Lagavulin 16 vs Distillers Edition

Today we compare the classic Lagavlin 16 against a distillers edition. The distillers edition is similar to the 16 but packs a huge kick of additional PX sherry. This one was the 2016 200th anniversary still available in some parts of the US.
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[@topshelfwhisky]

Lagavulin is my favorite distillery. These are the whiskies that I first fell in love with. Many great Lagavulin’s coming but this was a nice reminder.

[@jtf2dan]

Lagavulin is amazing for sure...no matter which way you look at it.....the fact it is still so good even with chill filtration and color added just adds to it's impressiveness!

[@topshelfwhisky]

Good way to look at it and I can’t disagree.

[@jeffreykasel3387]

My first Scotch was a Glenfiddich 12 and I didn't like it. Then I had a Glenlivet 12 and I didn't like that one either. But then I had a Lagavulin 16 and this is what started my Scotch whisky journey. Cheers 😁👍🥃

[@topshelfwhisky]

My story is similar but it was Macallan 12.

[@BourbonNeophyte]

I will agree that the Lagavulin 16 is one of the best peaty scotch I have had. I love the smoky sweetness on the nose and the delicious lingering honey, smoke sweetness when you take a sip. I have the Lagavulin 2017 distillers edition that I will be opening soon. I will have to look for the 2016 as I have hope of finding one after knowing it is still on the shelf in some places. Great review. Cheers you magnificent whiskey people.

[@topshelfwhisky]

I was really impressed with the quality of the PX with this 2016 DE. To be completely transparent, I never gave it the credit it deserves.

[@Ben_Demon_Hunter]

Lagavulin 16 was my brother's favourite Scotch for over a decade... up until 2020, when we had the Laphroaig Lore. We haven't had any Distiller's Editions, or 12 (Cask Strengths), yet... but P/X sounds phenomenal- so thank you, Mike & Dustin, for making this comparison video- Slàinte Mhath 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🇺🇲🥃🤠🥃🇨🇦🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@topshelfwhisky]

Laphroaig Lore is a very good whisky. The "next big" Islay for me after Lagavulin 16, was Laphroaig 18.

[@foodquig]

I like both of them a lot... Haven't had either in a while... I'm due!

[@topshelfwhisky]

I’m surprise how much I enjoyed them.

[@McIntyresMalts]

LOVE this DE, the Lagavulin DE is one of Diageo's better versions of Distiller's Edition. A great example of the DE improving upon the core offering (IMO), which isn't always the case.

[@topshelfwhisky]

The distillers edition really is a very good whisky at the price point, At least here in Columbus. For some reason I got away from them when they changed the packaging to the green label from the black. Maybe it was subconscious but for whatever reason this is my first time, revisiting the whisky in a while. I was impressed.

[@whiskeywishingwell6076]

Lagavulin may be my favorite distillery. I just wish I had purchased some of the older stuff before the prices went skyward. Yesterday I looked @ Binnys website, the 16 is still $79.99 a great buy. But the older stuff has been out of my price range for years. I just can't find any under $2,000.00

[@topshelfwhisky]

I got two 25 year olds from there in Chicago for around 1199. That was maybe a year and a half ago.

[@whiskeywishingwell6076]

@@topshelfwhisky I would love to taste them one day.... I am not sure if you remember but I worked for Diageo so that is another reason I should have had the pleasure. Check your email I just emailed you, I think we can work something out.

[@JazznRealHipHop]

Distillers Editions are 15 years if I’m not mistaken usually 🤔 Dessert in a glass, absolutely delicious. And the standard 16 has nothing off-putting about it. VERY well rounded and balanced with a nice smoke. The 12’s tho, oh man those grab my attention and keep it with that higher ABV. They all have a place in my bar, always. Pretty fantastic stuff at a pretty reasonable price. Cheers 🥃

[@topshelfwhisky]

I’m right there with you. Huge fan of the 12 year I have more of that one expression in my collection than any other whisky. 15 years you say? You might be right I thought it was 16 but I can definitely be wrong.

[@RwingDsquad]

I’ve only ever heard negative things about Lagavulin DE so I never bought it. But due to this review, as I value both of your opinions, I’ll certainly buy a DE my next chance.

[@topshelfwhisky]

I’m not happy with 43%, chill filtering, or adding color. But I’m curious to hear other criticisms of the whisky if you have time. Appreciate the confidence with the future purchase.

[@jimmyt7640]

Great review guys. Lagavulin 16 made me passionate to learn more about Scotch and sent me on my journey. Have you guys heard any rumors about the Lag 16 being discontinued, at least temporarily, due to upcoming stock shortages?

[@topshelfwhisky]

I haven’t heard of anything in regards to a shortage on the regular 16 but nothing would surprise me these days.

[@topshelfdustin3060]

I haven't either, but i know the price is sky rocketing in some markets. I have some friends in Australia saying the new MSRP is 200!

[@justinafuchs2619]

@Jimmy T It‘s astonishing, Lagavulin made so many people fell in love with Single Malts or Scotch/Whiskey in general, and I‘m one of them. My first Scotch was Chivas Regal, my first Single Malt a Glenfiddich 12, and then a girlfriend of mine had .. a suitor from England who regularly gave her a bottle of Lagavulin 16 Feis Ile Cask Strength as a present. I don’t think he knew that she gave me every bottle, but the first time I tried it, I was blown away. I never had a peated Whiskey, I never had a whiskey with 56% abv, and I knew nothing about colouring or chill filtering, but I fell instantly in love it. And for a long time, it was the only Single Malt I drank (hey, I got them for free, and I was sure there’s no better whiskey than this one). After a time, I tried other Single Malts, and I fell in love with Springbank, and damn, I hate the hype about it because nowadays you either can’t find it or you can’t afford it. Nowadays I drink more Bourbon than Scotch, but I still love Lagavulin, even though Lagavulin might be the biggest cock teaser in the whiskey game: Coloured, chill filtered, and the prices are sky rocketing at the moment, but you still love it. It’s like your first love. Okay, sorry for my rambling, but the video brought back old memories. Like every bottle of Lagavulin tends to do with me ..

