There are many things to do when you’re a distillery coming up on your 200th anniversary, and Lagavulin celebrated the occasion in 2016 by releasing the Lagavulin 8 to mark the bicentenary, along with a 12 year cask strength. In late 2017, Lagavulin made the 8 year part of its core range, reportedly because of the positive response it received throughout 2016. The choice to release the scotch at 8 years was a call back to a visit by famed whisky journalist Alfred Barnard in the late 1880s, specifically mentioning an 8 year Lagavulin as “exceptionally fine” in his book The Whisky Distilleries of the United Kingdom.
Distillery: Lagavulin
Region: Islay
Age: 8 years
Strength: 48%
Price: $44.98
Location: Port Ellen
Nose: Peat, brine
Palate: Peat, smoke
Finish: Brine, peat
Comments: Water is not needed, as there is almost an antithesis of edge. Seek out other anniversary scotches from Laphroaig and Ardbeg.
Adam – As someone who likes seeing distilleries expand their offerings, especially when the normal range is so small, I was happy to see the Lagavulin make such an addition. It can be hard to not unfavorably compare it to the more heralded older sibling, but it is worth doing. The Lagavulin 8 is vintage Lagavulin, containing such a gentleness on the tongue even at 48% that I get no burn from the alcohol, which can be a nice change. This is not terribly complex scotch (though it does showcase the peat very nicely), but I would put it next to other young classics like the Ardbeg 10 and the Laphroaig 10 as beautiful entry points to the island.
Jenny – The nose is kind of light for me and the color is too light for me. The flavor is also too light unless you coat it over your whole tongue. I get a little peat, a little bit of smoke, but mostly I get a warming sensation. There are no flavors that jump out at me except the smoke and peat, and the understated warmth dancing around my tongue.
Meghan – I miss the smoke. I’m not sure if it is that the peat has not mellowed or if less char has been pulled from the barrel, but there is a discernible difference in smoke between the 8 year and the 16 year. It’s best to think of this one on its own and not in conjuncture with the 16 year. It is very peat forward but still has a nice smoothness.
If you could wear this as perfume, I would.
Michael – This scotch is definitely a whisky where the nose is divorced from the palate. The nose gives me a sour mash sense and a scent of freshly distilling. The palate has a really nice toasted smoky quality that lasts. There is a durability to it. I enjoy it.
Mary-Fred – The Lagavulin 8 feels young to me. It could use some more years.
Caitlin – As far as the nose goes…if you could wear this as perfume, I would. This is whisky to drink in a garden on a nice day.
Ben – This one feels like the Lagavulin 16 yr‘s kid brother. It tastes all discombobulated at first, compared to how well the 16 is balanced. All the elements are there, but it is missing the transitions of its older sibling. All that said, it is still very friendly.
