Wow, seeing Ralfy huffing on detergent was something I didn't expect to see! :)

I have had two Laphroaig bottles with loose fitting bottles. I have replaced them with spare ones. Always a good idea to keep old whisky corks

A minute and 25 seconds later and I have learned more about Weske than ever thought I would, subscribing!

This guy's whole vibe makes me think I'd be comfortable drinking scotch with him in that room all night and have a grand ol' time. I might be saying this because I'm currently under self-isolation recommendations (COVID-19 pandemic) and sipping some Lagavulin 8 while watching this video. It was between this and the 16 when I was shopping. This one was 80 Canadian dollars. The 16 was 144. So, ya know.

Ralfy. Not only are you a connoisseur, a fan of great whiskeys, but you are absolutely an expert. And this is coming from a Magnanimous Malt Mate from the states.

Smoke and more smoke and a little extra smoke.... that's damn Smokey!

If you also enjoy a beer, Ralfy is right in suggesting pairing this with an IPA; I'm enjoying a dram of Lag 8 with a Bell's "Two Hearted Ale" as I type this. I also wanted to suggest a pairing of my own: Dark chocolate. I had a little square of a Lindt Chili Dark Chocolate bar with this whisky a few weeks ago, and it was HEAVEN.

This is one of your best reviews ever…..The detail you give on the taste and smell…..Amazing !

Really loves the fact that the stated the age of the whisky, however young it is. Real class.

I am sipping along with this video. Malt mark of 89 is a bit low for this elegant dram, for sure. I love Lagavulin 16 for years, it has been my #1 staple. But this 8 year old wins my heart over. For the price, it should be ralfy's Whisky of the Year :)

I enjoy so much how he speaks and describes what he taste and smell.

Not sure if it is the Scottish blood in me, but I've found your tasting notes to be EERILY spot on now with multiple reviews to my own. Even in the way the water opens up the flavors you describe corresponds with what I perceive. I so value your sharing of perceptions, opinions, knowledge, and imparting of quirky unique knowledge. Oh and I've always been known to be one that SMELLS EVERYTHING too.... Proud of that in an odd way.... SLAINTE! P.S. Glad they made this one part of their core range!!!!!

It doesn't matter, ignore them. You're living, more. They're existing, more". You're such a wise, fantastic character! I'm so glad i encountered your channel!

I bought a bottle of this yesterday, and it's delicious, and from what I can tell it non chill filtered aswell. I still enjoy the Ardbeg 10, but this is different, and I'd never chose the Laphroaig 10 over either of the previously mentioned.

This just came in my town. Its better than the 16. Natural color and the strength is perfect. Half the price of the 16 as well. The dramm im drinking right now went cloudy almost immediately. This is a great whiskey. Your malt mark is pretty spot on.

I started this video then was called away. When I came back, you were "nosing" the Jeye's Fluid. I thought, "Well, good ol' Ralfy's finally flipped the skillet". Glad to see it was only for comparison! Great review, as always.

I know I'm watching This much after the fact but....This is what i love about you ralfy.... the sentimentality and importance you put on nostalgia.... that scotch is an experience that remembers old memories while making new ones. As a person who gets an irresistible desire for a musty dim library on a rainy day i wholeheartedly agree....look beyond the end of the nose and really see/smell/ experience your surroundings. I'm new to whisky but can already see the connection and relationship. Keep it up! Enjoying every vlog. 😀

Many people seem to rate this low only cause its 8yo and over 50£. I wonder if these people even bought it? Or just giving it the lowest possible rating cause its a very expensive 8yo... I saw this @ 60eur and the age statement did scare me a bit, but then I remember ralfys review about this and decided to buy it. Not disappointed! Not really your typical 8yo whisky. Probably aged in smaller barrels since its a limited edition.

just found out your brother is Clive, thats so cool! lol i also hope i can pick this up in the states! (after i watched the rest of the video) i hope they dont get rid of the 16yo i do enjoy it very much

Your concise description of each sip sold me. I was hating on this as I felt it was way too smoky, you showed me the way of truth in finding more notes.

