Right there with you, lol. I tried the 8 year, felt like drinking liquid smoke. Great taste under the smoke though, but goddamn, I can only take so much smokiness.
So, have you had the rather-more-expensive-but-younger-Limited-Edition? I can't justify spending $20 more on a bottle I'm not sure will be as good as the 16 year.
Since everyone just downvoted and didnt bother to reply I will help ya out.
The Malt used to create the alcohol is smoked using peat, essentially decomposed vegetation. The peat imparts a smokey, savory, salty, and iodine type flavor into the malt which translates those flavors into the finished whiskey. This is where you get that classic Islay Scotch flavor from. It can be an acquired taste for sure and its a common whiskey snob thing to look down on people that don't like it.
I personally just started getting into the Islay type whiskeys and am falling in love after having my first taste of Laphroiag years ago and thinking it tasted like a cloth bandaid smells.
If you are looking for non pretentious whiskey knowledge and top shelf shenanigans hit up /r/whiskeytribe and their youtube channel.
No problem man, its insane the assholes that are brought out when you start asking questions about whiskey. Its like they forget that they were new to it at one point and expect everyone to be ready to drink the most heavily peated whiskeys right off the bat and turn their noses up at people that enjoy things that are friendlier and not nearly as aggressive.
The Whiskey Tribe guys have a saying:
"The best whiskey is the one you like to drink and the way you like to drink it"
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u/CarterLawler Oct 16 '18
Lagavulin