Lagavulin 8-Year-Old Whisky review and tasting notes
The 8-year old Lagavulin whisky was first produced in 2016 to celebrate the bicentenary of the founding of the Lagavulin distillery in Islay, home of the best peaty whiskies. Given the incredible success it has achieved, they wisely thought of including it permanently in the annual production. So let’s welcome this fine bottle of Scotch.
But what is special about Lagavulin 8?
It simply changes the cards on the table.
It is less stylized than 16, more brandy, more dark hints of coal and mixed hydrocarbons and iodine and herbaceous traits of an apothecary. The fruit is also less ripe and warm, less enveloping, but beautifully citrusy.
The wood, too, attention the wood is just toasted, smokiness under control, it is a crystalline whiskey in terms of expressiveness, it is not tamed by the wood, on the contrary, apart from the clear references of sherry, it never lets itself go.
It is changeable, it moves very savory, sharp and with sharp fruit, but with a beautiful evolution.
The bouquet
The nose opens with peat and pepper and immediate returns of mint, anise and alpine herbs. Lemon peels, cream and honey were just mentioned. Chocolate as always from wood. It is immediately respected, a whole different symphony than the 16, even the type of wood is less spicy but more oxidized and pungent. Excellent persistence, variety and expressive naturalness.
What does Lagavulin 8 whisky taste like?
On the palate it feels all its salty charge, it is the son of the sea but leaves ample room for more fruity flavors of oranges and others worthy of a crazy herbalist that almost border on bitters. Let’s not say absinthe, but think of a whiskey with a thousand faces that flow, oscillating between cinchona, peat and iodine. Very brave as whiskey, good.
In reality, this Lagavulin must be contextualized in the distillery production, otherwise, precious references are lost. Lagavulin 16 is mature, soft and less sharp.
Instead, the 12 is much more rocky and rude, but also exciting and expensive, of course.
Let’s say this Lagavulin 8 is a cross between the two, a finer and more subtle product than the base 16, but not as extreme as the big brother 12.
If you are tired of the predictability of Lagavulin 16: it is an excellent whiskey that does not allow itself to be put in an easy category.
Lagavulin 8 price
65-70 euros: an acceptable price.
Food Pairings
Excellent with desserts, chocolate, salmon, smoked fish, smoked ribs with BBQ sauce, salmon with teriyaki sauce, chocolate salami.