Laphroaig 16 Year

Cigar ash and pipe tobacco on the nose, wax and lime on the palate, minty smoke on the finish

Nose - earthy peat, sparkling apple cider, pear, bright red fruit, iodine, brine, honey, marshmallow, rubber, menthol, sunscreen, sweet floral notes, cocoa, tar, ash, mint, caramel, vanilla, dry vegetal notes, resinous oak, black pepper, moderate ethanol burn. Taste - spicy peat, creamy vanilla, toffee, iodine, brine, chocolate, honey, tar, rubber, marshmallow, mint, lemon zest, black pepper, menthol, tar, caramelized apple and pear, moderate alcohol bite, finishing long with resinous peat, citric fruit, menthol, and tar flavors. We’re onto day two of testing my wife’s nerves with the beautiful aroma of Laphroaig wafting through the air. And how beautiful it is. It’s certainly a more complex nose than I’ve experienced on a Laphroaig. Additional time in the barrel has mellowed the peat and rubber, and really nice bright, sparkling fruit notes appear along with some spicy menthol and marshmallow. The palate arrives with the classic Laphroaig flavors, albeit much less violent than normal, but quickly gives way to chocolate, caramelized fruits, and a citrusy zing. Overall, this is great. Also, I appreciate that they’ve bottled this at 48%. The flavors are denser and more well developed, and it doesn’t seem overly diluted, as the standard 10 year did to me. Purists may find this lacking, as the gut punch you expect from Laphroaig is missing, but I think it’s really well done. I never thought I’d refer to a Laphroaig as elegant, but here we are. At $90 near me, it’s priced slightly less than Lagavulin 16 and I like this slightly less, but not by too much. Nonetheless, if you like Laphroaig, this is one worth grabbing at the right price.

Medicinal peat and brine greet your nose as it descends into the glencairn. Burnt rubber and tar linger as you go to take a sip. The taste starts with an astringent peat, then some sweetness and seaweed come in. Finally, it ends with a medicinal tar that can be somewhat off putting. Generally I like this dram but I’m not sure it delivers on the smell and early tasting notes. I might prefer the 10 over this but it’s close, with the abv of 48% perhaps winning the match. The cask strength is still my favorite from the core range.

Best laphroaig

Nose: earthy, Caramel, medicinal, vanilla and apple/citrus sweetness Taste: meaty, heather, Smokey, peaty, spicey, with a sweetness. I can’t place what the sweetness is., maybe honey and/or lemon. Finish: sweet and salty finish with smoke and burning in the back of your throat. Excellent whisky, need to try this one heads up against Lag16. If the price stays low, will be always in my collection.