Laphroaig Cask Strength 10 Year Old

I was introduced to this bottling by @Victor - I believe from Batch 5, and I fell in love with it. Saw this for $52 in Vermont and had to get a bottle - that is a terrific deal.

Recommended to drink diluted 2:1 with water (~19%). At this strength, the nose is certainly impressive – mineral characteristics, hay, a touch of a floral character (elderflower), salt stone, burning leaves, smoke, earth and roots, orange peel, mixed roasted nuts, and iodine – the elderflower is just terrific, and bridges between the earthy and smoke flavours while also brightening up the entire nose. On the palate, lots of smoke, dried seaweed, and cucumber. Terrific finish with building smoke. However, not the strength I’d drink it at – though fun for the sake of nosing.

At 43%, compared to the standard 10 year old, not quite as dark in colour and a bit hazy (good on it!) – more marine, and more farmy – and the mineral character is quite sharp as well – actually sharper and more clearly cut. A bit sweeter, too, and the spices are bigger with a bit more tannin – even at this diluted level. Finishes with some brilliant ash and spice. Even at 43%, better than the terrific standard 10- year old.

Finally, cask strength: the nose, of course, is concentrated with alcohol being heavy yet concentrating the floral elderflower, smoke, and vanilla – I notice the oak here in a way I didn’t at either of the lower strengths. Everything else is there, still, at this strength – a beauty. The palate has terrific feel and body, with a moving, powerful, dry peat and tingling spices. Spicy cigar spices on the finish, eventually fading to vanilla and oak.

Not as good, in my memory, as batch 5 – but I don’t have a side by side comparison to investigate properly. Still, a wow whisky.

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