Laphroaig 10 Year Cask Strength (Batch 12)

Nose: Sea Salt, Caramel, Iodine, Cherries, Vanilla, Smoke, Peat, Peaches, Smoked Salmon Palate: Vanilla, Peaches, Smoke, Peat, Iodine, Caramel, Salt, Cherries Finish: Cherries, Tar, Smoke, Iodine, Oak, Peat

Bottled at 60.1% (120.2 proof) this one packs a pretty punch and it is certainly not for the faint of heart. On the nose, it is immediately smoky and phenolic ... reminds you of burning rubber, tar and iodine. After you get past the peat and smoke you discover more brine, vanilla and some fruit like pineapple with a sprinkle of pepper spice. On the palate the arrival is quite oily with honeyed sweetness that is immediately followed by lemon, brine, oysters, seaweed, ash, smoke, herbal grass notes and pepper. The development is quite interesting with rich mouthfeel and different flavors coming together in a good balance. Even at 60.1% it doesn't drink that hot ... a few drops of water bring out more fruity sweet characters and mellows down the spice and alcohol burn. The finish is medium to long (lasts a bit longer without the water) with tar, ash and smoke combined with some 'fishy' sea-shore like characters. It is quite mouth-drying as well. Overall a fantastic whisky ... I definitely recommend adding a few drops of water and leave the glass for 15-20 minutes before enjoying it.