Laphroaig 10 Year Old is an iconic Islay single malt whisky, renowned for its heavily peated profile. Expect intense smoke, medicinal iodine, and a hint of seaweed. This whisky captures the bold spirit of Islay and is one of Scotland's most characterful drams. Islay's world-famous Laphroaig distillery is known for its medicinal malts, and its signature 10-year-old is no exception thanks to its full maturation in bourbon barrels, which serves to highlight that individual distillery character. This beauty has won a slew of industry awards over the decades and we love it.
Non-chill filtered for maximum flavour. A must-have for peat lovers!"
Our tasting notes feature a contribution from the longest-serving distillery manager in the brand's history, the wonderful John Campbell, who worked at Laphroaig from 1994 until 2021.
This opens on big, smoky muscular peat notes. There are spices, and liquorice, as well as a big dose of salt. This whisky has become slightly sweeter in recent years, and it appears beautifully on the nose, amidst the classic iodine/sticking plasters and cool wood smoke we love.
Seaweed-led, with a hint of vanilla ice cream and more than a whiff of notes from the first aid box (TCP, plasters etc). The oak is big, and muscles its way into the fore as you hold this whisky over your tongue. An upsurge of spices develop – cardamom/black pepper/chilli.
Big and drying, as the savoury, tarry notes build up with an iodine complexity.
The only malt from Laphroaig’s range that John Campbell recommends with water; try it, it opens up the palate massively, providing a dazzling array of additional flavours…
I really love this whisky. I would call it a black coffee drinker's whisky, not because you must be a psychopath to like it (as a recent psychology study seemed to indicate), but because you need to truly enjoy bitterness in order to enjoy Laphroaig. I'm not an expert in tasting elements or chemicals, but I can tell that the bitterness is really well balanced by sweetness, and the smokiness complements both well. It has a nice, oily quality on the mouth that helps the flavor and odor linger and develop. Drink it with a splash of filtered water to help it open up - don't add ice, unless you want the flavors muted. There are some really nice expressions of ultra smooth, wonderful Speyside whiskies that may be more pleasant to drink, but I really dig the experience of this Scotch. It makes you feel something. It's delicious, but it's also thrilling, if that makes sense.
Few years ago I had my first ever bottle and right after I opened it I thought I couldn’t drink it, was so smoky,but then I was amazed and really appreciate this awesome scotch. Recently I bought 10 again, opened it and been kind of disappointed, all this strong smell and the feeling of hospital wasn’t there. I bought another bottle and again it wasn’t smelly like I remember it. The taste was same but where is the pit fire smell. Just wandering did they change the technology. I don’t want to think that the retailer sells fake whiskey,because they are in the business for 20 years. After I finish and the second bottle I will buy it from another place and if it’s same I guess it’ll be my last Laphroaig 10. I’ll give 3 stars despite the amazing taste.
My wife almost collapsed when I pushed a dram of this under her nose and, sure, anyone who hates hospitals should avoid. But once the surprise of the first sniff and taste recedes, then the 'medicine' does you nothing but good. A shame you can't get it on the NHS. I'm not experienced enough to be able to compare it with too many other malts but all I know is Laphroig is special.
This tastes like a dentist office dumpster caught fire. If you like that awesome... definitely not for me though.
You can smell the smokiness of it from across the room. It has a massive kick to it – enough to knock you over if you don't know what's coming. But it's very nice once you work your way into it.
