ptrthgr8 Posted January 29, 2014 Share Posted January 29, 2014 Saturday night I lit up a nice Monte 520 as the wifey and I were sitting down to watch a movie. I decided to also grab a dram of scotch to go along with the smoke. So, I walked over to the scotch cabinet and saw the various Balvenies (21 Portwood, 15 Single Barrel, 17 Peated, 17 Doublewood, 14 Caribbean), Glenfiddichs (18 and 15), and the one Glenlivet I currently have (the 16 Nadurra)... and then my eyes caught a glimpse of the dark green bottle in the very back. Ah, yes... the Laphroaig 18 year old! I've not had any in over 6 months. I bought the bottle after a suggestion from a friend before I had tried it and my first experience with it was no good - seemed too peaty, too smokey. I really, really, didn't like it. I decided to give it another go. I'm not sure if it was the combination with the 520, but it was one of the best drams I've had in eons. I was audibly commenting on how good it was after each sip. The peat and smokey notes were still very clear and obvious, but I was also picking up some of the sweeter notes on the finish this time - I don't remember those from the last experience. The 520 was a good smoke, of course, but it didn't seem any better to me than they had been in the past. But for whatever reason that Laphroaig 18 really hit the spot this time around. I'll have to give it another go this weekend. Anyone else experience something like that? A complete 180 from the last experience? I've had days were one scotch seemed a little better or worse than the last time I had it (i.e. may have suited your mood better the last time), but they've always been pretty much the same. This is the first time where I pretty much hated a scotch the first time I tried it, thought I wasted money on the bottle, and then came back later to really enjoy it and was glad to have it on hand. Cheers, ~ Greg ~ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lotusguy Posted January 29, 2014 Share Posted January 29, 2014 Well, the bottle was open for 6 months plus so the Whisky had a chance to oxidize a little bit. I noticed especially with really peaty whisky that they tend to mellow out in the bottle, once opened. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kjellfrick Posted January 29, 2014 Share Posted January 29, 2014 Good to hear you came around to it! I happened to buy a bottle of this whisky today and will sample it tonight. I've moved away from the patient whiskys in recent years but this might be a return to them. Thanks for the review. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ptrthgr8 Posted January 29, 2014 Author Share Posted January 29, 2014 Well, the bottle was open for 6 months plus so the Whisky had a chance to oxidize a little bit. I noticed especially with really peaty whisky that they tend to mellow out in the bottle, once opened. Aha. And as I thought about it more, I bet I've had that bottle for closer to a year. I remember trying it at some point this past summer and was still not impressed with it, so perhaps it just needed some extra time? Weird. I've never noticed that sort of change with any of my other bottles, but most of them don't last nearly as long as this one and, as you mentioned, my others are all Speysides. Well, dammit. Now I want to go buy a new bottle to see how much difference ~1 year in an open bottle makes. Cheers, ~ Greg ~ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jayceskinner Posted January 29, 2014 Share Posted January 29, 2014 Well, the bottle was open for 6 months plus so the Whisky had a chance to oxidize a little bit. I noticed especially with really peaty whisky that they tend to mellow out in the bottle, once opened. I have found this also. Majority of the time I find they are better after being opened for a while except for the odd whisky which tastes great and mellow when first opened then becomes harsh and in your face (strong taste) after a couple of months. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ptrthgr8 Posted January 29, 2014 Author Share Posted January 29, 2014 Good stuff. I've been avoiding Islays because I wasn't keen on the Laphroaig 18 the first time or two around, but it sounds like it might be worth while to try another Islay and see how it goes. I'm certainly not bored with my Balvenies and so far Speysides are my favorite, but there's nothing wrong with expanding the selection in the scotch cabinet, eh? Cheers, ~ Greg ~ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sengjc Posted January 29, 2014 Share Posted January 29, 2014 Glad you enjoyed. It is good whisky. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
khomeinist Posted January 30, 2014 Share Posted January 30, 2014 Not a fan but I powered through my bottle. I am quite heroic at times.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GoJohnnyGo Posted January 30, 2014 Share Posted January 30, 2014 You should try Lagavulin 16. It's a gem. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Surucipe Posted January 30, 2014 Share Posted January 30, 2014 I've had a similar experience with a bottle of Macallan 12 Sherry Oak which was a big disappointment at first but after a few months I tried it again and really liked it. Still not sure if it was that first dram from the freshly opened bottle that was really different or if it was just my palate or mood at that time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jayceskinner Posted January 30, 2014 Share Posted January 30, 2014 You should try Lagavulin 16. It's a gem. I tried this a couple of weeks ago from a 200ml sampler bottle. I didn't last the night after my first glass. Great whisky. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ptrthgr8 Posted January 30, 2014 Author Share Posted January 30, 2014 You should try Lagavulin 16. It's a gem. I'll see if the local bottle shop has this when I stop by this evening. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ptrthgr8 Posted January 31, 2014 Author Share Posted January 31, 2014 The local shop did indeed have the Lagavulin 16. ($87US, not sure if that's a good price or not.) Will open the bottle later this evening and will report back once I've sampled it. Thanks for the suggestion, guys! Greg Sent from my DROID RAZR MAXX HD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ptrthgr8 Posted January 31, 2014 Author Share Posted January 31, 2014 Tried a dram of the Lagavulin 16 last night with an H. Upmann Royal Robusto. The initial flavor of the Lagavulin really reminded me quite a bit of the Laphroaig 18 - major peat and smoke at the forefront. I did notice a little more sweeter/honey flavors on the finish, though. I'm not a big fan of the heavy peat/smoke, but perhaps this one will mellow out a bit more with age, too. But I did like it more initially than I did the Laphroaig 18 when I first brought that particular bottle home. Thanks again for the suggestions! ~ Greg ~ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Orion21 Posted January 31, 2014 Share Posted January 31, 2014 Greg, If you don't like peat then try the Glengoyne scotches. They use warm air to dry their ingredients. Very tasty IMO. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ptrthgr8 Posted February 1, 2014 Author Share Posted February 1, 2014 I don't mind a peat flavor (I really like the Balvenie 17 yo Peated Cask), but I'm not a big fan of a heavy peat flavor like the Laphroaig 18 and the Lagavulin 16. I really like the Laphroaig 18 now that it's mellowed a bit. For me the Lagavulin 16 was a couple of notches less peaty than the Laphroaig, so I think it may be something that mellows quicker for me. Either way I still like both. Much better than a rot gut of some sort. LOL So it's great to have some variety in the ol' scotch cabinet. Greg Sent from my DROID RAZR MAXX HD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stogieninja Posted February 1, 2014 Share Posted February 1, 2014 Lagavulin 16 is my personal favorite. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StingMeadery Posted March 15, 2014 Share Posted March 15, 2014 Lagavulin 16 is my personal favorite. It really is a benchmark In "Peaty goodness". Have been enjoying the Ardbeg Galileo also... Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StingMeadery Posted March 15, 2014 Share Posted March 15, 2014 It really is a benchmark In "Peaty goodness". Have been enjoying the Ardbeg Galileo also... I wasn't a big fan when I first tried it but with a Siglo VI, it's epic! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mbrody Posted March 24, 2014 Share Posted March 24, 2014 Just picked up the lagavulin 16 to try something different. Didn't think I would love it (mac12 sherry been my goto), but I must say I really liked it upon first try. Great overall balance and was awesome with a Connie A. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ogus Posted April 19, 2014 Share Posted April 19, 2014 Not sure I can buy cheap bourbon after having Laphroig. Beautiful single malt scotch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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