Aberlour A'Bunadh or Lagavulin Scotch 16 Year

[shotokun16]

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

 

[fatman]

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!

 

[fredvegas]

Hands down, go with the Lagavulin.

 

[pstlpkr]

I have no idea....

Send me both and I'll let you know in a couple of days....

 

[fatman]

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!

 

[standardgewehr]

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!

 

[shotokun16]

Thanks everyone ill try the lagavulin then.

 

[bytor]

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.

 

[shotokun16]

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

YUM!

 

[lagavulin92]

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.

 

[shotokun16]

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

 

[antipodesman]

Everyone needs a little peat in their life. Lagavulin!

 

[maduroman]

laphroag

 

[lagavulin92]

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

 

[ohin3]

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.

 

[gentlemanjerry]

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

 

[lagavulin92]

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.

 

[ohin3]

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.

 

[unclearthur]

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

 

[bytor]

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!