Laphroaig 1996 Malts of Scotland for The Bonding Dram

You are probably aware that the indie Malts of Scotland releases only single casks at cask strength. With one or two exceptions in my book, they are always exquisite casks. This one is no exception, though. A nice idea is also the fact that MoS allows clubs to purchase a cask and have it bottled in the so-called ‘Clubs’ range.

This Laphroaig is the third Clubs bottling in honor of the third birthday of the Belgian tasting club and online whisky shop ‘The Bonding Dram’, run by the sympathetic Jeroen who has become a good friend (and supplier) in recent months. After some ‘hard labor’ (yeah, right), he chose bourbon hogshead 7313, distilled in 1996 and bottled in 2010.

The nose is sweet and reveals the somewhat young age. I get home-made apple marmalade with vanilla and a little bit of peat – certainly not dominating. A whiff of bacon and quite a lot of iodine. There is also a tad of seaweeds. Nice!

On the palate, this Laphroaig is quite creamy, but yet very drinkable without diluting. Smoke and salt are definitely there, but most of all this remains sweet with lime and liquorice. There is a slight taste of ash and quite a bit of pepper (which shouldn’t surprise with that ABV).

The finish goes on and on with some asphalt at the death. Body and taste wise, this comes very close to the official 10 Year Old Cask Strength Laphroaig.

Jeroen has selected an excellent Laphroaig to add to my cabinet (I got bottle 70, my birthyear). The bottles are only available in Belgium.

89/100

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