Laphroaig Lore

Interesting, complex and dynamic. Changes in nose and palate as you drink it. Peated? Yes. Overpowering? No. Nose: salty, smoky and with hints of sugar and toffee from the Sherry casks. Palate: smoky and bonfire at first, with a touch of salt and maritime notes. This gives way to what I can describe as chili more than peppery. Long finish and in which the peat gives way to a warm and round mix of sweetness and salt.

As is always the case with a Laphroaig, there is that typical TCP, medicinal taste up front, but this expression is richer than the typical 10y/o. The upfront taste is rich and spicy with a good hit of alcohol that quickly disperses into a sweet, dry and spicy finish. I’ve said before that Laphroaig is my ‘go to’ dram and I suspect a bottle of Lore may become a regular addition to my drinks cabinet. An excellent NAS dram!

Sweet, with the typical Laphroaig Band-Aid, medicinal, or more properly ortho-cresol aroma in the nose, and more of the same, plus brininess and gobs of intense peat smoke on the palette, followed by a little vanilla. This is one of the smokiest scotches I’ve had so far. 3 cl sample from the 12 Drams of Christmas Premium (2019 Edition).

Wow. This is a great gateway into the more serious side of Islay. Enough peatiness to put you in your seat, but not aggressive enough to be a turn off. Quite unique. Musty, earthy and peaty on the nose, but it’s so much more tame on the taste. The smoke becomes a lot more subtle and the darker fruit notes pop.

Campfire butter cookie nose, rich palate, long lingering light caramel finish. Excellent.

Peat smoke, brine, sweet note Cocoa after water