The latest batch of Laphroaig 10 Year Old Cask Strength demonstrates that the Islay distillery is in no danger of running out of peaty powerhouses for us to enjoy. This has all the smoky, medicinal, and sweet notes you've come to expect, and at a hearty cask strength, those flavours don't exactly hide.
Thick waves of iodine peat smoke followed by candied fruit and toffee.
Rich, earthy, and spicy heaps of clove, cardamom, and chilli. Then, salted caramel, blackcurrant, and a hint of liquorice.
Huge and drying.
This is a BIG whisky and requires experimentation with water - without, it's just too numbing and so much is missed. Of course, there's peat smoke and sea spray but there's also a sweet fruitiness and vanilla and the finish just goes on and on ...... Not to everyone's taste, as is the norm with Laphroaig, but Islay lovers will savour this one.
Well, I'm most surprised by the tasting notes below stating that this big boned, muscular, quintessential ( IMO ) Laphroaig is "swamped in sherry!" I once bought a Uigeadal that I believe was an untypical "bad batch" and THAT was indeed "swamped in sherry." Tasted like old wellington boots! This batch 11 is grand, And having had a couple of wonderful, well put together Islays that worked perfectly "heavily sherried" , such as a special Bunnahabhain, and both a Bowmore and a Laddie straight from the cask - all f which were deliciously dark in colour and flavour I couldn't agree less!! Untypically, having not had a dram for a wee while when I opened this, I began by diluting it by about a third. It worked perfectly, and at this high ABV it takes water well. and rather reminded me of the "Select" but with more going on. Which proves its DNA. Great Fun. And highly recommended.
A powerfully rich scotch. Even better than #9! I’m gonna get at least 2 more. ???
Having read an array of Batch 011 tasting notes that spoke of cantaloupe melon, stone fruits, tropical fruits, lemon zest etc, and other notes that stated Batch 011 was aged and matured in Bourbon barrels , the reality came as a total surprise. This is Islay swamped in Sherry. Yes, there’s plenty of tarry rope, peat smoke and ash, but those ‘traditional Islay’ elements are overwhelmed by way too much dark, syrupy sweet Sherry. Batch 011 would be very comforting on a dark winter’s night in front of a cosy fire, and I’m not sorry I bought it, but it’s totally not what the tasting notes, here and elsewhere, suggest.
Lucky enough to have two bottle of this particular batch. Immense, so much more sweeter and rich than you expect. I’m not a massive fan of the standard 10 year old. Way too phenolic for my tastes. The cask strength version with the much higher abv keeps that in check and is a real treat at 58%. Really doesn’t need watering down in my opinion. Probably the best bottle of Islay Whisky this one. Seriously. A real gem. Shame it’s so elusive and not more openly available. Easiest 5/5 I’ve ever given
Only 3 per customer
£199.00
