Laphroaig 18 Year Old

Matured in a combination of bourbon and sherry casks this is a lovely maturation. Beautifully balanced between sweetness and that iconic Laphroaig signature.

• Nose: Laphroaig signature medicinal, seaweed, tar and peat, but loads of complexity, a lot of floral notes, treacle toffee and bitter chocolate also black pepper and dare I say Christmas cake and dried fruit. With Water: signature dominates, much saltier, toffee still there, chocolate as well, touch of fruit. After 15 minutes it completely changes, massive rose – floral note dominates everything, so strange to think im drinking Laphroaig.

• Pallet: Rich arrival, sweet development with caramel, toffee, then peat comes through although not with the usual Laphroaig style hammer, it’s quite restrained in its delivery, it’s a little bit oily, some smoke also some bacon and mortadella (Italian cured meat similar to luncheon). With Water: peat first up also chili, then progressing into more subtle fruit and floral flavours touch of citrus on the mid pallet.

• Finish: touch of smoke with bitter chocolate lingering long, also some fruitiness and tobacco, signature doesn’t hang around as long as I expected. With Water: more spice creates a little dryness, then Laphroaig signature returns and never really lets go

• Mark neat: 8.7/10 With Water: 9/10

It's taken me a long long time to get my head around this whisky, im not sure what it was but i just didnt quite understand it somehow. Now i believe i do, i just wish it didn't have caramel added to it. However, it is a great whisky, perfect Islay for me.

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