Laphroaig 10 Year Sherry Oak Finish

Berries. Jam. Bourbon like tones then the old familiar camp fire finish. Solid.

Laphroaig wears Sherry well, all the best of the 10 year, blended with beautiful sherry notes. Simply delicious!

The good reviews and a year-end sale pushed me to finally buy a bottle of this. I’m glad I did as it’s a really satisfying dram that strikes a well-tuned balance between sherry and peat. It starts with stewed fruits and a smoldering fire, the peat presenting on the nose as more smokey and less medicinal than the standard bottling. Tangy fig jam flavors and hints of tea sit alongside a peat that feels more gentle than I’d expect from a young Laphroaig, though the finish is distinctly ashy. If you usually like this kind of combination, then you can’t go wrong here. I tried it alongside an Elements of Islay Peat & Sherry sample from @PBMichiganWolverine and while the latter was more complex and delivered more in terms of mouthfeel, the Laphroaig won out for simple drinking pleasure. And sometimes that’s all you need.

NOSE Sherry, copper, cinnamon, malt, smoke, nuts, citrus peels, plastic and touch herbal and inky/iodine. This is a deep dark aroma that aligns a bit on the metallic side. PALATE Sherry, copper, cinnamon, graham, smoke, nuts, citrus peels, plastic and touch herbal and inky/iodine. They’re nearly identical in profile, but there’s a combination of notes on the palate that reminds me of Cinnamon Toast Crunch… I haven’t had that in 20+ years. FINISH Long -> Smoke, herbal spice, sherry, copper, dried fruit and saline.