Laphroaig Lore

Delicious

The nose is rich with that Laphroaig/Islay smell. Smoke and peat abound with the latter bringing in a little stale bread, but also coming with some nicer grain notes. There is some sweet toffee and some roast nuts going on in the background with some mild apple flavor. There is some clear seaside flavor going on here and there are subtle complex notes to be discovered as it is sipped, including a weird band-aid flavor (presumably from the herbal flavor) that Distiller promised in the Laphroaig 10 but I never found. This is a solid drink, but it honestly tastes like maybe a richer Laphroiag 10 that definitely has flaws. The extra spice and sweetness are kind of fun, but they don't fit beautifully. The extra smoke and sweetness seem to exacerbate the drink's lack of cohesion (though it is still a good whiskey). It's a classic case of great complexity with poor marriage, but mixed with some gross stale bread. There's even some odd mintiness on the finish. Unfortunately, it's not as good as Laphroaig 10 and therefore not worth the price. There is some chocolate and whatever, but it's all middled together. Definitely better than something that doesn't have complexity, but also missing the punchiness and development that characterize a great drink.

Peat, ocean, and fruits through the nose. Marzipan, salt, and campfire on the tongue. Buttery mouth feel. Both rich and light in all the right ways. Such a good dram.

Strong, rich, peaty flavors