Lagavulin

Apr 14, 2004 4 Replies
G

Serge said a while ago: "I can't advise you strongly enough to track down any bottle of the former Lagavulin 16yo 'White Horse', as opposed to the newer 'Port Ellen' version."



Well, I'm sure your advise is good, Serge, but this hunt isn't easy. I visited Copenhagen resently, and found only the "Port Ellen" version. Because of the shortage, I would guess those bottles are long gone by now?



Anyway, I bought a "Port Ellen", and, not having tried the older versions/batches, I found it very good! Actually, it may become one of my favourites. If the "White Horse" is significantly better, it must be fantastic!



I also bought a Lagavulin 12 "Special Release" 2002 Cask Strength. Lighter and fresher than the 16 yo, really good, but unfortunately also pricy.



And I bought my absolute favourite (so far) again, the Laphroaig CS, which is even better IMO, and not pricy at all..



Finally, I picked up a Laphroaig 15 yo Vintage 1988, Signatory's Un-Chillfiltered Collection. Recently bottled: january 2004. Does anyone know somthing about it? Think I will save this one for my 44th birthday soon.



Gunnar


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L

How can I determin which bottles I have? How can I see the difference between the port Ellen version and the White Horse version?

Gerard, One of the Odd Fellows at

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G

Well, I've never seen the older, so called White Horse version, so I can only quote Serge on this. What he wrote was: " The easiest way of identifying both versions is the small 'golden seal' on the box: a royal seal on the older version, a ship on the new one." And on my one there is a ship or a sailboat at the top of the oval shaped label both on the bottle and on the box.

Gunnar

"Le Pecheur" skrev i melding news:407d98c4$0$64615$ snipped-for-privacy@news.euronet.nl...

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S

Salut Le Pecheur, Hi Gunnar,

Gunnar is right:

Old = golden royal seal at the top of the oval label, and says 'White Horse Distillers, Glasgow' at the bottom of the square label New = golden sailship instead of royal seal, and says 'Lagavulin Distillery, Port Ellen, Islay' instead of White Horse.

That's why we're used to call them 'White Horse' or 'Port Ellen'.

Now, as for how to put your hands on a 'White Horse' version, I guess my motto 'small place, big whiskies' works best. Check the small shops, in the small towns, especially wine shops which have just a few bottles of malt on display, or the 'épiceries fines'.

But it's true that they're getting scarcer...

Santé

Serge

dans l'article 407d98c4$0$64615$ snipped-for-privacy@news.euronet.nl, Le Pecheur à snipped-for-privacy@france.fr a écrit le 14/04/04 22:02 :

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S

Hi again,

I just uploaded some pics of the older version. Check:

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Santé

Serge

dans l'article 407d98c4$0$64615$ snipped-for-privacy@news.euronet.nl, Le Pecheur à snipped-for-privacy@france.fr a écrit le 14/04/04 22:02 :

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