Category: Laphroaig

Style: Smoky, Fruity and Creamy

Nose:
Full of classic Laphroaig goodness, a mix of liquorice, marmalade and bonfire ashes. Followed by lemon citrus, salty peaches, almond flakes and roasted seaweed. Edging more towards the realm of raw Islay as we progress, lean barbeque pork, chilli shreds and smoked shellfish. Coffee and cream, minimal amount of manuka honey and vanilla lightly painted at the bottom.

Palate:
Golden malt trickles through with some beautiful naval oranges. Quite different from what the nose has indicated, you can forget about the smoke for a few seconds. It seems half of the smoke has dissipated and it has taken up the support role instead. Liquroice roots, brine, stewed tropical fruits and beewax wrapping around the core nicely. Tar, iodine and chocolate oak to finish.

Finish:
Salmiaklakrids with a strong smoky tang, citrus-tropical fruits leaving a lasting sweetness. Quite nice.

Thoughts:
A Laphroaig somehow manages to showcase the distillery character progression along the time axis. While part of it remains rather hardcore smoky, the elegant fruits on the palate indicates there is some fantastic composure and maturity from the spirit. Capturing the transition moment of this Laphroaig is rewarded with excellent complexity and dynamics, you get a bit of everything and it is neatly balanced in the same time. Good cask (side note, not sure what does the Jack Daniels cask do, probably it injects some extra creaminess to the spirit), but the bottle timing is even better. Very close to 2 stars.

☆+ [Recommended]

[51.8%| 1996 Distilled| 2020 Bottled| 217 Bottles| Single Cask| Cask Strength| Cask Reference: 1-104| Cask Type: Bourbon Ex Jack Daniels| *+]

[58.1%・21 Years Old・Distilled in 1995 ・ Bottled in 2016 ・SMWS Bottling・Single Cask Release of 156 Bottles]

Nose:

An assertive pipe smoke sweetened by dark honey infusion. Tree gum with perhaps a drop or two of Worcestershire sauce as the oak gradually takes control.

Palate & Finish:

Softer on the palate, smoked bacon and barbecue smoke wrapping around the softness of the stone fruits, with a good old leathery tail.

The stately notes of leather and peat intertwine in the finish.

Thoughts:

Dignified and gentle, characters I wouldn’t have necessarily taken for a 90s cask; I can imagine Mr. Nick Offerman begrudgingly liking this. Rewarding and relaxing, almost scoring two stars for me.

☆ [Recommended]

-Nicholas

Style: Crisp, Rich and Smoky

Nose:
Begins with a dose of caramel, brine and oysters. Strong hints of the sea as advertised, quite gritty, in a good way. Herbal spice coursing through the aroma and brings in lemon citrus and limoncello. Liquorice rods inserted in between, while boiled potatoes steaming in the heat. A fair bit of basil, Sichuan green chilli overtone. Salt and pepper seasoning the semi-dry aroma. Sweet glazed orange peels emerge towards the end.

Palate:
Massive burst of signature “Laphroaiggian” smoky citrus notes. Starts with a grapefruit crust, orange core and working downwards to lemon lollies and a liquorice base. The sweetness is thoroughly tinted with coal fire smoke. Strong herbal spice undercurrent. Then in comes the maritime influence again, sea salt lightly sprinkled on oysters Kilpatrick, which is buffered by a nice layer of lemon Aloe vera and creamy latte. Rich and oily. Another pinch of black pepper and shichimi at the back while the maritime notes linger on. Very nice.

Finish:
Waning lemon aloe vera with a distinct hint of bonfire smoke. Liquorice, coffee and cream to finish.

Thoughts:
Laphroaig 10 CS never disappoints me, this one, just like its predecessors, is as consistent as ever with an expression full of power, texture, smoke and flavour. Solid core distillate. It might sit slightly on the drier side (probably due to the lack of sherry or “sweet” cask), but in return it gives a certain crispness which injects an additional masculinity to the spirit. Very macho, very delightful. Love it.

☆ [Recommended]

[58.6% / Original Bottling / Aged 10 Years / Natural Cask Strength / Non Chill Filtered / 2019 Bottled / Batch 11 / Limited Edition / *+]

-Esmond

Style: Rich, Sweet and Smoky

Nose:
Powerful spice attack, not unexpected given the strength. Followed by distinct, elegant smoked plums and violet roots. Tar, wood smoke an plenty of salinity filling up the air. Plenty of olives, becoming quite meaty as the tone sinks lower – katsu ham, beef jerky and meat stock, which is rounded up nicely with a touch of herbal liquorice. Maraschino cherries rise up at the back, finish with a sprinkle of black pepper.

Palate:
Similar to what the nose suggested. Plum and dark cherries served in a smoke jar. Nice oily texture, abundant liquorice, pencil shavings and black forest cake with malt biscuits crumble embedded in it. Orange-citrus oil trickling down, gingerbread with ginger chunks and milk chocolate. Smoked sandalwood settling down at the back. Rich, powerful and delicious.

Finish:
More smoked sandalwood, plums and milk chocolate. A clean citrus and liquorice finish.

Thoughts:
I wasn’t a big fan of the regular Laphroaig Triple Wood but this cask strength version is a completely different story. Under the magnifying glass (or utilising better casks), it feels the triple maturation process has successfully tinkered the distillate and created a rich and robust expression with many twists and turns. Numerous layers creating a beautiful depth, powerful with elevated finesse, reasonably complex and very well balanced. Boy, I can drink this every night.

☆☆ [Highly Recommended]

[59.5% 2019 Bottled Original Bottling No Age Statement Original Cask Strength Limited Edition **-]

-Esmond

[52.2%・18 Years Old・Distilled in 1997 ・Bottled in 2016・ Berry Bros & Rudd Bottling for La Maison du Whisky・Cask No. 66・ Single Cask Bottling of 240 Bottles]

Nose:

Ooo ah, a robust explosion of savoury spices and confectionary notes, brine and pepper, ground cumin and iodine alongside apple compote atop honeyed granola, a hint of heather flowers giving the pleasurable floral aromas in the background.

Palate & Finish:

Ahhh, such strength in the dram, a solid oomph of peat with a fiery underbelly, oily caramel and sticky honey with orchard fruits, syrupy pineapples and a touch of aloe Vera.

The dram closes out with earthy coffee ground and ample chocolate dust, extending long into a finish of rugged seaweed.

Thoughts:

An excitement to the senses, equal parts fiery, aggressive peat and soothing, rewarding fruits.

Sometimes you just need a dram like this to carry on, glimpses of peace amidst a ferocious war.

☆ ☆ [Highly Recommended]

-Nicholas

[52.8%・20 Years Old・Distilled in 1990・ Bottled in 2010 ・ The Nectar of the Daily Drams and The Whisky Agency Joint Bottling・Limited Release]

Nose:

Robustly briny oyster shells on a rich eggnog base, seasoned with raw spices along with a bit of green malt vibe going on.

Palate & Finish:

Gooey egg tarts that come with a punchy peat, the brute of the spirit is met with some tropical feelings later on.

Gingery, earthy and leathery in the finish.

Thoughts:

A solid Roaig that packs a masculine rough edge, probably a great dram for camping I would imagine.

☆ [Recommended]

-Nicholas