Laphroaig PX Cask

Laphroaig was the one. The one that blew my mind and introduced my to the microcosm that is Islay. I’ve had many different expressions from this superb distillery and other that the 18 (which I will try some day soon I hope), this PX Cask is the one for which I have had the highest anticipation. I picked this one up at duty free during one of my many trips over to Windsor. A nice 1L bottle that cost me about $90. I provided this as a sample to everyone in the SDT group even though I believe they’ve all had it before. This NAS, travel retail exclusive single malt is bottled at 48% ABV and is non chill filtered. There is some debate out there about whether it has colorant added or not, but all evidence I can find points to it being a natural color of amber with a faint reddish hue. The nose has most of the standard Laphroaig profile, but much subdued and covered by the sweetness of the PX casks. The medicinal and tarry notes are there but very mild. Smoke but not heavy peat smoke. The sweetness shows up after some time and starts with toffee and caramel and some vanilla custard. Fruitcake, cherry cordials and some nutmeg. Earthy, brine, anise and even some eucalyptus. I added some water (10-15 drops) and it brought out some really nice fruity notes. Grilled apricots, smoky watermelon, dried banana chips and dark berry jelly donut filling. Some sweet syrupy sherry notes follow and finish off the nose. An ever changing chameleon of awesome. The palate is much more intense than the nose lead on, but not at anything approaching too much. Darker than other Laphroaigs. Spicy and sweet, smoky, peat and ashes. Smoky cherries, spiced fruitcake, sherry, anise and burnt honey. Towards the end some beautiful oranges and tangerines come in. Candy sweet at times, but always smoky and peaty. A medium to full bodied mouthfeel that is oily and mouthwatering. The finish is medium long with peat smoke, spices, anise, charred oak and slightly tannic. This bottle was an oddity of an odyssey. When I first opened it I got nothing of the Laphroaig I know and love, just a crazy sweetness and a muted profile. Oxidization brought this one to life rather than killing it. Water was the key to unlocking the fruitiness vs the generic sweetness that is there without it. A very good but understated Laphroaig. If I had rated the bottle upon first tasting it would have been a 3.75 at best. Now with only a few drams left I give it a solid 4.25 Cheers