range you did, though), and loved Bruichladdich's. For some reason the peat in that is a lot more bearable and/or tastier than say, Ardbeg, etc. The site may not work properly if you don't, If you do not update your browser, we suggest you visit, Press J to jump to the feed. Ardbeg's tour was also great, but I'll agree that it was on the pricey side. Islay whiskies are, almost without exception, big on flavor; if you're looking for a light and delicate dram, you've come to the wrong place. Laphroig was the most polished, Lagavulin was the most drunkest, and Ardbeg was the most disappointing. Lagavulin is hands-down my favorite Islay, but it's quite rich in its peatiness so I'm not sure how well it would work as a first try. Partly it depends which tour you take at each place. Haven't bought a bottle for myself yet (waiting for a distillery tour in Scotland for that) but I've been trying as much as I can at bars. 62 year old? Keep it simple and pour yourself a Laphroiag 10. Top notch response as those are my favs as well. To fight single malt scotch stigmas, I decided to make a list (including tasting notes) of my personal favorite bottles for beginners. Though Islay Scotch generally features smoky peaty flavors, the Caol Ila is unique in the relative lack of peat used in production, which makes for subtle and nuanced flavor and aroma profiles. Hailing from the lesser-known scotch-producing region of Jura (an island adjacent to Islay), … Like, the “I’m not an alcoholic, but if you look at my whiskey shelf at home you’d think I was” kind of fan.. And ever since I first fell in love with a Laphroaig 10 year old, I knew one day I would have to make the pilgrimage to the the small island of Islay off the western coast of Scotland, to experience all of … Warehouse tasting has 3-4 drams. Our pick for the best Scotch whisky is Caol Ila 15 Year. So, despite its small size, the area carries an outsized distilling resume, with heavies like Laphroaig, Lagavulin and Ardbeg residing there. Verdict: It’s hard to say anything bad about this Scotch. Ardbeg's premium tours have some pretty crazy samples at the end as well (stuff that really doesn't exist on the market anymore), but the price is pretty hefty. https://www.esquire.com › food-drink › drinks › a18665074 › islay-distilleries A Subreddit for the beautiful island of Islay. a subreddit for Scotch enthusiasts of all walks of life and of all levels of knowledge on anything Scotch Whisky related. At first I wasn't sure if I'd really like it, but by the time I finished the bottle I was a true peat head. Ardbeg, Caol Ila or Laphroaig are a good place to start for a strong peat flavor. What have been your best distilleries on Islay to tour and why? Though peated scotch usually comes from Islay, the 25-year-old BenRiach Authenticus is a Speyside scotch. I could be friends with you.". Hi all, so some background.. heading to Islay in April for two days on a tour of Scotland. Better than Bowmore IMHO. Laphroaig, Ardbeg, Caol Ila, and Lagavulin are the four that really embody Islay to me and my palate, but I personally prefer Laprhoaig to the others, and Lagavulin is quite expensive (though it's a 16 year, so it's understandable). Does this seem like a wise choice? It's like a campfire on the beach, The Port Askaig, especially the 8y, is also very affordable and very nice imo. I'm amazed at how different two groups' experiences can be. So I'd say that's a good place to start, IMO. A blended whisky, meaning it’s not made from single malts, but there is a large proportion of single malt in the bottle. Definitely touring Laphroaig, just looking for another one or two recommended distilleries that are worth visiting for their tours and tastings. The whisky is made at the Laphroaig Distillery, where it is blended with Speyside malt. TLDR: I have never tried Islay before, but I am now a happy fan. 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