Laphroaig Lore

Really enjoyed this. Compares well to ardbeg uigedail and lagavulin distiller edition. Probably somewhere in between in terms of peat/smoke and heat. The signature medicinal taste is muted by the blend of different casks and this hangs around for awhile on the palate. Top 20 whisky for me. Want to try against the 10 again to really compare to the flagship but seems to hold up very well indeed.

Everything that makes laphroaig good turned up to 11. Warm, sweet, nutty and of course very smokey.

Served in a Glencairn glass, neat, from a full bottle. Cashews and smokey dark meat, with moderate peat on the nose. The palate starts off with strong iodine/brine, and while the smoke is present, it doesn't overpower like the 10yr. Mouth-feel isn't thin like the Triple Wood, but isn't viscous like an Ardbeg Uigeadail. The sweetness pokes through like sun through storm clouds, in the best way possible Prunes, apricot, with ginger beer and cinnamon spiciness round out the entry. The oak comes through strong enough that I would wager there is some old (18+ years) whisky blended for character. The finish is on the longer side, but the finish is where things unravel, as it were. The smoked meat really shines here, but the dark chocolate and burned butterscotch notes clash with the iodine/medicinal character, leading to an artificial impression that is somewhat jarring. The heat is more than I would expect for a non-cask-strength offering, but nothing excessive. A good dram, but does not stack up to the NAS offerings from Ardbeg. However, I must disclose that I did not do a concurrent tasting. Also, while I did everything I could to cleanse my palate, dinner was sweet/sour with lots of citrus and some botanicals, so I will need to reevaluate another day. Bottom Line: Ardbeg NAS drams still reign supreme in my cabinet, although I think the Triple Wood is the better buy by a wide margin, compared to the Lore, despite the thin mouth-feel of the TW.

Smells like Laphroaig dialed up to ten. Super strong smoke smell, smells more like campfire to me than peat. On the tongue is a bit mellower than I expected. The flavor is peat, but it's not overpowering. Tastes like a slightly better 10 year, especially with the richness. Reminds me of lagavulin.

Seawater and peat all around. Dry spice on the finish