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.
As a huge Laphroaig fan I was rather excited to see this new bottling arrive in the post. What I was expecting was something that is complex and would require time to open up due to the range of different cask influences. I am now half way down the bottle and unfortunately for me this release doesn't reflect the typical Laphroaig quality we fans are used to. Select has some of the Laphroaig peat reek but not the blast that the other bottlings provide. Select is another no age statement release alongside Quarter Cask, Triple Wood & Cairdeas. It is good to see Laphroaig cutting back on the caramel for this bottling which I would encourage for all of the range. Select in my opinion is let down with the strength at just 40%. To wrap this up this is a very young Laphroaig which was a bold experiment and good enough for entry level drinkers but for me their 10 year old is far superior and the cask strength even more so.
I bought a bottle of this and was looking forward to spending an evening with the contents within. What a disappointment. Bland, insipid, weak, almost as if it had been watered down and then watered down some more. Buy the 10 year or Quater cask instead
