Lagavulin Distiller's Selection - crap?

[epa]

I am not a much of a whisky drinker (like most people here in Spain, when drinking blended whisky I always mix it with coke or ginger ale - then at least it's refreshing), but sometimes I enjoy a single malt. My favourite for the last ten years has been the Lagavulin 16 years old (actually, most of my friends also like it, so a bottle doesn't last very long). Now, recently I saw a bottle of Lagavulin Distiller's Selection (a black label), which I had hoped would be even nicer, but which actually had a horrible taste, IMO. Its just too much of this smoke (?) taste. I actually thought that it might be some **** whisky that they brought out just to try to make some further benefit out of the brand name (in the absence of sufficient amounts of the good 16 year stuff).
Anybody else has had this (or the opposite) experience?

 

[minimal]

Well, since Lagavulin is known as one of the 2 or 3 most peaty of the widely-available brands, I'd expect any specials from them to only amplify the tradition. Which Lagavulin are you used to? I think there are 3 others besides the special edition, a 12, a 16, and one more. The 12 is pretty accessible, the 16 (which I'm used to) is very peaty. I've never had either the Distiller's edition or any other from them, but I'd expect it to be really, really peaty. Like drinking a cigar.

 

[Nantucket Red]

Perhaps Kent Wang could use it for his cologne.

 

[epa]

I am used to Lagavulin 16 years old, that is the only one commonly sold around here. Suddenly, it started to get much more expensive and even quite difficult to find. Many stores, including airport tax-free shops, just appeared not to have it any more.
The most remarkable thing about "Lagavulin 16 years old" is, IMO, that it is so smooth that even people who normally do not like malt whisky enjoy it.
Now, the Distiller's Selection is something completely different. Yes, I guess that you could say that it is extremely peaty.
I do not really know how to get rid of it, because I frankly cannot stand it. Now, I do not like the idea of throwing it away and I do not drink whisky with coke at home, that is something I only do in bars. At home, I only drink distilled stuff after dinner, and then I want some good grappa, aguardiente de orujo, brandy or whisky, not horrible stuff mixed with coke.

 

[Kent Wang]

Originally Posted by Nantucket Red

Perhaps Kent Wang could use it for his cologne.
You know, by volume, I bet 20 year single malts are still cheaper than most designer fragrances. Epa, you could mix it into the Rusty Nail, Rob Roy or Godfather. See CocktailDB.com.

 

[Tyto]

As soon as possible: I'll PM my address and PayPal you for shipping.

I absolutely love it (I assume you're talking about the Lagavulin finished in the Pedro Ximenez sherry casks), and it's impossible to find in the states--I've been looking for around a year and a half.

 

[sygyzy]

I read nothing but good things about the Lagavulin 16. In fact, it is on the top 10, sometimes in the #1 spot of many Scotch lovers' lists. I wish I read more before I bought a bottle. It smells and tastes horrendous. I am told that in time all Scotch drinkers grow to like it, sort of how people start with white wines and graduate to red. I hope that's the case here. Till I become that person, I'll stick to my Mac 12 and let the Lagavulin sit in my shelf on standby.

 

[epa]

Originally Posted by sygyzy

I am told that in time all Scotch drinkers grow to like it, sort of how people start with white wines and graduate to red.
Who told you that BS? There is nothing wrong with white wines. White wines have their place, just like red wines. It depends on the occasion. Of course, there are bad white wines, but there are also bad red ones...

 

[itsstillmatt]

Originally Posted by epa

Who told you that BS? There is nothing wrong with white wines. White wines have their place, just like red wines. It depends on the occasion. Of course, there are bad white wines, but there are also bad red ones...
I believe it is some sort of Americanism that red wines are superior to white.

 

[epa]

Not just American...
Here in Spain, a lot of people say that "the best white wine is a bad red wine". Sometimes you even hear that white wines are for queers and that men drink red wine.
However, normally I hear these things from people who I would just not bother to discuss wines (or even to drink wine) with...
It's like saying that meat is superior to fish... I mean, it depends on your taste, and on the meat, and on the fish, and on the occasion. Even on the weather...