Aberlour A'Bunadh or Lagavulin Scotch 16 Year :: Food & Drink - Restaurants and at Home

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Aberlour A'Bunadh or Lagavulin Scotch 16 Year

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Started 1 year ago by shotokun16
Latest reply from docwatson

shotokun16

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Im thinking to get a high end single malt Scotch that complements my pipe smoking hobby. I usually smoke Penzance, Frog Morton, and some Virginians (e.g. Rataray Marlin Flake and SGFV aged 1-year) but most of the time i love smoking aromatics like Boswell raspberry, Christmas cookie, berry cobbler, and W.O. Larsen Signature.
Currently in my Liquor Cabinet i have:
HighLand Park 12-year
Glenmorangie Scotch La Santa

If you had to choose which one? why? what is your experience?

Lagavulin Scotch 16 Year (750 ML)

OR
Aberlour A'Bunadh (750 ML)

my price range $60-$79.99

Posted 1 year ago #
fatman

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I'll suggest door #2, that being said the Lagavulin, to me, reminds me of nothing more than Johnny Walker red...too much of an iodine aftertaste. There are a lot of great Scotches out there w/intense flavor and compliment a pipe. My fav. is Glenlivit 12 or 18 y.o. I've played in most Scotches and am much more a simpler man to please than all those smokey taseting or iodine flavors. Jamesons's Irish is on my shopping list regularly as well as THE Glenlivit 12 y.o. G'Luck in your sojourn into Scotch whisky!

Posted 1 year ago #
fredvegas

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Hands down, go with the Lagavulin.

Posted 1 year ago #
Lawrence

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I have no idea....
Send me both and I'll let you know in a couple of days....

My Pipe Slide Show

Posted 1 year ago #
fatman

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FRED FRED FRED...dont you kno that Latakia blends trump aromatics?? Thats being said, Scotch is quite like t'baccy..to each his own. PLZ explain your experience w/the LAG, as the OP requested.

PS: I'm knee deep in CUTTY-SARK right now, compliments AS SO TO BED like spicey mustard ona Ruben sandwich!

Posted 1 year ago #
standardgewehr

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I can only speak as to the Lagavulin based on personal experience. It's a freight train of peat and smoke, with a sweet finish. I don't get the iodine in this one, although one of the other noteworthy Islay single malts in my collection, Laphroaig, does have a strong seaweed/iodine/medicinal note.

The Aberlour is aged in Sherry casks, and as such I've read it is famous for all of the caramel/fruit/sweet notes that go along with that. There's a Wiki page that lists flavour profiles for specific years of production. I've not sampled any but I'll have to track down a bottle...

If you like Latakia and strong smokey English/Balkan blend tobacco, you ought to like the Lagavulin. The Aberlour is going to be closer to the Glenmorangie you've already got. Lagavulin is THE Islay Single Malt by which all others of its breed are judged, although I am pretty partial to the Laphroaig for its unique flavour profile.

Happy imbibing whichever way you decide!

Posted 1 year ago #
shotokun16

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Thanks everyone ill try the lagavulin then.

Posted 1 year ago #
bytor

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I've not tried that particular blend of Aberlour, but I can provide the description from the menu I brought home from "The Scotch Whisky Heritage Centre" in Edinburgh.

"Aberlour A'bunadh: Intense fruity flavours, buttery & creamy with a syrupy fruit sweetness & rich chocolate orange notes."

"Lagavulin 16yo: Deeply smoky & peaty with a huge sherry burst & salty finish."

I think standardgewehr pretty much hit the nail on the head with respect to scotch/tobacco pairings. The Lagavulin (and pretty much most Islay scotches) will complement a strongly smoky English/Balkan blends well.

Seeing as the Aberlour is a Speyside scotch, I suspect it will also have some smoky/peaty flavors to it...though not as strong as Lagavulin it will be more peaty than the Glenmorangie (a Highland scotch). I would guess that it would complement Frog Morton.

Based on the two you currently have, my suggestion would be:
If you are more fond of the Highland Park...try Lagavulin.
If the Glenmorangie is more your speed...go for the Aberlour.

Posted 1 year ago #
shotokun16

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YUM!!!!! i love the smoky and peaty character. The smell is surreal like the ocean.

YUM!

