Buy your bottle of Lagavulin 16 on Master of Malt.
Few whiskies can genuinely be called a classic. Lagavulin 16 Year Old is one of them. It’s a multi-award-winning scotch whisky that beginners, whisky connoisseurs, and even Hollywood stars appreciate. The whisky has gone beyond cult status to become regarded simply as one of the best.
The Lagavulin Distillery is located on a picturesque bay on Islay ‘s southern coast. Its island home is a pilgrimage for whisky lovers. Thousands come annually to see where its famous single malts are made and to revel in its whisky festival, Fèis Ìle. Lagavulin 16 is one of its standout creations.
So what makes Lagavulin 16 such a favorite of the whisky world? Let’s explore its origins, production, and history together as we dig deeper into this Islay icon. The Origins of Lagavulin 16 Year Old
The Lagavulin Distillery gets its name from the Gaelic Lag a’ Mhuilinn, meaning the hollow of the mill. It’s located on the Kildaton coast between other legendary Islay distilleries, Ardbeg and Laphroaig. Legal distilling was started here in 1816 by John Johnston and a second distillery on the same site was bought by his family in 1825. By 1837, production was absorbed into Lagavulin.
Lagavulin joined the ranks of the Distillers Company in 1925, which eventually became Diageo in 1997. The drinks giant owns Lagavulin today. In 1989, when Diageo was still UD (United Distillers), it launched the Classic Malts range comprised of the six single malts it owned. Lagavulin 16 Year Old was one of them.
Lagavulin 16 Year Old was seen as the selection that would appeal only to purists and the adventurous types, with softer, sweeter whiskies taking centre stage. That was wrong. Lagavulin 16 Year Old was a runaway success. It had to be put on allocation and was eventually made the flagship bottling of the Islay distillery. How Is Lagavulin 16 Year Old Made? Lagavulin Distillery is located on the south coast of Islay.
The character of Lagavulin whisky is attributed to its peaty water supply, the heavily peated barley, long fermentation times, and slow distillation. The peated barley comes from Port Ellen maltings and the water is sourced from Lochan Sholum.
Fermentation occurs in 10 wooden washbacks, each 21,000 litres in capacity, and lasts 55-75 hours. This produces a 6-8% ABV ‘wash’, a beer-like drink that is then distilled. Lagavulin uses the double distillation method in four squat pear-shaped pot stills and its distillation is the slowest on Islay.
Lagavulin 16 Year Old is aged mostly in American white oak bourbon casks, with a portion matured in European oak sherry casks. The warehouses are all exposed to the sea, but the extent to which that sea air impacts the coastal, iodine character found in Islay single malts, or indeed any whisky that matures by the sea, is the subject of some debate within whisky circles. How Smoky Is Lagavulin 16?
Peat is a fossil fuel formed by vegetable matter decomposing and compacting in bogs over millennia. The character of peat is dictated by where the bogs are located. On Orkney, where Highland Park is made, heather is common so the peat has a sweeter, more floral quality. On Islay, seaweed is a core component of peat, creating a coastal, iodine profile.
Lagavulin whisky is peated to 35 phenol parts per million (PPM). This tells you the phenol content of the malted barley after kilning. Be warned, it doesn’t reveal exactly how peaty a whisky is. Fermentation and distillation will impact the peatiness of the final whisky too. Think of PPM like the Schovilles scale for chillis, it’s not an exact science, but it gives you a good indication of what to expect. Typically: more PPM, means more smokiness. What Does Lagavulin 16 Year Old Taste Like?
One of the reasons Lagavulin 16 is so popular is that it has a singular taste. The use of heavily peated malt drives a smoky quality in the whisky. There are hints of creosote and iodine which you tend to get from whisky made with Islay peat, but it’s got a signature smokiness akin to Lapsang Souchong or fried kippers.
Other signature flavors include aromatic spice from cinnamon and clove, coastal elements like sea salt, and rich dried fruit from the sherry casks. That blend of smoke and sherry has a dragon’s breath quality, the whisky bursts out of the glass with an imposing array of flavors. This can be too much for some people, particularly when first trying the whisky.
This is a full tasting note from Master of Malt, where you can purchase the Lagavulin 16 Year Old for just £69 (~£88 USD) .
