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…
After my first taste I was sure I'd wasted my money. By the time the bottle was half gone a week later I knew I'd buy another. Smells like smoked antiseptic. At first it tastes like burning garbage and old cow manure mixed with plastic. After a while I realized I liked it anyway. Antiseptic barnyard peat bog fire and I really do like it.
For my palette this smells absolutely awful. I will concede though that it does taste much better than I though it would, based on the aroma. One that I just about enjoyed a tumbler of, but wouldn't part with my own money for a whole bottle.
Wow on my nose peat smoke and smoke and peat. Palette more smoke and peat but developed into a sweet salty ocean breeze pleasure that begs for more. I can also note orange or lemon zest that tingles the lips. There is a peppered burn as you swallow but soon replaced with a oils maybe butter sweet richness. Count me in. Mike from By God Iowa
I've tried numerous single-malts over the years, but I keep coming back to the Laphroaig 10 year old as my all-time favorite. Others, particularly from Islay, may equal it in peatiness and smokiness, but nothing else (including other, more expensive offerings from the Laphroaig distillery) can equal this whiskey for its overall balance, flavor, and most especially, its glorious finish which persists on the tongue and palate long after the last sip has been downed like an old friend lingering by your fire engaging in deep and meaningful conversation. What I've noticed in other people's reactions is that very few people are neutral about Laphroaig - either they love it or they hate it - but if you have not yet tried it, you definitely owe it to yourself. Maybe you, like me, will discover the Scotch than which there is no than whicher.
I'm relatively new to the world of whiskey and experiencing the different flavours. When I read this whiskey was 'medicinal' and had 'peat' notes I didn't know what that was, but wanted to experience it. I bought a bottle. It was like drinking the juice from a lump of smoking turf....very strong smokey, combined with a mixture of old school anti-septic. Not for me, but not to say many won't like it. I've experienced it and I am glad I have, but not for me.
