Laphroaig Quarter Cask

Drunk neat or with a few drops of water.

Since this is a peated whisky, its character will quickly change between the first glass and subsequent tastings. I found it quite harsh at first, but it has since mellowed quite a bit, and, in my opinion, is all the better for it. This review is based on the 5th glass, a month after the bottle has first been opened.

Nose: If there is one thing I miss from my first glass, it's the nose. It was much stronger at first: with your eyes closed, you could see the peat fires burning. It is quite lighter now, but the peat is still dominant, with a slight herbal presence in the background.

Taste: After that nose, you would expect a strong attack up front, but no. It starts with a cool, slightly sweet maltiness, with a very slight orange presence. As the whisky warms in your mouth, peat and salt progressively replace the sweetness, and starts attacking the palate and tongue. The transition is done nice and slow, and doesn't show the harshness of the first glass.

Finish: Here, the peat takes most of the place, supported by the alcool's warmth and the oak's dry tannins. It's a very nice combination, which lasts fairly long.

Balance: A very well done whisky. The evolution of very well integrated flavors from the sweet start to the smoky and warm finish make for a very enjoyable, rather complex sipper. Considering the price in Québec (65$), it is a very high value for a peated Islay: in comparison, the Laphroaig 10 is 80$ and the Ardbeg 10 is 90$.

For peat lovers, I strongly recommend it.

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