Whiskey_Hound
Laphroaig Quarter Cask
Single Malt — Islay, Scotland
Reviewed
January 31, 2019 (edited December 31, 2019)
This Quarter Cask is the third Laphroaig expression I've owned to date. At this point, I'm pretty sure that I could pick a Laphroaig out of a police lineup with absolute certainty. There are only a handful of distilleries I could say this about, and of them, this may well be the most easily perceived by smell and taste alone. No matter the age and blending process, Laphroaig is incredibly distinct. Iconic, I daresay. On to the whisky.
Nose: Classic Laphroaig notes. Heavy, heavy peat. Campfire smoke, ash, iodine, and sulfur. Brine, sea salt, and wood as well. A real juggernaut of a nose; true to form. If you search beyond the obvious, you'll find a nice dose of chestnut, vanilla, orange and cinnamon, the latter of which provides a different heat than the peat. Maybe even a bit of red meat. Overall, nosing this one is akin to lighting a campfire in the woods immediately after a heavy rainfall. There's a lot to like here.
Palate: Medicinal peat. Big time chili and spicy salsa heat. Beyond that, I get some sweeter notes. Dark chocolate, toffee, vanilla, and coconut. The maritime qualities are still present. Sea salt and seaweed. Very oily. Once again, it's superb.
Considerable length on the finish. More of the peaty, spicy notes. Chili, black and red pepper, and a little kick in the ass to remind you it's 48%. Great way to cap off a great whisky.
If you can't tell already, I'm really enjoying this one. I'm struggling to come up with any criticism so I'll say this. It's not the best Laphroaig I've had. That title belongs to the Lore. But that hardly matters when you consider that each exists for a different purpose. The Quarter Cask is a peat bomb, here to kick your ass and make its presence known and felt. And it performs amazingly in this role. And yet, its complex enough to keep the most experienced drinker on their toes.
Another quick gripe. I can't seem to keep it in the bottle. Fortunately, it's reasonably priced, so I can always grab another. If you're a lover of Laphroaig, or peat for that matter, this is an absolute must try.
60.0
USD
per
Bottle
Create Account
or
Sign in
to comment on this review
@PBMichiganWolverine I haven't seen it in my area but I'll definitely keep my eyes peeled. It sounds fantastic!
@Whiskey_Hound there’s probably 2017 still on the shelves, which is the cask strength version of this Quarter Cask.
@PBMichiganWolverine Sold. With your stamp of approval, I'll bump the 2018 up on my priority list. It's a shame I can't find any of the older bottlings but I'm excited to get started with the 2018
@Whiskey_Hound the 2018 Cairdeas was probably my 2nd favorite. There was a Portwood Cairdeas which was spectacular but now sadly out of the affordable price range
@LeeEvolved Thanks Lee! I was actually planning on making the 2018 one of my next purchases. Have you had it yet?
@SolanaRoots Much appreciated!
Great review. If you getting interested in seeing the experimental side of Laphroaig I recommend seeking out a few of the Cairdeas releases. The wine cask finishes add another level of complexity and richness to an already great base whisky. Cheers.
Tremendous review as always. Cheers!