First released for the Travel Retail market, Laphroaig Four Oak features a marriage of whisky matured in a quartet of casks, namely ex-bourbon barrels, quarter casks, virgin American oak barrels and European oak hogsheads. Somewhat following on the theme from their popular Triple Wood expression...
Roasted coffee beans, almond pastries, sawdust and medicinal peat.
An intense waft of smoke as it opens, with earthy vanilla pod and subtle cookie dough following it up.
Drying, quite spicy and long.
Totally watered down. Not a good ambassador of typical Laphroaig quality.
As someone who absolutely loves Laphroaig 10yo and QC, I was very excited when my dad gave me a bottle of Four Oak as a present. The typical Laphroaig smoke and seaweed are on the nose and instantly recognizable, but much lighter than what I expected. Much, much smoother to drink than 10yo or QC, with notes of vanilla adding to the roundness of the taste. I absolutely understand how some people might not enjoy Four Oak as much, considering it lacks some of the typical Laphroaig "edge". I personally fully enjoy it as much as their other products.
I'm a devout Laphroaig man and tried this yesterday after receiving it as a gift - I must say I really enjoyed drinking it! I prefer the Islay flavour to other regions but miss the wood notes you get from Highland varieties so to have a whisky that marries the two as well as this does is a winner as far as I am concerned!
Well guys, give it a chance ? It actually nice sipping drop with no water needed, lovely spicynes and still you will have your dose of peat, citrus and vanilla honey comb. Quite gentle long after taste, not aggressive at all. Not typical Laphroaig but still very much enjoyable ?
Nah not my type of Laphroaig, it's quite spicy though but lack's the typical laphroaig flavors.
