Laphroaig Triple Wood

After having two spectacular drams to start the night, I moved on to one of Laphroaig's regular lineup expressions, and one of the few that I haven't tried before. Unfortunately, perhaps because of palate exhaustion or merely because I've already figured out my favorites in the distillery's lineup, Triple Wood didn't strike the best chords with me. The nose is a dry, woody smoke with less medicinal flavor and brine than I expected. Maple syrup as well, which is an odd flavor to find in a Laphroaig. The palate also stars that maple syrup flavor, almost more so than the distillery's smoke and peat signature. This scotch is a little too sweet for my tastes, especially when gearing up for a savory, briny Islay smoke bomb. The finish begins much like the nose, with dry wood smoke, and then transitions into honey-roasted nut notes. This variation on Laphroaig would be appreciated by fans of Speyside scotches, and at $70 or so, is fairly priced. But if I saw a shelf of Laphroaigs, this would not be one of the first ones that I'd pluck off the shelf.