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Released to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the founding of Lagavulin distillery by John Johnston in 1816, this eight-year-old is big and smoky, with sweet spice that becomes apparent with a drop of water. Inspired by the visit of Alfred Barnard to the distillery in the 1880s when he tried an 'exceptionally fine' eight-year-old from the distillery, this is a fitting tribute for the milestone.
Style
- Body
- Richness
- Smoke
- Sweetness
Character
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Black Pepper
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Orange
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Lemon
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Peach
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Smoke
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Tobacco
Lagavulin 8 Year Old Reviews
Tasting Notes
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Tasting Notes by Stuart P
Nose: Cracked black pepper and aromatic woodsmoke at first, then fresh notes of orange and lemon peel. Appealing aromas of bonfires, hot shells and a touch of smoked meat. A little water brings out aromas of peach and green apple.
Palate: More woodsmoke, plus crunchy oatmeal and honeyed fruit. Rich mouthfeel, with notes of tobacco, bonfire embers and a peppery, spicy note.
Finish: The soft peat and characterful woodsmoke lingers for a long time.
Comment: Classy and complex, this has less fruit than the regular 16 Year Old, but adds a delicious extra layer of smoke and bite.
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Producer's Tasting Notes
Nose: Immediately quite soft with clean, fresh notes, faint hints of milk chocolate and lemon and then developing fragrant tea-scented smoke alongside nose-drying, maritime aromas, with subtle cereal. A prickliness seen earlier now develops, while the trademark Lagavulin dryness emerges as fresh newsprint. Softly sooty. Softer, fuller and more rounded with water: it’s not hugely fruity but there’s just a trace of red berry preserve, perhaps, beneath the smokiness, which comes sharply into focus.
Body: Light, growing pleasantly oily.
Palate: A soothing light texture, with a magnificently full-on Lagavulin taste that’s somehow even bigger than you expect; sweet, smoky and warming, with a growing, smoky pungency, then dry, with more smoke. Charred, with minty, dark chocolate. Beautifully balanced mid-palate then salty, oven-charred baked potato skins and smoke. Water rounds things, the taste still mighty yet more succulent, sweeter, spicier and now tongue-tingling, mint-fresh and warming.
Finish: Lovely; clean, very long and smoky. Smoothly, subtle minted smoke surrounds chocolate tannins, leaving a late drying note to emerge in time. It’s warming, soft and still smoky with water, not as long or intense now, yet still leaving the palate dry as sweet smoke lingers on the breath.
26 Customer Reviews
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I prefer it to the 16yr Lagavulin! It's rich and peated to the right amount, but still preserves some freshness that the 16yr does not. I will certainly buy more of this one.
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VERY GOOD Islay whisky. Has a very similar taste to Ardbeg 10. Already one of my favorites.
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Punchier than the 16 year old, youthful and lovely level of smokiness. I am stocking up!
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Finally, Lagavulin character returns! After a recent band aid tasting 16yo which doesn't even remotely compare to the classic 16yo of yesteryear, I bought this in desperation to salvage the 16yo. By mixing the two in roughly equal proportion, the combination of 8yo and 16yo starts tasting complex, much like the old 16yo from the 1990s.
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New favourite
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Don't let the relative youth of this fool you into thinking it is not good. This release is just amazing, it managed to oust the 16yo from being my all time favourite. Slightly sharper on the smoke than the 16yo. Slightly sweeter too, with a hint of citrus. A pleasantly long finish too. Good thing I bought a couple of extra bottles of this limited edition release.
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First try on any Lagavulin , wasn’t crazy for it, too much wood smoke very barbecue like flavor but with that said maybe the 16 yo is better .
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Wonderful. I could drink this every day. All that peat, smoke, and fruit. A beautiful blend of flavors.
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At first I was uncertain, such a young Lagavulin did not inspire confidence. BUT its lightly sweet, well balanced and still has all the good stuff of a proper Lagavulin. I love it it.
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Great stuff. Much better than expected. Tastes more mature than just 8yo. I would love to see this as a permanent part of the core range. Smoke and spice and vanilla in perfect harmony.
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Fantastic whisky. I actually like it better than the 16 (48% helps.) Not as good as the 12 year, but at half the price it's a must try for any islay scotch lover. Ardbeg take notice; how about an affordable special release with an age statement? Probs lagavulin.
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If only Diageo would make all their releases craft offerings, no color or blasted chill-filtration, then I would buy them by the bottle and not just a single dram to see what they're about, and buying a signatory release.
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a lot smoother than I thought it might be- I expected smoke, fire, and green grass- but its much rounder and smoother.
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Sweet, citrus /acidic pear fruits, an increasing briney seaweed sensation, followed up with a great, deep smokey finish. Wonderfully balanced composure, with full throttle flavors the whole way. Wow!
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Sweet citrusy smoky peated perfection. Almost gave up on Lagavulin after very disappointing bottles of the 16 and 2015 distillers edition, which I found to be flat tasting and a little rough around the edges. Just not what they used to be. But boy oh boy this is a mighty fine dram. It might not be as complex as some want but it sure does pack a punch This rowdy 8 year old brings all the classic lagavulin tastes to the plate. Sweet, citrus,smoky, peat. Hope to see more releases like this in the future Diageo.
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I'm glad Lagavulin is back with full throttle. After unbelievable and devastating downhill of 16 yo I was almost ready to give up with Lagavulin. Only 12 yo CS was left. Well, this one is one of the great peaty and smoky Islay whiskies. Obviously, Lagulin team has realized their situation and decided to invest in quality. Sweet and sour in harmony , smoky, sea weedy, youngish but perfectly balanced. No color added, fantastic!
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The 8 year old is a winner. This is a wonderful whisky with a real peaty character, peppery taste and sweetness. I wish the 16 y0 was realeased at 48%. Talisker should also take note and release a reasonably priced 8 yo.
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Simply superb, yes it's a little more "raw" than the 16 year old but it is half the age. I do hope that this remains available for a long time. I keep buying a bottle with the intention of keeping it but I'm afraid it s simply to good for that.
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Great peaty Laga. I enjoyed it. A lot.
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Amazing combination of citrus and peaty aromas. Great dram!
