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…
Just bought a bottle of this in upstate ny. Where did the smoke go. Have laph 10 before as well as ardbeg,caol ila. Opened the bottle: no smoke on the nose, palate: sweet vanilla and some medicinal but no smoke. Very disappointing. Someone please tell me this s result of cask variance.
Somehow the peatiness enhances the bitterness of the IPA and vice a versa.
I am just starting to dabble into the single malts and I can understand that to some who have been drinking single malts, that this may be the bees knees (though from reading some of the reviews, grammar may not be their forte) - I would have to agree with the worst reviews though - as one who has been brewing for ten years now, this scotch has almost a chemical smell. Unless you know what you are buying, go with a Macallan 12 year - same price range as Laphroaig 10 at my local retailer in Oregon but the Macallan is 12 is just wonderful, at least to this scotch beginner. PS - a big ice sphere in the glass helps the Laphroaig go down ....
I must agree with John Campbell in that the taste of this whisky is greatly enhanced by the use of water (I myself prefer ice, since I like the first sip to be "stingy"). I would also add that the taste had a bit of salty liquorice - which is, by the way, very popular in Finland! - and quite peaty. I really enjoyed this one, but it is something you have to learn to taste, it is like you become good old friends and, in the end, you will be looking for your meeting in the blue darkness of the January nights of the North.
Not a bad one per se, but with a really medicinal taste, did not regret the purchase, will not buy again.
