Tastes

This Laphroaig is a bit like running into a good friend you haven't seen for a few years. It's instantly recognizable, but there have clearly been some changes. First off, the color of the whisky itself is distinctly un-Laphroaig like. Darker in contrast to the typically light scotch, this whisky shows unmistakable sherry influence up front. On the nose, it's hard to say the sherry influence carries over. I haven't nosed this in a side-by-side comparison with a standard Laphroaig 10, but the difference certainly isn't overwhelming. Some transient fruit notes do appear that aren't present on the standard 10, but classic Laphroaig peat smoke dominates. Up front, the story is much the same. At first, my palate tells me I've got ahold of a standard Laphroaig 10. It's one of my favorite scotches, so certainly very pleasant, but nothing out of the ordinary. As the initial peat, brine and medicinal notes fade, though, the whisky starts to open up. Dark fruit notes, specifically raisin and plum, along with a bit of sherry sweetness and a faint note of dark tobacco, begin showing up at around the midway point. On the finish, the dark fruit notes become a bit more prominent, and I lose the tobacco. Being Laphroaig, peat smoke remains a relative constant. Finish is long, rich and quite enjoyable. Overall, I really enjoyed this bottle. However, it might be a touch overpriced for the extent of the sherry influence. Given the choice, I think I'd pay a few extra dollars for the 16-year and pick age over cask finishing in this case.

Ardbeg Scorch opens with a hint of brine that fades into a palate dominated by cinnamon and vanilla notes, alongside anise and a touch of heather honey. Every so often, I catch a faint but enjoyable indication of mint. Smoke is readily apparent right up front and lingers throughout a very pleasant finish alongside the vanilla. Not the meatiest or briniest Ardbeg out there, but a very enjoyable dram that any Islay lover is sure to enjoy.