Wow, no real activity here since I started a thread myself (about Ardbeg Uigeadail) two years ago? (Well, other than a post from a fellow who wanted to buy "Thorne" Scotch, apparently unaware that that distillery went out of business in 1914, over 100 years earlier.)
Well, how about something on-topic? Tonight, for the first time in my life, I purchased some Lagavulin (specifically, a 750ml bottle of their 8-year-old). Here are my tasting notes I posted to Facebook:
"Wow, what a peaty, smokey, spicey, olivey, briney, tobaccoey, malty, caramely beverage. Rather like Laphroaig, but more masculine and aggressive. If Laphroaig is The Lady Of Islay, then Lagavulin is The Gentleman Of Islay. Gotta be careful with this one, though; it's smooth and alluring and easy to guzzle (even straight and room-temp), but it's 96 proof so if you drink more than a couple of ounces it'll knock you on your ass."
So, who else here likes Lagavulin?
And, any single-malt scotch recommendations? I like sweet and spicey whiskeys (Macallan, Glenmorangie), and peaty Islay whiskeys (Laphroaig, Bowmore, Ardbeg, Lagavulin), But I find the Speyside style (Glen Livet, Glen Fiddich) rather boring. I much prefer "interesting and complex" over "mild and inoffensive".
Two whiskeys I've been meaning to try are Aberlour and Talisker. How do they compare to Lagavulin?