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 drink a lot of Single Malts, ranging from Oban, Arran, Lagavulin, Macallan etc etc. All have their own tastes and smells, all their own experience, of which I enjoy and respect the journey. Select is a journey I want a refund on my ticket for, its the only single malt I find very hard to drink.
I don't understand the negativity, it's not the best Laphroaig have ever offered but it's in no way bad. It does dial back on the usual peat levels so it gives the opportunity explore some of the underlying Laphroaig flavours that are otherwise hidden.
Smells like TCP .. Taste like burnt tyres and ash . Very overpowering .. What was they thinking flogging this ..avoid
After a long day, I opened my first bottle of Laphroaig Select. The colour is a beautiful light/ pale gold, more cereal than characteristic Islay peat. Good on the nose. Pleasant mild smokiness with orange and cereal blending in. Smooth on the palate. Kind of sweet. Mild peatiness, fruity and a bit oily. Was there a hint of ash? Overall liked the dram. But definitely, it is not your usual Laphroaig. Flavours are not so full; understated and subdued maybe. Yet I poured myself another dram. If you are looking for "typical" Islay peat, this is not your dram. In comparison to 10 years, this felt a bit thin.
Love a Laphroaig, but this has gone badly wrong! Smacks of clearing warehouse space and flogging the remaining mixture as an "experiment". Pay the extra couple of quid and get a Laphroaig 10, great dram.