Posted 1 year ago #
lagavulin92

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Good choice! And another advantage of the Lagavulin is that you can change it wonderfully by adding a few trops of water. The Aberlour disintegrates instead, especially sherrywise, because its an inferior spirit. Another Lagavulin I'd recommend you is the 12 yo Cask Strenght Special Edition of yesteryear.

Posted 1 year ago #
shotokun16

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yay this is really good.. im thinking of the special edition in 5 years. 1991.

Posted 1 year ago #
antipodesman

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Everyone needs a little peat in their life. Lagavulin!

Posted 1 year ago #
maduroman

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laphroag

Posted 1 year ago #
lagavulin92

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if you are in a spendy mood ... Port Ellen (or if you prefer Highlands Brora) ... they are stellar spirits.

But Lagavulin has an honest quality which makes it so amiable. It always makes me wish to sail to Ila, buy a cask of it, and return home without paying the taxes even though I don't have a boat and Austria doesn't border to the sea either

Posted 1 year ago #
ohin3

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Both are fine whiskys from their respective regions. I have to say that I am more mesmerized by the smokey, oily iodiney flavours that come from Islay malt whiskys, but if I had to choose between the two whiskys presented by your question...man I just don't know. It would come down to my mood at the time I guess. It's like choosing between a great straight Virginia and a great Latakia blend. Both can be of the highest quality but it's a matter of what mood you are in. Islay malts are more like Latakia blends and Highland malts are more like straight Virginias. Either way you will walk away with a superb bottle of whisky. speaking of Islay malt whisky, I am drinking a glass of Ardbeg 10 year right now. If you are a fan of Islay malt whisky then you should do yourself a favour and pick up a bottle of Ardbeg.

Cheers.

P.

Posted 1 year ago #
gentlemanjerry

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The Glenlivit 12 is a great dram - but Laphroaig is the absolute best in my book! Sorta like the Latakia of Scotch, LoL!

Posted 1 year ago #
lagavulin92

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Glenlivet is way too weak for a medium-bodied tobacco and has an awfully short finish. Laphroaig (the newer ones) is a very smooth and sweet whisky once you get used to the peat level, which has decreased to become more acceptable for the average drinker.

What I'd recommend you, too, if you have a small budget, are the younger Springbanks. They are interesting because of the 2.5 distillation, the "Old Highland" character, and affordable cask strenght offerings :P.

I usually pair unpeated whisky with Latakias and peated ones with non-smoky blends. It works best for me like that.

Posted 1 year ago #
ohin3

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Shotokun16...where did you get those glasses. I LOVE that style of glass for single malts and have been looking for one very much like the one in your photos.

Posted 1 year ago #
unclearthur

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I am more of a fan of Irish Whiskeys. Jamesons!

If at first you don't succeed you are running about average.

Posted 1 year ago #
bytor

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Just finished off a bottle of Ardbeg 17 last night. A fine whisky!

I've got a couple of glasses very similar to the one in the pictures that I picked up during my visit to Edinburgh.

@Phil: Out of curiosity, I did a quick google search for "whisky nosing glass" and found that they can be purchased through Amazon (among other places).

@lagavulin: A little disappointed to hear they have mellowed out the Laphroaig recently...I haven't had any for a long while, but it was one of my favorites for a time. Actually, I preferred the 10 year because I enjoyed the more pronounce medicinal taste to it

@Arthur: Nothing wrong with a dram of Irish Whiskey either!

Posted 1 year ago #
lagavulin92

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Those glasses are Glencairn glasses or copies. Either way, they work very well because they are good at suppressing the "alcohol" note. I'm considering buying a Burgundy wine glass to get an extra kick from the whisky.

@bytor: I don't know how recently they mellowed out. I was just told so by betrayed Laphroaig fans. However, my claim is legitimized by the one dram I was graciously given to compare simultanously with the Laphroaig Cask Strength. It was an old and mature dram which had unbelieveable peat for it's age. Laphroaig is no longer the whisky "you either love or hate".

As for Ardbeg, I'd recommend the Supernova. You'll have an hour for the 100ppm to slowly fade to normal levels, and then you got another Ardbeg. Very interesting!

Posted 1 year ago #
morlader

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I am very partial to Laphroaig or any of the Islay whiskys.I must admit though I am more of a rum person,Appleton Estate Jamaica rum,goes with most of my baccys.

