Laphroaig 10 Year Cask Strength (Batch 11)

Starting off my Laphroaig series is their 10-year cask strength batch 11 that was generously provided by @ctbeck11 The nose starts with a mix of honey glazed suckling pig, mild ocean brine and moderate campfire smoke then light diesel fumes and almond croissant followed by caramelized pears, nectarines and lemon zest that transitions to light ginger and freshly opened can of tennis balls with medium ethanol burn. The taste is a medium to full mouthfeel starting with creamy yet mildly sour citrus before a mix of barbecued short ribs, mild ocean brine and moderate campfire smoke that veers towards a moderate bitter spice that slowly fades to burnt rubber, asphalt and almond croissant followed by caramelized pears, peaches and lemon zest that transitions to light ginger and freshly opened can of tennis balls with medium ethanol burn. The finish is long starting with creamy citrus that quickly pivots to smoked short ribs, asphalt, mild ocean brine, moderate campfire smoke and freshly opened can of tennis balls. The nose is this wonderful balance with the smoke coming through immediately but not overpowering those rich smoked meats with a backdrop of sweet citrus and mild tennis balls which carries over to the palate but the citrus is slightly sourer than the nose with the addition of asphalt and a moderate spice that throws off the balance for me before finishing with a hint of sweet citrus before a mild peppery ash and rubber notes take over. At a price of around 85+ near me, these seem fairly priced for a cask strength Islay and would make any peat head happy.

There is something special with Laphroaig that just hits me the right way. This one hit me really hard on the initial opening, now it has been open for about 9 months and it has become a bit friendlier. If that is a term that can be used to describe cask strength Laphroaig? It is delicious.

Good dram. Not as good as 13 or 15.

Oak wood on the nose, hints of bourbon but also spice. Cinnamon, but like Big Red gum, not actual cinnamon. Weird. Flavor is like drinking a cask. Wood , maybe hints of peat and spice, but just oak oak oak. If a barrel was a liquid. Plenty of richness to carry it. Spice shows more on the tail. Very nice.

A- amber +1, high viscosity N- w/water: smoke, medicinal laphroaig peat (lovely), savory (bacon, applewood ribs, vinegar, black pepper ) sweet ( chocolate, vanilla, barbecue sauce), sea salt, coffee beans, charcoal, burned oak P- w/water: spicy/peaty/smoky arrival, full, rich, oily, savory ( bacon, barbecue ribs, black pepper, vinegar) sweet (dark chocolate, vanilla), espresso, tobacco ashes, sea salt, baked apples, burned oaks F- long finish, smoky-peaty-savory-sweet- ashy aftertaste C- this one is a classic! one of the MUST have in your whisky journey at least once, not sure if you should get every batch release ( batch 14 is out there somewhere) but definitely once I finish this one will get another bottle from a different batch