Tastes

Tasted this last night for the first time. Very easy to drink as it was smooth and mellow from beginning to end. As with some others too mellow for my tastes but a great intro for anyone new to whisky drinking.

Very enjoyable with fruit up front a nice mix of wood and alcohol in the middle and then a very nice medium finish tasting of spice and a fruit.

Nice and smooth with a somewhat floral mid palate, however beyond that there was not a lot going on. If you are looking for a smooth easy drinking whisky then this is a good choice but for my taste it was just a bit too mellow.

This one mostly hits the middle of the palette. It seems to burst in the center of your mouth with fruit & spice and then end up with moderately smokey not particularly long finish.

Slightly sweet but not at all overly sweet or fruity. Like a very complex Bordeaux the taste hits beginning middle and end; with the end notes being long fiery & smokey. The middle is a well balanced blend of fruit, salt air, peat & old leather. Of the 4 Arbegs currently in my stash this is far and away my favorite. Strict highland fans won't like it but is you are a fan of the Islays then this is a "must try".

I am more of an Islay guy than a highlander but this is an outstanding whisky. More like a cognac than a whisky. Very full but all of the flavors are mellowed with age, and what a finish, long and rich. This is most definitely a special occasion drink.

Probably my 2nd favorite Laphroig. Still nice and peaty but each of the 3 different agings adds an addition level of complexity. At different point you gets tastes of fruits, spice & of course a hit if wood.

Probably the most approachable Laphroig. The aging takes much if the fire out of the whisky, but still leaves a nice level of peat in its long smooth finish.

This would be my "on a desert island with only 1 bottle" whisky. Huge amounts of peat & smoke from first sip to the very end. The finish is long and full of peat & smoke. This would not be my first choice if you don't absolutely love the brash Islay's, but if you are a fan this is (IMHO) the grail!