Posted 1 year ago #
JC

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IMO... Lagavulin and Penzance were made for each other.

"United States"

As an example to others, and not that I care for moderation myself, it has always been my rule never to smoke when asleep, and never to refrain from smoking when awake.

Posted 1 year ago #
papipeguy

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Macallan for me any day but I have to admit that Laphroaig with Latakia blends sounds perfect; like having steak with steak. Yum, I'm off to the liquor cabinet.

Posted 1 year ago #
alistairjames

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Ardbeg +1

Posted 7 months ago #
alistairjames

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Actually, make that +2 given the two other Ardbeg fans.

@bytor I hear the 17 is amazing but, as with all Ardbegs, its so expensive now! A guy I know got a bottle from the supermarket a few years ago for about £30 and now it goes for about £200 a bottle! Eek...

Posted 7 months ago #
scotrob

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as a Scotsman, I usually drink Laphroaig or Talisker (both very smoky, peaty malts) but Lagavulin is a firm favourite...as with wine, I think pipe tobacco would drown out any subtle delicate flavours, so go with something smoky and robust, and not too sweet

Posted 7 months ago #
alistairjames

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I usually drink Laphroaig or Talisker

Which expression of Talisker do you drink? I bought a bottle of the 10 a couple of weeks ago and wasn't impressed with it (I found it a bit overly sweet and unbalanced).

Posted 7 months ago #
ohin3

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Funny, I forgot about this post and haven't been on much in general but I did just pick up a bottle of A'Bunadh. A superb whisky indeed. I have a bottle of Ardbeg 10 year, a Bottle of Bruichladdich 10 year, a bottle of Bowmore 12 year and a bottle of Laphroaig 10 year presently on the go and I felt the need for the creamy stewed fruit, custard, caramel, orange goodness wrapped in a hot hot hot dose of alcohol that is A'Bunadh.

Posted 7 months ago #
chops

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A'Bunadh has changed the way I view scotch. I was never a big fan of the heavy smokey/peaty flavors that I came across and then one day I tried Aberlour. I love the caramel and other complexities in it. Like many have said- to each His own. I have only paired scotch with cigars so I'd be curious to discover which tobacco goes with A'Bunadh.

Posted 7 months ago #
alistairjames

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A'bunadh is one of my go-to whiskys. Its so cheap for a cask strength (probably because Aberlour pay some of the duty on it, bless them), but its probably important to point out that the flavour profile can change so much from batch to batch.

Glenfarclas 15 might make a good alternative if you're after something sherried with a smokey note, although I did find the last bottle I had somewhat disappointing.

Posted 7 months ago #
antipodesman

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For the very best whisky reviews check out Ralfy on youtube. He has over 200 reviews or vlogs to date and he has a charismatic persona.

Posted 7 months ago #
bigvan

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Drinking ANY of these fine scotches while smoking something called "Christmas Cookie" is just WRONG. Why not just pour some Splenda into it?!

Posted 7 months ago #
ohin3

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@antipodesman: Ralfy is one of the most entertaining and well presented whisky reviewers out there. And he is quite charismatic...I can sit and watch Ralfy reviews for hours and never get sick of it.

Posted 7 months ago #
pentangle

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There are of course many great whisky from Scotland and Lagavulin is in the top category.But for a tobacco blend i prefer Laphroaig less expensive and much more filled with smoke.33%oriental,33%virginia boxed with a large aumount of Laphroaig for 2 months then i open the box and i add 33% latakia .Here is one of my fav mixture
Maurizio

turn on,tune in,drop out

Posted 7 months ago #
docwatson

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[quote] For the very best whisky reviews check out Ralfy on youtube. He has over 200 reviews or vlogs to date and he has a charismatic persona.

Thanks for that info, I'm looking forward to seeing how Ralfy does his evaluations. Scotch like tobacco is such a personal choice. As much as I enjoy Lagavulin, my preference is for A'Bunadh. Also like alistarjames stated, it does vary from batch to batch which makes it a very interesting drink. Springbank and Bowmore Darkest are other favorites that I enjoy.

It's good sportsmanship to not pick up lost golf balls while they are still rolling---Mark Twain

Posted 7 months ago #

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Aberlour A'Bunadh or Lagavulin Scotch 16 Year

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