PBMichiganWolverine
Laphroaig 25 Year Cask Strength (2013 Edition)
Single Malt — Islay, Scotland
Reviewed
April 4, 2020 (edited March 17, 2022)
nCV19 chronicles during quarantine edition.
After last night’s amazing Laphroaig 21 TWE single oloroso cask, which in my own little fiefdom, I declared in classic Jim Murray style “best Islay I’ve ever had”, I decided I needed to open another sample of a Laphroaig. This time another well aged one, a 2018 Laphroaig 25, which I bought last year from TWE for $30.
This has muted smoke and brine on the nose, followed by a palette of the classic band-aid quality, but with a streak of campfire smoke. It’s a well behaved brother of the 10. Same profile, just muted on the smoke, and more complex layers of lemon citrus meringue.
Okay. So here’s the thing—-if I didn’t have that TWE single oloroso cask 21 Yr Laphroaig, I’d probably have given this 5 stars. But in comparison, this falls short. It’s good..real good...but not a whole other level like the 21 TWE. This is about $400 without tariffs, while the 21 single cask was $400 w/tariffs. . In comparison, currently a 27 yr Laphroaig single cask oloroso is $5000. So...the 21yr now seems like a good purchase for those of you that bought it. After we come out of this CV19, pop it open in celebration of being alive.
30.0
USD
per
Pour
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I adore old Laphroaig. The younger stuff is smoky and antiseptic and like most young Islay things there’s a pleasure to be had from that, but it’s when the phenols and creosols decay after a couple of decades and allow the esters to emerge with all their tropical goodness that Laphroaig in particular gets really special. That’s my taste anyway.
@PBMichiganWolverine hard to compare anything to a single cask, especially an outstanding one. I really love the mouth feel on this one, something you didn't mention. That alone really for me pushes this into the special range. Rare you get this level of age, refinement, and oily rich texture. Especially from an offical bottling.
@dhsilv2 I had the 2018 , which was a 52%. Normally I think I would’ve rated it slightly higher, but I couldn’t help comparing to the earlier single cask 21 yr old.
Do you know which edition this is and the casks? I've had two pours and it's one of my favorite regular bottles (all be it each batch is different) from any distillery. Likely one I'll always replace.
@PBMichiganWolverine - hang in there baby! In 3 months we should be out of this mess. :)
@Soba45 I think the peated Islays seem to hit their sweet spot in the teens. Beyond that, you’re paying a hefty price for a bit more elegance
Yes I agree. I quite enjoyed it and rated a 4.25, very subtle and complex but not amazing..although I find that with most peated malts..to old and they lose the 'oomph' I like peat wise. Personally preferred the lore which is less than a 1/4 of the price here.
@Ctrexman the Lore was really good. Honestly—-this isn’t offering a whole lot over the Lore. Just a tad less smoke, a tad more complexity.
Would love these im sure......just tried the Lore and thought that was amazing