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…
Being a lover of Scotch I'm happy to have tried it but the chemical taste is something I would expect from a cheap whiskey made last week. Not a 10 yr Scotch. Water did offer a little reprieve but not enough to drink again.
So I guess I forgot to leave my signature on my review of this when I first tried it a few years ago so better do a re review for good measure ( I am drunk and bored anyways). This is seriously one of the most classic and easily available and affordable Islay's out there and it rarely dissapoints. One thing I really LOVE about Laphroaig is that funky, iodine, band aid, medicine flavor its so unique and it really has this nostalgia effect that makes me think of my grandparents and in a weird way makes me feel like an old man. On the nose peat for sure with some vanilla and seaweed, flavor is burning band aids in a bowl of home made vanilla ice cream with a little too much salt while cool wood smoke weaves it's way throughout. Sounds weird to some maybe but for those of us who enjoy Laphroaig it is mouth watering.When I first tried this I gave it a 9, I have bought many bottles of this over the last few years and I would say 85% of the time it is wonderful but I have had a handful of bad or off bottles that have made me rethink that score, also there is clearly quite a bit of caramel color in this. So a little inconsistent and fake color but other than that totally awesome you'll have a hard time finding something better for $40. The Sugarbear
Possibly the signature Islay taste. Major Peat, Smoke and Seaspray hit you right of the bat. The iodine and medicinal taste won't suit everyone's taste; you will either love it or despise it. If i close my eyes I'm transported to a cold Scottish beach at night with the ashes of a bonfire lingering in the night air.
The summary says it all. Absolutely amazing for someone who enjoys heavy peated whisky. Seasalt, seaweed, even sort of chemical notes. Just wonderful, but definitely not for everyone's taste!
The most unusual taste I've ever encounter in a distilled spirit. I have extensive experience with spirits, including Scotch's and Irish Whiskeys. This one, Laphroaig 10, is the hardest to warm up I have 'ever' consumed. Purchased it as a result of seeing a documentary on the Isle of Islay. Wow, I can't help but think that 'perhaps' I received a bad batch. Yet, if not, and I'm sure the taste is treasured by many world wide it is just not for me. I don't want to disparage the product, just say it has a most unusual taste.
