Tastes

The flagship for a reason, the 10 year is a real crowd pleaser. It has the smoothness and sweet richness you would expect from a bit older whiskey. Other than obvious false advertising problem, Laphroaig could easily say this was a 15 year and no one would bat an eye. With a bit of the sea flavor, you can tell that this whiskey spent it's decade a literal stone´s throw away from the ocean around Islay.

This is an exceptionally smooth Scotch. Sweet, balanced, soft and with a flavor that stays all the way through to the finish. The whiskey bite has been completely aged out by the Sherry oak casks, leaving behind a dangerously easy to sip Scotch. The only major dropback hear is that 21 years of aging comes with 21 years of price increases.

Some of the younger Scotches in the mix definitely keep this Scotch light and with a pleasant bite. However, it blends nicely with the characteristic Islay smoke and peat to make for a very pleasant sipping experience. May not have the complexity some are looking for but the extra oak contact is the point of this one, not the age. Better on cold nights than summer days.

This one is a bit slow. I recommend at least two glasses before making a judgement. After the first bite, it comes across very young and light. Sure, there's peat and smoke but also vanilla and orange. But there really does seem to be new depths with each sip and the vanilla and smoke seem to give way to citrus fruits and a more complex, buttery cream. I started my glass giving it a 3.25 and finished giving it a 3.75. Then i had another glass and wondered if even a 4.25 was warranted? I'll split the difference at 3.75 but you may easily find this a 4+ if you give it a long taste.

Not a bad scotch, but for me, I'd drink the Talisker Skye instead. It's smokier, brinier, and more wild. This is a bit subdued compared to it's brother. But, still not a bad drink.