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.
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Another sad monument to the 'get it out there quick' brigade. It may be "pleasant and a nice gentle dram' but it certainly isn't a true Laphroaig. Why compromise a great product in the chase for quick profits? By the way MOM YOU really should be able to spell the word Laphroaig correctly - not as you show at the head of the bottling note!
I was very lucky to try this at the distillery in May, shortly before it was officially released. Sitting out on the bay at the back of the visitor centre in the sunshine this went down very well indeed. It's lacking the peaty, earthy punch of the house-style that seasoned peat-heads will certainly see as a weakness. In its own right, it's very fruity and light and refreshing. I'd happily have this in the garden on a sunny day in place of a gin and keep the smoky, oily, hearty whisky in the cabinet until Wintertime.
The nose is classic but then it's slightly downhill. Not as good as the 10 and far short if the QC this is a good intro to Laphroaig but ultimately a let down. Nice idea poorly executed. The only Laphroaig without a long finish! If I could I would swap a full bottle of select for half a bottle of QC. Worth trying but maybe wait for a friend to buy a bottle and have a glass of theirs, then you can buy a bottle of the kick ass cask strength instead.
A shadow of a Laphroaig
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.
