Lagavulin 16y OB 2006 edition

16 years old – 43%  please note this is the version from the 2006 (bottle code: L6325MC000)

whiskybase - 90/9  wb105508
serge valentin - 89
malt maniacs - 88

Lagavulin 16 yo (43%, OB, 'Port Ellen', Bottled +/- 2006)  A malt we’re all following year after year, tracking down the faintest changes… Let’s see… Nose: hmmm, this one seems rougher, rawer, more ‘uncompromisingly Islay’ than earlier batches. Less rounded, peatier, more maritime… Nice notes of very ripe gooseberries but probably less sherry (or, let’s say ‘sherriness’). Lots of ‘rectitude’. Mouth: okay, it’s slightly sweeter and rounder now but it gets then much dryer (walnuts). Quite some peat, roots, smoked tea, liquorice, hints of toffee. Right, Lagavulin 16 is still a great whisky, no doubt. Probably less ‘sweetish’ than some earlier batches and certainly ahead of the core peaty pack from the south shore I think (A10, L10, L16). 89 points.