Episode 18: Lagavulin 10 Year "Travel Exclusive"

The Pot Still Column: Episode 18

Lagavulin 10 Year "Travel Exclusive" Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Proof: 86

Age: 10 Years

Finish: Peated

Source: Lagavulin Distillery (Islay, Scotland)

Price: €40.00 to €110.00 (Travel Exclusive)

Reviewing Islay scotch is all but a lost cause for me. Why? Because the feeling of complete, bone-deep satisfaction that it gives me makes for a rather difficult bias to overcome. I take one whiff of rich, briny peat and my mind fills with images of beachside campfires framed by rolling hills. How can I not give a perfect score to ultimate comfort?

Despite my biases, I am excited to review Lagavulin 10, a travel exclusive release with an age statement sandwiched between the 9 Year Game of Thrones release and the 11 Year Nick Offerman Edition. Unlike the other two limited releases which are bottled at 92 proof, Lagavulin 10 year bears the standard 43% found in Lagavulin 16. While I would normally frown at such a low ABV, Islay scotch holds up remarkably well to lower proofs, and I have learned not to underestimate low proof Islays. Aesthetically, Lagavulin 10 does not stray far Lagavulin's traditional, curvy-necked bottle design. The labels are identical to those found on the 16 Year, although the 10 Year sports a white color rather than the usual creamy tan. The most prominent feature is the bottle's color, a gorgeously dark, green-tinted caramel that contrasts with the plain green used in most of Lagavulin's bottlings. The overall physical presentation is very classy, and I think I prefer it to its contemporaries.

Held side by side with the 16 Year, the 10 Year is more aggressively briny on the nose, and flaunts a different malt profile. While Lagavulin 16 is impossibly well rounded with rich notes of smoky, chocolatey malt, Lagavulin 10 is brighter and fruitier. The earthiness of its older sibling has not yet developed, and the barley has a distinct peach note that cuts through the smoke. Both are recognizably members of the Lagavulin family, but the two pours are significantly different.

Flavor-wise, the scales even out a little as the peat takes a dominant lead and obscures some of the more delicate notes present in the nose. Still, the peach and assorted fruits remind me of the age difference, sparking a newfound appreciation for the refined profile of Lagavulin 16. The 10 year Islay is definitely peat-forward, but it allows the malt to shine through in uncharacteristically expressive ways for an Islay scotch. Lagavulin has always been more respectful of its malt's personality than more aggressive distilleries such as Ardbeg and Laphroaig, but this is an exceptionally outspoken malt profile.

The finish on any Islay malt is almost always the most pleasant part, and this case is no different. The bonfire smoke that lingers on the palate after each sip is entrancing, making me question whether I most enjoy the taste of the whisky or the space between each sip. There are no faults that I can see in this finish, and it outshines just about any non-malt whiskey by miles.

Closing Impression:

This is a great whiskey. Like most high-end Islay scotch that I try, this checks all the boxes when it comes to taste, smell, and finish. In moments like these, I struggle to rationalize the universal scoring system that I've been using to rate bottles. How can I possibly pit this spirit against bourbons and ryes? Other than their shared use of grain and some flimsy legal regulations, scotch and American whiskey are hardly comparable at all. Is Lagavulin 10 the best Islay scotch I have ever tried? No, and I think I would choose Lagavulin 16 over it nine times out of ten. However, would I prefer Lagavulin 10 to just about any bourbon I review? Absolutely. Personal preference is a bitch.

Other whiskey categories aside, Lagavulin 10 Year holds its own as a tasty whisky and a promising addition to the Lagavulin line. The nose balances fruit and smoke nicely, and the palate allows the flavors to explode. The finish steals the show with an everlasting smokiness that coats the entire palate and reeks of luxury.

Nose: 90

Taste: 94

Finish: 93

Overall: 92/100