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.
Never had Laphroaig before. Because of the cost I forced myself to drink it ! Horrible, tastes rough and unrefined. Thought something was tainted in the bottle until I read other reviews of it !
At 40% all you can taste is the smoke and iodine, which is OK and drinkable. I've bought Aldi's own brand Islay single malt and it's tastes almost identical (probably Laphroaig distillery) but 2/3 of retail price of this. Not a fan of NAS in general but as far as they go, this isn't bad and the price and quality is better that a lot of them.
Here in Canada this select is $69 and the 10 year is $79. For the $10 more the 10 year is worth every penny. More Peat and more defined flavour. Bought both bottles to do a side by side comparison. The select is not nearly as Smokey’s Peaty, it is very smooth. But I wouldnt buy again since it was almost as expensive as the 10 year bottle.
Wow!! Great value for money for us mortals who cant regularly afford the top Islay malts. Laphroaig reminds me of just how special and how discerning the Laphroaig range of whisky is. Just a little peaty with robust rich rounding that makes it an easy and a fun dram to drink at any time of the day. ASCL
Who’da thunk this was going to be like the 10? Eh? Did you not read about it? Did it not occur to you it might be a wee bit different? What it is is a bloody good dram for a summer’s evening. Oh and BTW it gets better down the bottle. Who’d have thought about that too? Never!