Who is the bloody Englishman that gave a thumbs down? Send him to the gallows!

Love the review and chat, Ralfy! In Canada, 16 goes for about 130 CDN. Looking at other new 15-16 year olds from major distilleries, 16 seems 20 dollars less expensive ( except for some Glens) so I also expect some price changes. It will be interesting to see what happens when demand wanes and distilleries have surplus stocks. Cheers, Mark

Thanks for the cork tip , Ralfy! Hindsight's a wonderful thing ;) I shall be making a wee 'old cork collection' from now on!

Just got a wee free sample of this from MoM . . . lovely stuff :) Comparing it side by side with the 16. This is much peatier and smokier and less sweet, but the finish is short by comparison - which is to be expected, I suppose? Think I prefer the 8.

Over here in Holland it costs around the price for the 16, equally. About 50 euros.

Just picked up a bottle of this. I'm loving it so far. Not as phenolic as I was expecting, but also far more balanced than I expected. I love how the spices open up with water. And you're absolutely right! This would go excellently with a strong and bold IPA. Maybe something like Southern Star's Honesty of Reason.

Regarding your question whether this 8 year old will replace the 16. in my opinion the answer is no. This is a completely different beast. The 16 is a combination of sherry and bourbon casks. It's highly crafted to give a smooth approachable albeit heavily peated Islay whisky. The 8 is young, frisky, all about new spirit, quality active ex-bourbpn casks to give a specialist raw and exciting experience. It is certainly not for the average consumer. So no, it certainly is not a mainstream product.

I've been drinking whisky seriously now for about 10 weeks. I started with a Glenfiddich 18... But I have to say my current favourite is the Lagavulin 16 with the 8 a close second.

Lagavulin and Ardbeg, you can't wrong with either. 2 distilleries that have really held on to their integrity over the years. Just a lovely dram.

Ralphy, I enjoy every review you make. You are a phenomenon!

Smoke on smoke on smoke, love it. I am late to the game here and had their 16 year at a friends house last month and am in love. Have not had the 8 year yet but hope it’s good because it’s more in my price range and goes on sale at a discount here from time to time here. Great video, thanks!

Like it more than the 16 (which is lovely). Young but wonderfully balanced.

Just bought two bottles. $64US here and worth every penny! I've so far enjoyed it more than the 16. It's got more rude peat oompf. And it's a better value @ 48%abv than the $95 Laga 16.

I usually add quite a bit of water to my whiskies, but I find that this one doesn’t take a lot of water, even at 48%. It is a new bottle though and not the ‘limited’ edition of a few years ago.

lagavulin 8 is now available in BC, Canada at the BCLS, $95 CAD before taxes

I'd love to see & hear you compare this laga 8yo side by side with laphroiag QC. Now that would be something. And by the way: at least here in scandinavia the back label says "mit zuckerkolor". Even so that color is much lighter than e.g. 16yo, they still have used E150, damn them! When will they learn...

I absolutely love the vivid description of the whiskey. Makes me feel like it's in my mouth

Thanks for the review Ralfy. Sad to say these days I am a scaredy cat, though I do posess a lovely now sold out! 660 ml bottle of, Magic Rock, Unhuman Cannonball triple IPA 11%, that would certainly work a treat with the Lagavulin.

I REMEMBER HUFFING (SKLININ) IN HIGH SCHOOL!!! GO RALFY GO!!

44 bucks over here in Massachusetts and better than most 80 dollar bottles of glimmer. Good stuff.

Its got caramel colouring (e150a) based on disclosure on labels of bottles in Germany. Also has chill filtration. Still good whisky. I don't get hung up on colour like Ralfy.

+ralfystuff It's interesting. I've been watching your vids for a few years now, and enjoying quite a few drams along with you. Your interrogative-palate has been pretty useful to me. However, it's only since I've started brewing and distilling my own beers and vodka/white spirit that I've really "zeroed in" on many of your tasting notes. I don't always agree (of course), but I really appreciate your fairly balanced approach to leavening the subjective vs technical judgments. Of *course*, our palates are different (and will be experienced differently) , but a "phenolic" or "fusil" taste should usually be experienced by those individual palates in the same way, each time, when referenced to themselves (barring illness or injury, of course). Thank you for leading me to understanding the differences and appreciating the similarities. I salute you, my good sir.

