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.
I don't get why the reviews are so bad on this I'm drinking this right now and thoroughly enjoying it. First thing I notice is the smoothness incredibly smooth and drinkable with that medicinal peaty laphroaig goodness. Good complexity to this too and no added color only downside is that it's 40% abv. I honestly think I might like the flavor on this more than the 10 year classic I love the hints of sherry fruit in this. For less than $40 very happy with this. Cheers! The sugarbear
I will say its a wonderful clean taste to it. With a lage mix of peaty and a small salty islay finish with small fruit taste running into the whiskey and washes into your mouth. I do prefer the quater cask as its richer. But this is a nice whiskey.
If this select was from another brand would the reviews be different? Because it's not like another Laphroaig is it down rated?
An emasculated Laphroaig. Where is the medicinal nose? The peat has been watered down. This is a shadow of the whisky I know and love. It's not a bad whisky I suppose, just not proper Laphroaig. Back to the Quarter Cask, or the 10yr old.
Much less character, depth and balance than the 10, and it's only $5 less than the 10 in my town. Not a bad dram, perhaps a "bridge" to Islay for the uninitiated? Dunno, sticking with the 10.
