Tastes

Ah boy, Laphroaig you rarely disappoint. I wet my palate with the 10 to ease myself into the lore (sadly after a long while open it's faded). I needn't have bothered. Initial hit left me nervous searching for flavor for a micro second then it's richness washed over my taste buds. Oily sweetness quickly followed by rich, smoky, ashy, medicinal peatedness. Brine, dried fruit and cough medicine mingle in. Definitely 4.5...one of if not my top equal Laphroaig's. I'd love to get my hands on a full bottle and see how it'd evolve over time. Ah value for money.. now that's a tough one. I could get two An Cuan's or nearly 3 10's for for the same price of $125USD. 4 or 5 4 or 5. 4.5 it is now distiller has 1/2 ratings. Update: Roll on a few years and a different bottling and I think the quality has deteriorated somewhat. Still a good dram but not as complex as it once was.

I have to side more with the distiller review on this one. Faint peat forms a base, oak has mellowed the new make, hint of vanilla and contrasting bitternes, tea, leather tar. It's an acquired taste but the more I drank the more I got into it. I'd rate it mid 3's and at $250 USD that makes it not VFM.

Lots and lots of honey with vanilla bringing up the rear, hint of white pepper and gingerbreadish type character with a nice balance of oakiness to round it out. Lovely viscosity really holds the flavour on the palate and translates to a long gentle finish. Nothing particularly unique but a good solid ex bourbon cask 20 year. The use of solely first fill casks really shines through. $120 is a decent price. Solid 4 rounding up to early to mid 4's once value for money is factored in.

Interesting flavour profile. Vanilla and sherry with a slight heavyiness on the wood - tannic and bitterness. I warmed up to this as I got into it. Mid to late 3's for me and a fair price at $125USD. Wouldn't be on my purchase list but would be interesting to see how a whole bottle opens up over time

Not a bad drop, mellow, mild vanilla and sherry and all similar descriptors for this sherried style of whiskey. Enjoyable dram but the only thing that blows me away is the price at $300USD+ here in NZ (or $200 in the uk). To be honest I'd pass at half the price not because it isn't good but there's better for a lot cheaper. Solid 4 I'll rate. There seems to be mixed sentiment in this one on the net between the 18 or 21 being better. Maybe personal preference or batch variation?

Usually with the Islay malts I reckon you just can't beat their standard flagship malts e.g. Laphroaig 10, Lagavulin 16, especially once price is factored in. However for Ardbeg I personally believe its the complete opposite. The 10 is ok the Kelpie I much prefer. I was very interested to see the influence of the virgin black sea oak casks and they don't disappoint. When better to try it than Ardbeg day! Sweet, pepper and peat marry together beautifully. Definitely a 4.5 - unfortunately at $135 USD I just can't round up to a 5. The committee release was only $15 more so I thought why not I'll get one. I signed up to the committee on the spot, turned round to get a bottle and they were all gone...damn! Oh well got a free Ardbeg glass as a consolation...

Caol Ila (based on the 12 and Moch) hasn't been a distillery that's overly excited me. Good but not top of the Islay pile personally. From vague memory the 18 is similar to the 12 but I think I like it more..not sure why maybe passage of time. Warm gentle peat balanced with sweet vanilla, lovely gentle finish. Definitely in the low to mid 4 range. $130 USD is fair for its age especially given it's an Islay malt. Whilst I could easily drink my way through a bottle in a blink of an eye as its very good and approachable it's still not one that excites me or blows me away

This definitely gets a 4 - early 4's I'd say and is now my new favorite Glenfiddich overtaking the red wine one. Its one of the few times a low abv actually works turning this into an almost full bodied dessert whiskey liqueur without excessive sweetness. Now at $120USD a bottle I wouldn't be buying a whole one but if you want a good example of the style or perhaps rather to say an example of a strong Maderia influence this is it. As others have noted not a long complex finish or really even a complex anything but the rest of the experience means that this isn't really a major detraction

Not to bad. Tried at a wine and food show; didn't stand out as anything special

Not to bad at all. Maybe its because I'm on my 8th whiskey tasting that the slightly harsh notes are dulled or maybe I'm just feeling in a very generous mood but either way I like it. It's missing the lovely mouth feel of the 10 but has a nice bite, sherry, peat, sweetness and black pepper and unfortunately a bit of a bitter finish. This is based on a 200ml bottle and would I buy a whole one. Nope. It's not worth the 25% premium on the 10, the Laga Distillers edition is preferable and the bitterness carries through a bit to much to the aftertaste. High threes round up to a 4.. would be interested to see how oxidation affects it.