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.
The entry isn't quite as smoky and smooth as my beloved Laphroaig Quarter Cask, but it mellows out nicely in very short order. The smoky peat on the nose is not reflected on the palate whatsoever. Those who appreciate a big, bombastic Laphroaig will find the Select Cask frightfully plain. There's a sweetness here that in some ways balances the peat, but in other ways, almost overshadows it. There is definitely a vaguely medicinal note in the body of the palate, for me a bit off-putting, but still manages to pique my curiosity. I can certainly pick out the spices -- cloves, allspice, nutmeg all come to mind. On the whole, this is a whisky that's hard for me to gauge. Do I like it? Do I not? I wouldn't be comfortable saying an emphatic yes or no to either question. Basically, if I were given a bottle, I'd accept it and drink it gratefully. However, for roughly the same money, I can get the vastly superior (in my opinion) Quarter Cask. I like the Select Cask okay, but I doubt I'll buy another bottle, particularly if the QC is sitting next to it, beckoning.
I cant understand the negative reviews, this is a lovely drink and a welcome deviation from the classic 10yo - the usual suspects are still all in there, but with a slightly different ending - i'll certainly buy it again
Disappointing - for the American market?
as expected...it is an excellent whiskey...I keep buying it again and again.
Really disappointed with it, but other distillers do similar ie Jura Superstition and Glenlivet Founder's Reserve, which in my opinion, are pale derivatives of their more illustrious peers. My maxim is, if it doesn't display an age ie 10yr/15yr etc...leave well alone. Love the 'vesta curry' analogy below :)