End of 2017 and L8 and L16 were both on the shelf at Binnys. I grabbed the 8 :-) for $55. L16 was $80. Some day I'll find it at Costco :-P

Wow Ralfy! What a coincidence! I always wash myself with only a carbolic soap!. In Russia it's called "coal-tar soup" and made of birch tar oil. It costs just a few pennies as yet (thank goodness for that))))

This is about to be released at the local bottle shop here.......can't wait.

Fascinating as always Ralfy! Best of luck to you. Tailwinds and dry salt at Bonneville!

i am new and if i try a whisky i dont like i grab my Lagavulin 16 to wash it away lol.

I just tasted new Lagavulin 8 ( not 200th Anniversary one). It is very young not much peat as Ardbeg 10. Very sweet, but smoke is subtle. I wonder if mine is very different than 200th Anniversary one.

Love this malt. For me, the most prominent note on the nose is boggy marshland!

wow now that you mention it you do look much thinner! good job! more years to enjoy some good spirits! hoora! P.S one recommendation/request i have for you +ralfystuff is a review of the incredible rum (yes rum) called Abuelo Centuria. Im getting a bottle from Panama myself very shortly and am very excited! it is( im sure you know) a solera 30yo rum with exquisite flavors and incredible history. Not only am i sure you would thoroughly enjoy it, but also im sure it would make for a fantastic video which i would love to see! Regardless keep up the good work! awesome stuff and very enjoyable to learn from you :)

Ralfy! I live next to a Key For grocery store. Aisle 2 smells like Laphroig dogs 15 years ago. Cleaning products as u can imagine. But it's somehow mostly mothballs, though I have yet to see any, bleach and peroxide. Sometimes I stroll through on an off day of drinking to get my smell on. Sometimes I take friends there before or after drinking peaty or fusile stuf, as a comparison. Love it!

What's the malt mark for Jeyes fluid then? Is it available in duty free in the 1L bottle?

congratulations ralfy

I Love LAPHROIAGH -40 percent and LAGAVULIN-43 percent SAN DIEGO to AUSTRALIA and to SINGAPORE Airport....

Good stuff but...I tasted this side by side with a Smokehead 40%. To me the nose is almost identical and taste as well.....I think Smokehead might be young Lagavulin. But distillery bottling 8% stronger, 100% more expensive

Oddly this one reminds me a bit of the ardbeg ten. At least the first bottle I had. The ten ive got now feels a little less everything. Anyway the 8 great. I prefer it to he 16, for it's freshness.

OLD SCHOOL DESKS.. My favourite smell in mature drinks.. 30 year old port and bannahaben have it... Bubblegum and pencil shavings and rotting apples and old wood

Tesco are clearing their stock of this at my local. Just picked up a bottle for £27.00

Ahahaha... Mr Ralphy, you are the master! THANK YOU sooo much for undertaking such responsibility! I would help you, if I could...maybe one day I will... I guess I need to drink a million drams just to be half as good as you!

Bottle from EU market says E150 added, but doesn't look like it. And Scotch mist visible but needs some time. Looks like non chill filtered after all.....nice

Childhood memories of Jeyes Fluid in the outhouse netty!

Hi Ralfy: I bought a bottle of Lagavulin 8 recently. My wife, who typically can't even stand the smell of most whiskey, absolutely loved this whiskey! Go figure. I found allot of white wine and Chardonnay notes and influence in this fabulous whiskey as well.I had a question, however, do you feel this whiskey, being a limited edition and commemorative dram, would make a good investment piece? I am thinking of buying a second bottle to put away for myself. Thank you for your time, advice and great videos.

Thank you Ralfy.

Hey ralfy great review as always!. I was wondering if you had to pick between lagavulin 8 and ardbeg 10 which one would it be?

The tightest Islay. Even off Bourbon cask. How it's this smooth at 48% no idea.

