For the Laphroaig Oak Select, the Islay distillery has taken whisky from a number of different types of cask, including oloroso sherry butts, white American oak, Pedro Ximenez seasoned hoggies, quarter casks, and first-fill bourbon casks. Quite a selection, wouldn't you say? A laid-back addition to the Laphroaig core range of single malts.
Classic, medicinal peat notes up front, supported by citrus-y, chocolate-y sweet notes and soft barley.
The peat is there, but it's taking it easy and letting the bright notes of lemon, green apples and mint stand out. Darker baking spice notes develop further on.
Medium length, peat remaining in sight until it's over.
It doesn't pack a huge punch of peat, which might be just the ticket for introducing someone to the wonders of Islay's smoky expressions.
Very palatable
"Laid back" looks suspiciously like a euphemism for "not very good". I have not actually tried it, so this is not a review, but a marketing alert. Sounds like some sub-par casks have been blended, bottled and punted out way overpriced. May even (wild guess) be matured in hybrid casks made up of assorted staves of the woods mentioned in the description (such casks exist in the industry I am told- and are shipped in, flat-packed in bits). I would imagine it's like a supermarket generic Isla- you wouldn't complain at £20- but £36 is a joke. Like I say-- I don't know-- it's only an opinion based on it having no age statement... which is a bit much for something that costs £36 . Probably for the US market where they murder it with ice and won't know good from bad.
If stronger peat and smokey notes is not limed avoid this. The sweet note is easy noted but an almost over powering peatnote first assaults the senses.. Four drops of water opened this to develip the subtelr tobes. Interesting but not to my taste
I found this an enjoyable change from the big peated Islay's. Sure its a tad different and mellower for want of a better word, but this is a good thing IMHO & theres no mistaking it's origins & I will definately buy again
Ive tasted different styles of Laphroaig. With an open mind Select is very good, IT has Laphroaig s typical peat, but abit laidback and sweet and abit like a smoked cherry ricola.
