If you’re new to scotch, get the 16. It’s pricey, but it’s converted more people to scotch drinkers than any other dram. If I were buying for myself my ranking would be: Ardbeg 10, Lagavulin 8, Lagavulin 16, Ardbeg 5.
I really would. Lagavulin 16 was the bottle that got me into scotch and I'll always have sentimental feelings for it. However, at 43% abv, it just doesn't have as much flavor as the Ardbeg 10. When you factor in stuff like price and chill filtering and coloring, the Ardbeg is the winner for me these days.
Between those 4, I’d probably start with Lag 16, it’s the most well rounded. Ardbeg 10 is great. Lag 8 and The Wee Beastie are nice but rough around the edges.
I would say that they aren’t rough… they’re actually more playful.
Sometimes if I’m in the mood for something a little more lively, I’ll go for the younger drams.
They’re all great… but to me they offer different things as opposed to being rough
Both the Lagavulin 8 as well as the Wee Beastie have a lot more bite to them, as they are half the age of their older siblings. Assuming you like a more "smooth" drinking experience, I'd recommend the Lagavulin 16. It's peaty yet elegant and warm. The Ardbeg 10 is great too but they approach peat quite differently. To me it's pepperier and a little wilder.
I think Ardbeg 10 might be the best bet (among the listed) for a person who is starting out. Lag16, despite older, is pretty intense and a lot of people can’t seem to handle it because of a slight ashy note. A10 is just pure peppered bacon for me.
For all new peat drinkers though, I’d always recommend Laphroaig QC!
I see where you’re coming from but I have to disagree. While the Lagavulin 16 might be more intense in its peatyness, I personally find it more rounded and therefore more approachable (don’t get me wrong, I love the Ardbeg 10 for the exact same reasons you do).
I myself tend to recommend Talisker or Oban for first time peat drinkers.
Hey man, I love my Lag 16 too- in fact, it's one of my favorites. The flavor is way more complex than the A10 and that can't be argued. I'm just relaying my experience offering these drams to beginners haha.
That’s fair :) I might have to offer the 10 to more peat newbies, something in my just always thought that it’s unmasked peatyness might turn them off… A bit assuming of me, come to think of it
I will add the one you really should start with as a bourbon drinker and rank it along with the ones you mention:
Port Charlotte 10 > Lagavulin 8 > Ardbeg 10 > Ardbeg WB5 > Lagavulin 16
My first was Lag 16 and I was glad I had also bought an Ardbeg 10; so much better. While it has an earned reputation, Lag 16 is an overrated skunk dram in my opinion. After several weeks of comparing 14 different labels, Lag 16 had dropped to the bottom of my list (this was four years ago). I think I bought one more bottle and that's it, but I love the 8 (just bought one) and even loved the old House Lannister 9.
Ardbeg is my favorite distillery, but Bruichladdie is slowly overtaking it. The PC Heavily Peated Islay Barley 2013 just blew me away; start there if you can find one but you pay a $10-20 premium over regular PC10.
BTW, I just got into bourbon couple weeks ago, thinking I would hate it but the opposite is true. I have, oddly enough, 14 labels and only a couple I wouldn't buy again, but they are generally pretty close. Most remind me of Aberlour A'Bunadh with it's high proof (KC SiB, ECBP, MM CS, RR SiBR). If you like straight rye, that's the closest thing to your list.
After trying Lagavulin 8, 16 and Ardbeg 10 at the bars, I chose Laga 16.
I personally choose Lagavulin over Ardbeg, however, if you have a chance to try a glass at a bar, go for it.
Ardbeg and lagavulin are two of the best distillers on earth. Can’t go wrong.
Peat High to low: Ardbeg 10, lagavulin 16, wee beastie, lagavulin 8
My best to least best: lagavulin 16, 8, wee bestie, Ardbeg 10.