The cork in my tobermory cracked on Sat. I tried using one from a Macallan bottle. wrong size. So Tobermory is now in a hip flask

Best peated dram ever tasted.

Hey Ralfy! Do you think that this Lagavulin 8 is a decent investment whisky? If it's not good as an investment, do you think it's worth keeping just to drink 20 years down the road? Thank you!

I just picked up a bottle today and I must say Ralfy this is quite good stuff! That progressively sweeter flavour combined with the long lasting, lingering on the palate makes this single malt an exceptional pairing with a cigar...a lighter cigar mind you...but an exceptional pairing indeed! Cheers. Edit: what's the score for jeyes fluid???

I thought you wouldn't buy Distillers Editions as they have no age statement....?

The problem I have with the 8 is that it’s priced similarly to the 16 in my area.

Would you say this bottle is worth $45 American? Do you foresee this anniversary edition to become worth something someday collectable wise?

Clive brought me here. your content is keeping me here Subscribed

Ralfy, are you going to review the Ardmore 12 Port finish released at the end of last year? It's my latest purchase and I'd love to hear your opinion about it! :)

My next bottle, thanks again Ralfy! Can’t get enough. You are my go to guy for scotch, your opinions have helped my love of scotch substantially. Love me some Laphroaig and Ardbeg, and I can’t wait to try my next Islay whisky!! That smokey peat is an acquired taste, and I can’t get enough, especially when it’s non chill filtered. Keep it up malt mate! 🥃

I picked up a few bottles of this whisky on offer and I noticed the label says it has caramel added even though it is almost colourless.

A nice, fat IPA, or a proper German Riesling, or a classic Aussie Sav Blanc. Yum!

This is the first scotch I’ve ever had and I thought it was pretty good

Hi Ralfy, I love your show. Could you tell me, if you had to pick only one, would you pick Lagavulin 8, 16 or DE? Thank you.

Love this whiskey

I was wondering about that bottle with the big 3 on it since it was recently featured on bigclive's channel, a fellow islander if I'm not mistaken. edit: And I just found out he's your brother, haha.

I really expected at first that Jeyes Fluid was gonna end up in the dram :D

realy looking forward to tasting this one! have been looking for it for over 2 weeks now but sadly enough I can't get it anywhere.

I'm here from your brother's youtube account shoutouts from him!

Ralfy, what is your highest rated scotch under $70?

So _that's_ why ralfy is so eccentric: he's been huffing this whole time!

Great review! Thanks Ralfy

Ralfy, have you considered doing a group review of some cheap whisky? Whiskies that don't quite cut your 80-mark limit. The reviews merely for the sake of informing us.

Ralfy, so do you still rate the Laga 8 higher than the Laga 16 today ?

Ralfy , this have caramel e150...see in the box in German...😉😉😉

Hey Ralfy, when you come back to the USA, will you enjoy our bourbons? I would recommend Garrison Brother's, it is a independent distiller out of Texas.

Three years later and we still have the 16.

Oh my... this is good stuff gentlemen! Subscribed.

20000 bottles have been made,thats how limited!😉👍🏻

It says on the box of this 8 YO that it conatains E150a but the whisky is the same colour as the natural coloured Lagavulin 12 which is also matured in 100% Ex-Bourbon casks. I suspect despite what it says, it is a mistake! This is clearly natural colour! Besides, E150a doesn't produce a pale yellow even if a tiny amount is put in. It makes the whisky turn orange!!! Also the box quality is terrible. I got home after purchasing this and the bottle had almost fallen through the bottom flap. I had to apply some tape to the bottom. The cardboard package is cheap cheap cheap where as the Lagavulin 12 has reinforced sides. Diageo - badly done - badly done!

okay, Jeyes fluid in my country (south africa) is revolting in 'aroma'. i love laga, but cannot reconcile and find congruence between the two.

wat's the UK price on the L8 Ralfy

If You have more of those "Ralfy 3" whiskies, and if I can have a signed one, then I would love to buy one....!!!

That prediction about the Laga16 being discontinued was incredibly wrong, haha

My first (and last...lol) peated whisky is Lagavulin 16. Definitely acquired taste. Not for me.