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Laphroaig 18 Year Old

It's Bloody Hot Out There

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@talexanderReview by @talexander

14th Aug 2015

0

Laphroaig 18 Year Old
  • Nose
    23
  • Taste
    24
  • Finish
    23
  • Balance
    23
  • Overall
    93

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Distribution of ratings for this: brand user

My air conditioning unit broke down, and it's a bajillion degrees out there. What's a boy to do? Drink Laphroaig 18, of course.

The colour is a bright gold. On the nose the smoke is perfectly integrated with the sweet caramel. Wet campfire, smoked cheddar (I'm not kidding) and green apples. Fruity and also floral. Water adds some maltiness, with cereal notes. Elegant yet powerful.

On the palate it's even fruitier with poached pear, lemon and more green apples. Chili spices. Unassuming peat - less smoky than the nose. Ginger. Spicier with water - wow! Mouthwatering. Delicious.

The finish is mouth-watering with cereal, black liquorice and soot. That big, phenolic, smoke powerhouse that we know and love of Laphroaig has taken a slight - very slight - backseat to an elegant maltiness; the peat has been nicely smoothed down by the oak. Yet still unmistakably Laphroaig - and is perhaps my favourite expression from them.

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4 comments

@Victor
Victor commented

Yep, no whisky is better when it sizzles outside than Laphroaig.

Laphroaig 18 is a great whisky, all right.

Two questions: 1) is this from a full bottle?, and, 2) if so, how long has the bottle been open?

I ask because the first and current bottle of 18 I have open became so very much better after it was open about 2 months. That is not my only bottle of Laphroaig 18, though....

9 years ago 0

@talexander
talexander commented

A month ago, Rick Culver came by to do a big Ardbeg night. But then we did some other Islays, and he had also brought a bottle of Laphroaig 18 that, if memory serves, was already open. We had a dram of that, and then I poured off a sample bottle. A month later, I tasted it again and wrote this review. I know I am very bad at revealing how long my bottles have been open when I write these reviews, I just forget to give that information. In any case, whether it's freshly opened or not - this is one damn fine scotch.

9 years ago 0

@Pierre_W
Pierre_W commented

A cracking review, @talexander! Laphroaig 18yo is one of my favourite single malt expressions and I do not doubt that this is the right stuff to imbibe in hot weather. Actually, in unbearably hot weather the 10yo cask strength works even better for me. But be that as it may, the 18yo is superb stuff and still available at a good price, in my humble opinion.

9 years ago 0

@PeatyZealot
PeatyZealot commented

Less than one year ago: €55,- current lowest: €99,- :(

9 years ago 0