Lagavulin 8 Year Old

Great review! I enjoyed tasting this expression while reading your comments on the mystery dram, and, of course, loved giving the reveal.

I think this is the fist time I've tasted from this bottle since the first opening. I really enjoyed it. Probably more than I did the first time.

@Nozinan So you can confirm that this is not, in fact, Glenfiddich?

@OdysseusUnbound I'm sure you would be able to tell the difference between any G'Fiddich and any Lagavulin. Here's a question though. Is the current batch of 8 year old any different from the original 200th Anniversary Edition? I'm thinking of buying another one and saving my second bottle of the 200th edition.

@BlueNote I don’t know if there are differences, other than the standard batch variations, between this one and the 200th anniversary edition.

@OdysseusUnbound BTW, I didn't get much in the way of fruitiness from the original version. From your review I gather that this edition is a bit sweeter and fruitier. I'm assuming that this is the more recent version.

Thanks for an interesting and useful review.

@BlueNote I noticed a chocolate and coffee note today that I did not have on my review of the original anniversary batch.

Enjoyment wise I would say it is at least as good based on today’s sipping.

I hope to taste them H2H in the next few months.

So yes, @OdysseusUnbound, this is not Glenfiddich.

Great review, blind tasting is the great equalizer. I love the profile of the Lag 8 200th anniversary. I've also hesitated buying a new one for fear of newer batches not living up to this one. Perhaps I should take the plunge.

@cricklewood I absolutely love blind tastings for this very reason. Labels can set expectations and it’s well-documented in psychological studies that expectations affect our perceptions. I’m probably going to pick up a bottle of this sooner rather than later.

I agree with the sentiment about Blind whisky assessment. I have almost totally switched over to only taking notes on samples blind. I still mostly do it "semi-blind." I know the whiskies in the line up. However, when I have the opportunity I love the totally blind experience. It does eliminate preconceived notions. The only draw back is if you are not in the right frame of mind. I have also learned that I need to stop "guessing" during my tasting notes. Because once I say, "I think this could be Lagavulin" my brain starts to go down that trail and finding more "Lagavulin type notes." Of course, once I have my notes down I try and guess . . . I am typically wrong much more than I expect.

Thanks @OdysseusUnbound for the lovely review!

@cricklewood Yeah, I think I’ll go for another one too. I’m thinking of keeping my remaining 200th bottle intact for a while.

Are you sure @Nozinan didn't dilute it with a drop or two of Lambertas? I know he's trying to get rid of that stuff - it was fruity, as I remember (among other things...)

My first tastes of Lagavulin 8 yo provided me with no reason to want to own a bottle of it. That said, I see no reason why Lagavulin should not be able to put out a first rate malt at an age of 8 years old and an ABV of 48%. So I expect that you guys know what you are talking about when you say that some batches of Lagavulin 8 yo are first rate. My initial experience still makes me extremely reluctant to consider buying a bottle of it blind. For now, with a giant stash of Kildalton Islay malts on hand, I remain content to limit my Lagavulin purchases to the 12 yo.

I appreciate the 8. It seems like a bourbon cask ,baby sibling to .the 12. The Game of Thrones 9 has some sherry influence--baby 16/16DE. At the moment, I like the 9. I have never seen GOT.