‘Appearance: Deep amber or mahogany.
‘Nose: More like Lapsang Souchong tea than Lapsang Souchong! One of the smokiest noses from Islay. It’s big, very concentrated, and redolent of iodine, sweet spices, good, mature sherry and creamy vanilla. Stunning.
‘Palate: Very thick and rich. A massive mouthful of malt and sherry with good fruity sweetness. Big, powerful peat and oak.
‘Finish: Long, spicy finish, figs, dates, peat smoke, vanilla.
‘Comments: This is a whisky to take your time with, sip it neat and let all those flavors unfold. But Lagavulin also makes a great pairing for blue cheese, smoked meat, and dark chocolate.’ The Smoky Cokey Lagavulinh 16, whilst perfect neat or with water, works very well simply with Coca Cola and lime: a Smoky Cokey. Credit: Master of Malt
Then there’s Lagavulin’s signature cocktail. You wouldn’t presume a revered single malt would be associated with a mixed drink. Let alone one made with Coca-Cola. But this simple twist on a Highball cocktail, typically made with blended Scotch and soda water, came from respected whisky writer Dave Broom.
While researching for his excellent 2014 book, Whisky: The Manual , Broom was keen to find the perfect pairing for each drink. His experiments led him to pair Lagavulin with coke. He found the sweet, spiced, and refreshing nature of the soft drink accentuated and complemented the whisky’s intense brand of smoky, sweet, and salty flavors perfectly.
Diageo whisky ambassador Colin Dunn took the recommendation to heart and brought the idea to the Islay Whisky Festival. It soon gained a cult following and it’s grown in popularity ever since. Here’s a recipe for those who want to try the Smoky Cokey: How to make a Smoky Cokey
35ml of Lagavulin 16 Year Old
A bottle of quality (or just your favorite) cola
A wedge of lime
Add the Lagavulin to a glass filled with lots of ice, and then top with the cola. Stir, then add a wedge of lime. Lagavulin and Nick Offerman
Lagavulin is often featured in media, from the West Wing to Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery . In recent years, Lagavulin has established a famous connection with actor Nick Offerman ( The Last of Us and Parks and Recreation ). The star already loved the whisky and his contagious passion for the single malt inspired the writers to make his Parks and Recreation character, Ron Swanson, drink Lagavulin 16 Year Old.
The Lagavulin Distillery was featured in the two-part opening episode of the show’s sixth season and in the season seven finale Swanson buys 51% of the distillery. Filming those season six episodes established the bond between Offerman and Lagavulin. Actor Chris Pratt was cast in Guardians of the Galaxy , filming in London, so producer Morgan Sackett (who now films the Lagavulin commercials with Offerman) was required to create a reason for the show to shoot in the UK.
As part of that plotline, Swanson visited Lagavulin Distillery. There the team hit it off with Offerman. The idea of creating a series of commercials was set in motion and he has collaborated on several special editions since. Celebrity tie-ins with whisky usually aren’t met with enthusiasm, but Offerman’s genuine love for Lagavulin makes it an exception. Lagavulin 16 Year Old: A Multi-Award-Winning Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Lagavulin 16 has the medals to back up its reputation, with awards from many competitions . Below is just a snapshot of what it’s won.
Gold at the International Spirits Challenge – 2009-2010, 2013-2015, 2018
Double Gold at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition – 2003-2008, 2011, 2013- 2018, 2022
Master at the The Scotch Whisky Masters – 2009, 2011 & 2014
97 Points at the Ultimate Spirits Challenge 2018
Don’t expect those to be the last of the awards if history is anything to go by too. Lagavulin 16 Year Old – Love It or Hate It? Lagavulin 16 Year Old is a cult classic Islay single malt. Get your bottle now on Master of Malt for just £69 (~$88). Credit: Master of Malt
Ultimately when it comes to whisky, taste is subjective. You might find the distinctive flavors of Lagavulin 16 too much. The 813 customer reviews on Master of Malt make for a telling read. Almost all are extremely positive, crediting its quality and character. There are also a few negative responses from those who deem the whisky not to their taste.
The only way to be sure for yourself is to try it. Which we heartily recommend doing. Are you a lover or a hater? Have you yet to experience the legendary flavour of Lagavulin 16 Year Old? Tell us what you think in the comments below!