Laphroaig Brodir

Very good Laphroaig. Long lastning and a good aftertaste

Even if Laphroaig never dissapoints, this expression feels like "more of the same" even if there is a nice sweetness to it. The typical Laphroaig peat sometimes is way overpowering in front of other flavors and even if you are a peat-head like me, sometimes i wish there was something more to it. Brodir means "brother" in Norse, and it has been matured in ex bourbon casks to then be finished in ruby port casks. Bottled at 48%abv, tawny color. On the nose: instant Tobacco grass. Brown sugar, Orange candy and Perfumed peat. Burnt grass. There is a thick sweetness under a peat fog/ layer. After 5 mins, iodine and super medicinal aroma appears. All sweetness has been lost after a while. Cigarretes smoke. After first sip some vanilla and burnt hay. Even for those notes, it is not that pleasant on the nose, without been bad or off-putting. On the palate, first sip is very Sulphuric. Orange in the mouth walls but very raw flavor in the first sip. Second sip was much more sweet and refined; Some oranges and brown sugar. Cough syrup. (I am so addicted to it). Aftertaste has a smoky pleasant finish. Salty and oak spice, pretty nice. Nice puffs of smoke. Not the best Laphroaig but does its job. I would have expected a lot more complexity for a 48%abv. The sweetness is very thick and refined due to the usage of ruby port casks. My score: 85 over 100.

Not my favorite. But good for a peaty scotch

Review for Brodir Batch 3 (aka Final Batch). After trying Brodir bath 2 and Cairdeas 2013, I already knew how amazing port finished Laphroaig can be, so when I had the chance of buying the new and final batch, I jumped on it. (I think from now on it will be replaced by a new expression called simply “Laphroaig Port Wood”). First difference I can notice from batch 2 is on the color. Although it has the pinkish hue one would expect from a ruby port finish, it is less pronounced than it was on the previous batch, probably denoting a shorter finishing time on the port barrels. On the (amazing) nose, there are red berries and campfire smoke as the previous one, but also vanilla sweetness and honey. It is delicious and seems overall more rounded this time. I really love it! On the palate, the campfire smoke turns into an ashy peat bomb with an underlying sweetness. Surprising, but in a good way. The finish brings a lot of barrel spices to play, that along with the peat seams to linger forever on your mouth. I liked it better than batch 2 for sure, since it is an overall more balanced whisky, but if I recall it right, not better than Cairdeas 2013, still King of Laphroaig IMHO. Very, very good indeed! Happy I pulled the trigger on this one. 5 stars it is!