LeeEvolved
Laphroaig PX Cask
Single Malt — Islay, Scotland
Reviewed
January 28, 2017 (edited October 21, 2024)
Well, I can tick another bucket list scotch off my list after last night. A new friend from New Jersey, give it up for Mr. Pranay B, sent me this travel exclusive beauty. What do you get when you take Laphroiag 10 year old and run it through a quarter cask and finish it in Pedro Ximenez sherry casks? Laphroiag PX Cask. The big problem is you have to live near or travel to international lands to find this bottle. Lucky for me, I made friends with a few people that do.
The PX Cask is the international cousin to the Triple Wood, in that it goes through 3 casks before hitting the bottle and finally onto store shelves. It's 96 proof, which is higher than both the regular 10 YO and the QC. It still has those wonderful legs and fills the room with signature smoke once it's resting in the taster. When you deeply inhale you get the glorious sweetness from the PX casks. Now, I know what you're thinking..."Lee, dumb ass, the Triple Wood finishes in Oloroso sherry casks and the PX finishes in Pedro Ximenez sherry casks. Surely there can't be that much of a difference." Stop right there, don't call me Shirley, and you are so wrong. It makes a (Donald Trump) huuuuge difference. Trust me. Though, I am still a bit of a dumb ass, I'm definitely in love with this scotch.
The palate is everything you want from an Islay scotch: peat, campfire coals, sea spray and tobacco. The sherry cask finishing really shines about mid sip as everything just mellows and turns sweet on you. Great stuff, but then again, I didn't expect anything less.
The finish may be the only spot where I find anything to nitpick. The higher proof makes it wash away a little bit rougher than I'd hoped for. There's just a bit of harshness and burn that, perhaps, wouldn't have been there had it rested a bit longer in the sherry cask or been blended down to 86 proof. It doesn't ruin anything, mind you, it just causes me to stop and wonder "what if?".
Either way, it's a wonderful scotch that I wish was sitting on shelves locally because I'd take this over the Triple Wood and Quarter Cask all day long. Maybe one day it will or should I get my lazy ass on a plane and see a few places before I depart this rock? It would make a great souvenir over a snow globe or $20 t-shirt. In closing, I highly recommend grabbing this when you are near the border or overseas. It's a great whisky. Cheers, my friends
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@LeeEvolved Thanks for the update. Wish this was easier to get hold of - one of my top shelf malts but I've not had a bottle for a while. Good to know it's still worth seeking out.
I initially had the same great reaction to my bottle, then my joy for it slowly waned as the bottle wore on. I found the sherry sweetness a bit artificial tasting at times. Just my two cents. I’d love to try it again one day.
@LeeEvolved - Thanks Lee, I’ll be in touch.
@Rick_M - I have an unopened bottle so when I open it I’ll gladly send you a tall pour if you’d like.
Glad to hear it holds up. I haven’t put it through it’s paces yet but really looking forward to it
I’m in on this one, next chance I get.
I wanted to chime in on this old review, as my buddy @Generously_Paul has sent me a fresh sample of this phenomenal Laphroaig, and I wanted to see if how I felt a year ago from a sample I received from @PBMichiganWolverine has changed. This new sample still has an amazing, smoky nose and a nice, oily mouthfeel. The PX cask influence isn’t as intense as I wrote above, but it still sweetens this Laphroaig to a wonderful level. The finish isn’t as powerful as I recall, either. I can’t say it had the impression on me that it once had, but I don’t think I’d mark it lower in score, either. This is still an amazing whisky that every Laphroaig fan should seek out. Do what you have to in order to acquire a sample, or better yet a bottle, and marvel in its brilliance. Revisited on 2/26/18. Thanks again, @Generously_Paul.
Brilliant review - spot on. I hardly, need to do one myself. Oh, all right ... :-)
Lee - right on! PX is king in my book. Dreaming of Islay, I can't wait till you try that sample I sent to see what you think.
I need to go on an international trip just to go buy this in Duty Free at the airport...
Thanks again, Pranay. It was an extreme pleasure to try the PX. That being said, it's now time for your return shipment. I'll send you an email later and let you know what I have open right now. I also have a very nice surprise for you. Cheers.
Thought you would like this. You're right---such a difference between Olorosso,PX, and even Amontillado. Personally, I think PX has the BIGLY (word courtesy of Mr Trump) flavors
You are so right: there is a huge difference between Oloroso and PX maturation/finish. That PX thing does something with your palate, your brain and bumps up the malt mark by at least 1/2 star. After tasting Lagavulin Distiller's Edition 2016 today, I know what I am talking about... Cheers!