Lagavulin 16 Year Old

My first experience with this wasn't so good. I tried it at a particular bar along with Talisker 10; rather disappointed with both. Not sure if my palate was on strike that day or what. That being said, I like to give any whisky a second chance (as I well know tastes can change day to day).

At first the peat and the phenol are immediate, but after letting it open a little, the sweetness and woody character come through. Citrus and vanilla slowly fade in and given long enough, brown sugar develops.

Hitting the palate, the warm peat kicks things off. Pepper, vanilla, a slight creaminess, and subtle fruit follow at a fair pace. The intriguing thing about this malt is the body; it's ridiculously smooth, given the weight of the nose and the palate. I think something rather special is going on there.

The finish isn't too long but it fades out with a fresh salty and vegetal presence.

Overall, I'm very pleased I gave this one another chance. It's quite an elegant malt and the silky body provides a beautiful juxtaposition against the strong nose and palate. Wonderful!

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