The Laphroaig PX Cask is made with whisky matured in three types of cask - American oak casks, Quarter casks and the titular Pedro Ximénez casks. This leads to a flavour profile which ties together classic, powerful Laphroaig smoke and wine-like sweetness. It was originally released for Travel Retail.
The peat is less prominent on this variant of Laphroaig and with the subtle hint of the warmth of a wine, this whisky makes quite an impression
First glass from the bottle and gave it half an hour to air. The initial fussel oil found in a deep second cut into the feints was very strong. Didn't dimish with time. The quarter cask has accelerated the maturation to a limited extent as this expression lacks depth, explaining the still strong presence of the feinty notes, which even an American White Oak cask could not diminish through purification, even the traditional use of Makers Mark by Laphroaig. I suspect that the PX cask may well be a seasoned hogshead rather than a full on low in Tyloses highly porous Gallician oak cask. Licorice notes are present, but the strong syrupy, Xmas cake cherries, currents, figs, raisins and sultanas are not there in depth. A strong presence of fresh wood with green resinous notes, which could come from the fresh ends of a hogshead or the quarter cask. Certainly, IMO needs a longer period of maturation, but in a full blown sherry cask, if I am right about the seasoned hogshead. Could be wrong. Lack of depth is strong imo Will return to update review once the bottle has been opened for a while and am further down as oxidation in the bottle can change a whisky.
It followed a great Balvenie. Harsh and difficult to swallow. I’d stick with regular Laphroaig.
I really don't like peaty single malts, though the sherry cask really takes the edge of this single malt! I added water as the extra strength of this made it far too heavy for me...
Very good, and a huge step up with a spoon of water! My opinion...