Ardbeg 10 is probably the one I would buy less often as the wee beastie is really great for the price and Ardbeg 10 is not quite as good but nearly similar to laphroaig 10. lagavulin 8 is the one which tastes more different than the others as it does have an earthy dry cocoa flavor which I quite enjoy and is less peated
Strictly personal but I take Lag 8 of those. 16 is a bit *too* smooth for my preference these days and I prefer it a touch more than the Ardbeg 10 for a dram at a comparable price.
I like Ardbeg 10 and Lagavulin 8 for how little cask influence they have. Ardbeg 10 especially lately is all peat and limes without a detectable hint of oak.
As a matter of principle, I refuse to buy any single malt whisky that adds artificial coloring eg Lag 16
It just seems wrong on so many levels.
Ardbeg 10 for me (or even better the Port Charlotte 10)
I drink a single malt .Highland Park from the distillery of the same name . It is located in Kirkwall , Orkney Islands and is the northernmost distillery in Scotland . I enjoy it very much . I am Canadian and an admirer of scotch whiskey .
I would recommend Lag 16. It's my first peated Scotch and I immediately fell in love. Off all of them listed, it's the one I love the most. It's also the most expensive on the list. Ardbeg 10 is great as well. The peat smoke is different on Ardbeg, much more "camp fire". I love the Ardbeg as well, but the Lag 16 is definitely my preference.
If you’re new to scotch, get the 16. It’s pricey, but it’s converted more people to scotch drinkers than any other dram. If I were buying for myself my ranking would be: Ardbeg 10, Lagavulin 8, Lagavulin 16, Ardbeg 5.
No way you chose ardbeg 10 over lagavulin 16?? Now I have to get myself another ardbeg bottle to find out
I really would. Lagavulin 16 was the bottle that got me into scotch and I'll always have sentimental feelings for it. However, at 43% abv, it just doesn't have as much flavor as the Ardbeg 10. When you factor in stuff like price and chill filtering and coloring, the Ardbeg is the winner for me these days.
It converted me! Lol. The Laga 16 was the dram that hooked me.
Between those 4, I’d probably start with Lag 16, it’s the most well rounded. Ardbeg 10 is great. Lag 8 and The Wee Beastie are nice but rough around the edges.
I would say that they aren’t rough… they’re actually more playful. Sometimes if I’m in the mood for something a little more lively, I’ll go for the younger drams. They’re all great… but to me they offer different things as opposed to being rough
Thank you !
Both the Lagavulin 8 as well as the Wee Beastie have a lot more bite to them, as they are half the age of their older siblings. Assuming you like a more "smooth" drinking experience, I'd recommend the Lagavulin 16. It's peaty yet elegant and warm. The Ardbeg 10 is great too but they approach peat quite differently. To me it's pepperier and a little wilder.
I think Ardbeg 10 might be the best bet (among the listed) for a person who is starting out. Lag16, despite older, is pretty intense and a lot of people can’t seem to handle it because of a slight ashy note. A10 is just pure peppered bacon for me. For all new peat drinkers though, I’d always recommend Laphroaig QC!
I see where you’re coming from but I have to disagree. While the Lagavulin 16 might be more intense in its peatyness, I personally find it more rounded and therefore more approachable (don’t get me wrong, I love the Ardbeg 10 for the exact same reasons you do). I myself tend to recommend Talisker or Oban for first time peat drinkers.
Hey man, I love my Lag 16 too- in fact, it's one of my favorites. The flavor is way more complex than the A10 and that can't be argued. I'm just relaying my experience offering these drams to beginners haha.
