ctbeck11
Laphroaig 10 Year
Single Malt — Islay, Scotland
Reviewed
March 23, 2021 (edited April 29, 2021)
Nose - briny peat, iodine, rubber, seaweed, smoked fish, tar, ash, juicy pear, apple, grass, vanilla, caramel, mint, earthy herbal notes, moderate ethanol burn.
Taste - tarry peat, rubber, ash, iodine, pear, apple, brine, tobacco, black pepper, sweet caramel, vanilla, smoked fish, ginger, mint, cocoa, seaweed, mild to moderate alcohol bite, finishing medium length with rubbery peat, sweet orchard fruit, and earthy pepper flavors.
I can’t believe it’s taken me so long to review this classic. Laphroaig 10 was one of the first scotches I was introduced to years back. Yep, my friends really threw me head first into the fire back then. I was pleasantly offended by the nose and palate at the time, if that makes any sense. To this day, that’s one attribute which continually draws me back to these Islay beasts. I want my senses to be overwhelmed and offended, in the best possible way.
Now, I love a Laphroaig 10 as much as the next guy, and would have rated this higher had I never tasted its filthy, repulsive cask strength cousin. After experiencing that one, I don’t see a reason to seek out this release, other than for the price. Everything this offers, from the peat and rubber to the fruit and barrel spice, is cranked to eleven on the cask strength version.
All the beautiful, harsh edges have been diluted away on this one. The beast, which was once wild and free, sadly has been broken and domesticated. Still, this is a classic for a reason, and I’ll happily drink it whenever offered. This begins a five day review series of Laphroaig offerings I have. Looking forward to diving into the variations throughout the week.
Create Account
or
Sign in
to comment on this review
@Slainte-Mhath @Bourbon_Obsessed_Lexington Yep! I had similar experiences when I first tried it.
Most delicious antiseptic I’ve ever tasted, and the anasthetic effect on the mouth... my dentist couldn’t do a better job
@ctbeck11 I still remember my first encounter with Laphroaig 10... was almost like licking an old steam engine!
Very much agreed! I just haven't been that impressed with Laphroaig 10 the last few years. Benn tilting towards the Ardbeg. Would love to see that proof jump!
@bigwhitemike absolutely correct. It’s all about palate acclimation and maturity, isn’t it?
@skillerified I’ve seen the price creeping up to $100 on the cask strength releases recently. When it’s available, I can still find it in Virginia for $70, which I think is a fair price. It’s a total monster. Absolutely worth picking one up if you’re a fan of the category.
I almost reviewed this today, but decided to go Irish instead. Been looking for that Cask Strength 10 for a while. No luck so far.
@bigwhitemike Completely agree. I felt very differently about this one a year ago than I do today. I was actually surprised by how sweet and juicy the fruit notes on this presented. Definitely something I would not have picked up on in the beginning.
Great review. This one really transformed for me too from my earliest experiences where it blew the doors off my tastebuds, sinuses, and expectations, but returning to it with a more experienced palate revealed that its actually pretty tame and very sweet once you can pierce the smoky iodine shell. Agree with your "domesticated" take, but its truly an evolution of the taster more than any weakness of the whisky in my book.
@WhiskyWitch I have very little experience with them as well, outside of the entry level releases. Hoping to change that soon.
I'm very slowly working through the Laphardbegs. I can't fairly choose camp Ardbeg without venturing beyond Laphroaig 10...