Laphroaig The Cask Lore

aroma: delicate, smoke, nutmeg, nuts taste: harsher, iodine, tobacco, butter biscuit I can already feel the influence of the barrel here, it's not just pure iodine and the hospital

A Laphroaig like it used to be. Not like it used to be, but at least it easily outshines the current 10 CS batch in terms of smoke intensity. According to official information, the barrels used have been aged for 7 to 21 years. The proportion of old barrels will not be very high considering the price, but in a small parallel comparison with a 10 CS Batch #017 it doesn't do too badly, so I estimate the average age of the barrels used to be 9-10 years.

An interesting whisky with notes of dark chocolate, peat and minerals.

Nose: typical Laphroaig smoky, ash, seaweed Aroma: oily, sweet and dry Finish: Complexity of the different barrels Unfortunately, I don't know the better rated 2018 vintage.

Light golden color. Slightly oily.

What a disappointment. I usually like Laphroaig and Islay malts in general, but this is just isn't it.

Tasting notes from a sample: Powerful, but not very harmonious with typical Islay smoke and mineral notes; the sherry influence is barely noticeable. Significantly better on the nose than on the palate.

Aroma: Powerful medicinal peat smoke, seaweed brine, and a hint of sweet vanilla. Palate: Rich and oily with intense smoke, followed by surprising notes of ripe banana, creamy toffee, and a touch of spice. Finish: Incredibly long, warming, and smoky, with lingering coastal salt and a subtle sweetness.

Smoky, oily and medicinal. The combination of flavours doesn’t work for me; I find the overall taste rather unpleasant.

I expected it to be more complex....it's not bad, but for example Kilchoman Sauternes won in head to head comparison

Blind tasting ... It's Laphroaig! Love this distillery.

A modern bottling following a recent rebranding, this release is a blend of malt spirits aged from 7 to 21 years. Its character is achieved through a combination of ex-bourbon, European oak, and Oloroso sherry casks, as well as maturation in signature quarter casks. The whisky is reduced to 48% abv, non-chill-filtered, and likely tinted with caramel. Nose: A delicate, noble, yet rich, vanilla-floral fragrance with a subtle smokiness. Vanilla, pollen, menthol, tar, medicinal notes, wet wool, lemon zest, iodine, salt, ginger, white pepper, ash, furniture varnish, delicate oak. Palate: Delicate yet dense, rich, vanilla-creamy, smoky. Vanilla, pollen, menthol, grilled meat, medicinal note, rubber bands, iodine, ginger, white pepper, spicy oak. Finish: The aftertaste is bright, ash-peppery, creamy, phenolic with medicine, tar, zest and spices. Balance: A pleasant, noble, mature whisky with a predominantly bourbon profile and the distillery's ancestral characteristics. Despite the lack of an age statement, it's clear that mature spirits were used in the blend. The younger spirits are well-woven into the overall composition, lending a fresh and vibrant feel to the release. N22, P22, F21, B22

A decent daily Laphroaig with classic medicinal peat and coastal character, though it stops short of real depth or distinction.

I still have a bottle from 2018. It's still half full. I bought this one for 58 because it was cheaper than the old bottle. For me, it was a complete failure...