[@Dan-hn1lx]

I've nearly finished the 16 and its been a great drop but the 8 was a waste of money it pales in comparison to the 16 and Distillers Edition. The fetching price for the 16 in Australia is around 150-180 so its steep but worth it. Good review always honest malt mates.

[@topshelfwhisky]

I never worn it up to the eight-year-old either. And I love this distillery. Your price sounds steep (it is) but it’s about what it compares to. If Ardbeg 10 is $60 like it is here I would so go with that but I imagine that probably north of 100

[@Dan-hn1lx]

@@topshelfwhisky Yeah Arbeg 10 is around 80-100 and say Corryveckyan is like 180ish we get destroyed on liquor tax in Oz it sucks..

[@TheAldawg77]

Used to really like the 16 back in the day, but the last couple of bottles just didn't really hit the mark for me. So I'd have to say they have kind of gone down for me. I am a big fan of the 12 cs tho.

[@topshelfwhisky]

This is my first time going back to in a while. But I agree with a 12, that’s always a staple on my bar and something I enjoy.

[@alfocrown]

hi Mike, ever had lagavulin distillery only 2010 bottling? this one was pretty much lagavulin DE cask strength, because these were casks supposed to go to vatting of lagavulin DE, but it was too outstanding to put into massive vatting, so distillery team decided to bottle it separately

[@topshelfwhisky]

I have not but that sounds amazing. The 2017 distilleries team and I was impressed… I will be in the lookout for that 2010

[@welshtoro3256]

I completely agree with what Mike says about the Lag 16 - "It's such an enjoyable flavour" - damn right! I drifted away from Lagavulin 16 a few years ago, like many of us did, due to the low abv. I dabbled with the 8 but wasn't convinced about that one. The main beast was Lagavulin 12 which we all thought was the boss. The thing is, I've become increasingly divorced from the 12 as the price has drifted in Diageo's shameless rip-off territory. So, about a year ago I bought my first Lagavulin 16 for years and it was an amazingly pleasant reunion. I'd forgotten what a really well made whisky it is. Tons of smoke but so well integrated with the sixteen years and some very nice sherry. Very good sherry in fact. Some distilleries have a single expression which is a benchmark for that distillery's character; Talisker 10; Kilkerran 12; Ardbeg 10, etc. They may, or may not, be our favourites but they are the expression by which we judge the other expressions and their value. I think Lagavulin 16 is that expression. I find it delicious and exceptionally drinkable. I'm reconverted. We all want Lagavulin 16 to have higher abv, of course, but there are reasons why Diageo don't do that and, for once I would, grudgingly, understand. Lagavulin 16 is part of Diageo's Malts of Scotland range and sits in bars and restaurants all over the world. Unlike us, most of the customers in those establishments will find 43% to be high strength and it's peaty too so quite a challenge. If they raised it to 46-48% the price would have to increase quite considerably for a sixteen year old Islay malt with sherry from a legendary distillery. That would put it out of the price range of millions of casual buyers. It wouldn't make any business sense unless they made two versions of it but I don't think the distillery could cope. We ought to remember, as well, that the real reason for the production of Lagavulin is to provide filler for the blends. I have to confess that I've never had the Distillers Edition or any Diageo Distiller's Edition where you charge more and chuck PX in it. It's a bit crude really. You will be interested to know, I have friend that is sitting on a 1980. He might well let it go if you're interested. Naturally, I want him to open it and share it with me as I've shared so much of my stash with him. Great episode chaps. WT

[@FEWGEE1]

Last year's Lagavulin DE is a NAS... No distillation date on the bottle.

[@kevinma924]

Lagavulin 16 seems impossible to get around my area these days

[@topshelfwhisky]

Wow, what area?

[@kevinma924]

@@topshelfwhisky Edmonton, Alberta

[@matthewjryan4574]

#dothelaga the best staples right there my friend

[@topshelfwhisky]

Send me a sample of the 37 😉!!

[@adolfho-sy2163]

I'd definitely keep the sherry out of my Lagavulin & Laphroaig.

[@adolfho-sy2163]

Thanks for the review; surely helped me to decide not to buy the Lag DE

[@topshelfwhisky]

Knowing what not to do, is half the battle.

[@teddyballgame25]

Lag or Talisker Dist Ed?

[@topshelfdustin3060]

Lag I think....but the talisker is pretty awesome.

[@topshelfwhisky]

Lagavulin- but consider the source

[@alanborges1974]

I made an expensive mistake I bought the distillers editions at a much higher price than the 16 But honestly I much prefer the 16 over the distillers edition The PX casks remove all the edginess of the Lagavulin 16

[@topshelfwhisky]

I’m Columbus (where I live) the DE is normally around $20 or about 25% higher. I don’t disagree, It loses something with the overcoat of Sherry but for people who like Sherry, it’s a welcome sacrifice.

[@revolvermaster4939]

I never thought Lagavulin 16 had any edginess, it’s the most mellow Islay whisky I’ve ever had.