A Tasteful Review Of The Lagavulin 8 Year Old Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Are you looking for a gift for a whisky lover or looking to expand your palette with a bold scotch whisky with a long history?

It’s very easy to be a scotch enthusiast because it’s all about the nuances of enjoying a fine single malt. The beauty is in the differences. You might like one for a particular reason. So I was excited to review a bottle of Lagavulin 8-Year-Old Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky from a veteran distiller that has been putting together bold flavours and historic distilled magic since 1816.

Enter the Lagavulin 8 Year Old Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky

If given to a friend or lover (of scotch) for the holidays, they are likely first to see a white embossed box with the Lagavulin branding and historical homages that are placed around it. Doesn’t give you any hint on what the bottle might resemble, but it’s a second unwrapping experience to get to the good stuff, where you can admire the light brown and almost green tinge to the classy bottle that holds this fine whisky.

With a nod to Port Ellen in Scotland, where the fine single malt is produced, it makes you want to have a crafted taste of Scotland right then and there.

The Story of this Lagavulin 8-Year-Old Blend

As the story goes, it follows Alfred Barnard’s expression of the original blend back in 1886 on a visit to the Lagavulin Distillery, labelling his taste of the whisky blend as ‘exceptionally fine’.

With this in mind, Lagavulin wanted to continue this particular blend forward and pay homage to the exceptional malts that have been presented over the years and develop a reinterpretation of the 8-year-old whisky with the one you see before you.

Tasting The Lagavulin 8-Year-Old Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Quick Notes:

• Peated single malt scotch
• Lightly smoked
• Clean start and finish
• Bit of sweet flavour to it
• Soft, medium body
• Long finish with a hint of oakiness
• The peatiness of the initial flavours wear quickly and the warmth and wood flavours continue to the long end

When it comes to the tasting notes, you have a very nice journey from the smell, to taste, to after taste of the whisky.

On the nose, it expresses something very fresh and clean. The welcome is continued with subtle nudges of chocolate and lemon, then you continue down the hall and find yourself with a tea-scented smokiness to it as well.

Once you are welcomed in fully through your aromatic senses, continuing to taste is a different experience altogether.

The clean and modern smell changes into a dynamic and textured taste.

The full-on flavours are unexpected compared to the light welcome in. Like seeing a bombastic loved one throw their hands wide, up and apart for a big welcoming embrace. Once you get used to that level of energy, you are then taken along to expect more sweet, smokey, and warm feelings from all the flavours around you.

After staying awhile in these flavours and it’s time to experience the tail end, the sip finishes off with a clean and very long goodbye that seems planned and very polished.

Lagavulin expresses that this is a whisky to celebrate, in every sense and I believe it.

The Bottom Line

For somewhat of a young whisky in comparison to age groups much older, it is impressive and holds its own very well. This is definitely for someone who loves that rush of bold flavours that smooths out slowly afterwards. So if you sneak in their liquor cabinet and you find a bottle of Islay Single Malt that is low on inventory, then this would be a great one to gift. If you are hesitant about the bold flavours, a lot of people have found that adding water or a few extra rocks to the whisky glass will bring out the flavours more and make the sip a little more manageable.

I personally have been enjoying this particular bottle and it takes a new spot in my personal liquor cabinet and will be brought out when I know I have a fellow whisky drinker to try it with.

The Lagavulin 8-Year-Old Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky is available at the LCBO for $91.95.

Read more Canadian Luxury News

• House of Gucci Movie: The Good, The Bad and The Gucci’s
• The Monogram Professional Range Is A Line Of Exquisite Cooking Instruments
• The Fairmont Royal York Hotel Revitalizes Their Iconic Library Bar