Today I look at another battle of big Islay malts; Ardbeg 10 vs Lagavulin 16 year old whisky. Both these single malt Scotch drams achieved cult status with peat heads. When you mention Islay whisky, one of the first drams that come to mind is the Lagavulin 16 year old whisky.
Another Islay legend is the Ardbeg Scotch whisky and the passion for Ardbeg reaches fever pitch all over the world on Ardbeg Day. But when you put these drams in a blind tasting next to each other, how do they stack up?
Ardbeg 10 year old Whisky
Ardbeg Distillery is situated on the south coast of the isle of Islay. Louis Vuitton Moët Hennessy owns the distillery and produces a heavily peated Islay whisky. Ardbeg single malt Scotch whisky is peated to 55 ppm. The Ardbeg 10 year old whisky is aged for at least 10 years in ex-bourbon barrels.
Lagavulin 16 year old Whisky
Lagavulin’s name is the English translation of the Gaelic ‘Lag a’a’ Mhuilinn’, which means the mill’s hollow. Lagavulin was one of the six whiskies marketed as part of the Diageo’ Classic Malts of Scotland’ range.
Lagavulin distillery is known for its use of a slow distillation speed and pear-shaped pot stills. The Lagavulin 16 year old single malt Scotch whisky is peated to 35 ppm.
Also Read: GlenDronach 18 vs 21 yo Whisky
Ardbeg 10 vs Lagavulin 16 year old Whisky
| Ardbeg 10 yo whisky | Lagavulin 16 yo whisky | |
|---|---|---|
| ABV | 46% | 43% |
| Region | Islay Whisky | Islay Whisky |
| Peat Level | 55 to 65 ppm | 35 ppm |
| Colour | Pale Straw with green hints | Dark Gold |
| Nose | Peat and smoke with hints of vanilla, sea salt and citrus sweetness. It is not overwhelming but inviting and intriguing. | Liquorice, smoke, hints of peat with a fruity sweetness. Bits of oak, iodine, and vanilla. Delicate and well balanced. |
| Palate | After the initial peat, some warming citrus and hints of vanilla. It continues to bring you hints of coffee and a bit of iodine. This Ardbeg 10 yo is a big whisky but not overwhelming at all. | Dry oak, peat with hints of cherry sweetness and smoke. Medium body with iodine and tar in the background. A bit one-sided. |
| Finish | What an epic finish! You will remember the Ardbeg 10 yo long after you have emptied the glass. | Medium length with peat and hints of oak and vanilla. |
| My Rating | Excellent | Very Good |
| Comments | Complex and well balanced | Lacks some complexity and has a few sharp edges. |
| Price | $65 | $108 |
| Pairs well with | Garlic leg of Lamb or a charcuterie platter | Blue Stilton |
When John and I first tasted the Lagavulin 16 year old whisky, we looked at each other and frowned. It did not live up to our expectations. We felt that it was a bit one dimensional and boring. In the blind tasting, against the Ardbeg 10 year old whisky, the difference was even more evident.
The first difference between these two Islay drams is the peat level. The Lagavulin is peated at 35 ppm, and the Ardbeg sits at 55 ppm. There is also a big difference in the taste of the peat. The Lagavulin has more medicinal notes, and the Ardbeg has more ocean salt and fishy notes.
The Lagavulin 16 year old Scotch brings notes of dry oak, cherries and vanilla. Yes, it is peaty with smoke and fruity sweetness, but it lacks the complexity and wow factor. It has a medium body and a medium length finish.
The Ardbeg 10 year old has peat, smoke, sea salt, vanilla and citrus notes. There are hints of coffee and light iodine with an epic finish. It is big, bold, and complex. Just delicious.
Ardbeg is less medicinal than Laphroaig, however, it is more balanced and complex. Lagavulin has a more oily mouthfeel than the Ardbeg; however, the oiliness also seems to capture some raw alcohol notes.
The Ardbeg is drinkable and smooth and invites you back time after time. For my palate, this has a clear winner! The Ardbeg 10 year old every time.
I have done a side by side comparison between the Ardbeg Uigeadail and the Lagavulin 16 year old whisky as well to see how they stack up against each other.
Also Read: Ardbeg 10 vs An Oa Whisky
Ronaldo
Hi whisky dude’s. Visited both
Distillery love them both have to say
Lagavulin was the smoothest
Dram not much between them
Ardbeg is more peaty
Ronaldo Uk
Bernard Gutman
Try a 3-way side by side tasting of Laga 16 from 20 and 10 years ago, to one now. There must be some whisky people in Gauteng who can organise it. Perhaps Marc P can organise.
Chris
I enjoyed Lagavulin 16 when I started my whisky journey, but after years of drinking cask strengths and non chill filtered whisky I bought a bottle of the Lagavulin 16 on sale. In my opinion, it basically sucks now. Watered down and boring. I wouldn’t mind trying the 12 cask strength if it wasn’t so overpriced. Ardbeg all day for me. I actually like the Wee Beastie over the 10.
Dan Turner
I get the exact opposite, I enjoy both Lagavulin 16 and Ardbeg 10 I find the Lagavulin 16 far more complex, with smoke and medicinal notes up front, layered sweetness in the back, with a long finished of the married flavors.
I find the Ardbeg 10 the least complex of the peated Islay malts. It’s the same from nose, initial sip, on to the palate and in the finish. Oak char and peat. Mind you I enjoy the Ardbeg 10, and their other offerings from the distillery have plenty of character, but the Ardbeg 10 is quite one dimensional to me.
Pyrrhus
I just got my brother his first bottle of Ardbeg 10 and he is loving it. His first Islay was Bowmore 12 and I would love to see it ranked against Ardbeg 10. Hopefully I converted him to a peat head.