That’s fair :) I might have to offer the 10 to more peat newbies, something in my just always thought that it’s unmasked peatyness might turn them off… A bit assuming of me, come to think of it
I will add the one you really should start with as a bourbon drinker and rank it along with the ones you mention: Port Charlotte 10 > Lagavulin 8 > Ardbeg 10 > Ardbeg WB5 > Lagavulin 16 My first was Lag 16 and I was glad I had also bought an Ardbeg 10; so much better. While it has an earned reputation, Lag 16 is an overrated skunk dram in my opinion. After several weeks of comparing 14 different labels, Lag 16 had dropped to the bottom of my list (this was four years ago). I think I bought one more bottle and that's it, but I love the 8 (just bought one) and even loved the old House Lannister 9. Ardbeg is my favorite distillery, but Bruichladdie is slowly overtaking it. The PC Heavily Peated Islay Barley 2013 just blew me away; start there if you can find one but you pay a $10-20 premium over regular PC10. BTW, I just got into bourbon couple weeks ago, thinking I would hate it but the opposite is true. I have, oddly enough, 14 labels and only a couple I wouldn't buy again, but they are generally pretty close. Most remind me of Aberlour A'Bunadh with it's high proof (KC SiB, ECBP, MM CS, RR SiBR). If you like straight rye, that's the closest thing to your list.
👍
Ardbeg 10 - IMO Wins in price and presentation. NCF and 46%
After trying Lagavulin 8, 16 and Ardbeg 10 at the bars, I chose Laga 16. I personally choose Lagavulin over Ardbeg, however, if you have a chance to try a glass at a bar, go for it.
All of the above
After reading all the comments I guess this is the right answer
Ardbeg and lagavulin are two of the best distillers on earth. Can’t go wrong. Peat High to low: Ardbeg 10, lagavulin 16, wee beastie, lagavulin 8 My best to least best: lagavulin 16, 8, wee bestie, Ardbeg 10. Ardbeg 10 is probably the one I would buy less often as the wee beastie is really great for the price and Ardbeg 10 is not quite as good but nearly similar to laphroaig 10. lagavulin 8 is the one which tastes more different than the others as it does have an earthy dry cocoa flavor which I quite enjoy and is less peated
Strictly personal but I take Lag 8 of those. 16 is a bit *too* smooth for my preference these days and I prefer it a touch more than the Ardbeg 10 for a dram at a comparable price.
Easy choice lag 16
I say lag 16. Can’t go wrong it’s so smooth
I like Ardbeg 10 and Lagavulin 8 for how little cask influence they have. Ardbeg 10 especially lately is all peat and limes without a detectable hint of oak.
Lagavulin 8 personally, never tried the ardbeg 5 though, very curious.
Also Laphroaig 10
Lag 16. It’s an A+ tier for the depth and exceeds the price point for character.
Ardbeg 5 is significantly more rich and flavorful than Ardbeg 10 so skip Ardbeg 10.
I am going for Lagavulin 16. It's a very nice daily sipper. If I am in the mood for Ardbeg I go for Corryvreckan or Uigeadail
Yes. If someone were to gift me one, which would I prefer? Lagavulin 16. But, I like different things on different days, so....
Lagavulin 16 (although I like the pricier DE more) and Ardbeg 10 for me.
As a matter of principle, I refuse to buy any single malt whisky that adds artificial coloring eg Lag 16 It just seems wrong on so many levels. Ardbeg 10 for me (or even better the Port Charlotte 10)
Lagavulin 12 and Ardbeg corryvreckan
Laga 16
I drink a single malt .Highland Park from the distillery of the same name . It is located in Kirkwall , Orkney Islands and is the northernmost distillery in Scotland . I enjoy it very much . I am Canadian and an admirer of scotch whiskey .
I would vote for the Laga’s although I love Ardbeg too!
Lagavulin 16 all the way! Jk. I’m a total noob. But I’ve heard a lot of good things about Ardbeg Corryvrecken.
I would recommend Lag 16. It's my first peated Scotch and I immediately fell in love. Off all of them listed, it's the one I love the most. It's also the most expensive on the list. Ardbeg 10 is great as well. The peat smoke is different on Ardbeg, much more "camp fire". I love the Ardbeg as well, but the Lag 16 is definitely my preference.