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 tried the 10 year for the first time last evening and it had a strong medicinal smell that reminded me of rubbing alcohol. I added a bit of ice and I toned it down; however, I will be sticking with Highland Park 10 year in the future. Much smoother and easier on the nose.
I always wanted to try this one and was kind of afraid. I had worked myself into peated whiskies with Bowmore 12 amd Talisker. On the nose, Laphroaig really delivers what is expected, smoke all over the place but especially those medicinal phenolic qualities are really demanding to non peat heads. I am not exactly in love whith it but I find it very interesting. It is the mouth that left me cold. It is sweet but too weak to compensate for the smoke (compared it straight with Talisker). There really isn't much going on apart from sweet smoke. I think Laphroaig should bottle this at 43 or 46% like Ardbeg. All in all an interesting experience, but not a fan.
The nose is inviting, fragrant, soothing. The texture is full, slightly oily but still transparent, dark.. On the palate I get a slight tingle, just enough to remind me that I'm still drinking whisky, not water, this is good. Peat smoke and medicinal herbs. The afterglow hits me with a warming, earthy taste that somehow reminds me of a stinging nettle. Good stuff
This whisky is my favorite one, the moment I open a brand new box I am excited by the smell of smoke (even if the bottle hasn't been opened yet)! One must realized that this isn't a standard dram: it smells of wooden fire, tastes like it too. But if you are a peat lover you will enjoy it until the last drop!
I had read quite a bit about this malt whisky before I tried it, and everything I read had told me that Laphroaig is something one either loves or hates. After finally getting the opportunity to taste Laphroaig 10, I guess I am in minority in that I neither love it nor hate it. It is quite decent, but not great, and it certainly isn't dreaful.
