Lore is somewhat controversial among longtime lovers of the distillery who see it as a harbinger of an uncertain future. Laphroaig has gradually eliminated its age statement offers besides the flagship 10-year offering. The 15 went the way of the dinosaur, came back as a special release in 2015, and now is gone again. The 18 followed last year, so it’s still available in some places but no longer being produced. The successor to Laphroaig 18, in price at least, is Lore, which has no age statement but commands a hefty $100-125. Happily, it does a credible job of justifying that bill, although I’d advise real fans to stick to the cheaper and punchier Laphroaig 10 Cask Strength. Lore is an example of no-age-statement whisky done right. The heavy smoke and brine that wafts of the glass is enticing. While that powerful peat likely comes from young liquid, Laphroaig has selected or balanced the other components to mask any of the downside of that less refined scotch. The richness of the palate, which has a pecan pie quality combined with caramel or toffee notes that reminded me of a bourbon, is first-rate. Blackberries and other dark fruits delight the tongue while that smoke prevents it from becoming saccharine. Strong kick at the finish: smoke, brine, cocoa nibs. The marriage of different woods here produces a best-of-both-worlds effect rather than the master-of-none mediocrity of Select. If you purchased and blended together Laphroaig 10 Cask Strength and PX Cask, I suspect you'd get something close to Lore.