Laphroaig (10 year)
November 27, 2010
Laphroaig is about as classic Islay as you can get. Very heavily peated, light bodied, a powerhouse of maritime flavors and smoke, smoke, and more smoke. Sometimes after a glass of Laphroaig, my mouth tastes like I’ve just finished smoking a pair of cigars. It really sticks with you, but in a good way.
Pale straw in color, slightly oily in the texture and with almost no thickness of body, this malt really lets you focus on the peat. Earthy, smoky, a tinge of sea flavors (seaweed, brine, iodine from the seaweed that grows profusely along the island’s coastline), and did I mention smoky?
I personally only buy the 10 year-old expression, because I feel that aging any further dampens the purity of the peat flavors. Also, at approximately $35, it’s probably the best deal in Single-Malt Scotch anywhere. I keep a bottle on hand at all times.
With Laphroaig’s Friends of Laphroaig program, the purchase of a bottle grants you the “lease” on one square foot of the distillery’s own peat bog. Yes, you can even show up at the distillery in person and they’ll give you a map to your “plot” and a dram of their whisky “against the chill sea breeze.” You can also register each bottle you buy and redeem points for merchandise in their online store.
Here are my tasting notes from my most recent glass of the 10 year-old Laphroaig:
Nose: A pile of burning hay and grass. Campfire. Scorched wood. Seaweed or sea air. Hickory smoked meat. Black pepper.
Palate: Thin body, ethereal. The peat is foremost, with notes of ash, freshly-dug earth, hardwood coals, and smoked fish. As it develops, sweeter flavors emerge. Rosewater, saltwater taffy, buttery croissants, malty beer, oatmeal.
Finish: Lingering, with hearty smoke and yet more peat. Also some oiliness on the tongue. The smoke will last all evening – I’ve even woken in the morning with my mouth tasting like a cigar.
A dash of water rounds the flavors out – you get more cereal sweetness up front, and the aromatic qualities are more noticable. This dram is somewhat improved by the addition of a minute amount of water.
I am well satisfied,and am now on my Tenth bottle.
I keep a bottle just for my brother and I and very few friends.No I’m not mean but friends appreciate good malt.
i personaly dont get it although the modern chilfiltered 40% is meant to be tamed the web says. im just getting a lake or something very damp. most clean. sweet. and the smoke is like bbq Hickory smoke. not getting tobacco and its not roaring phenolic blast your head off like a 3d series. never tried the other one. im sure it’s very good.
@J WHITE, I unfortunately haven’t tried the older versions of Laphroaig 10. I believe these days if you want a true phenol blast, you pretty much have to look at Ardbeg or some of the limited-edition Bruichladdichs (like The Octomore). I think Laphroaig 10 is still pretty drinkable when I’m in a peathead mood, and the price is just right. When I want something more elegant and masterful, I look to Lagavulin 16, Talisker 10, or something like Ardbeg Corryvreckan.
This was, tonight, my first taste of a single malt whisky, and my first bottle of a non-blend purchased. It about knocked me out of my chair. The nose was awesome, like the outdoors with maybe some licorice? The Palate: intense and smokey, I definitely understand the “iodine” label I read on a review. And was that black pepper and grass? The finish was what made me not get buyers remorse. It was so pleasant, like waking up after a night by a campfire, or after a cigar. and there maybe was even a hint of vanilla? something welcome anyway…
I think I like it, and I definitely am a sucker for the FOL club. An extra mile that builds a fanbase. Not upset at my purchase, but will research a less intense bottle to add next time. Tullamore Dew and Black Bush will taste like schnapps in comparison.
The Laphroaig 10 is indeed my daily dram, and I always have a bottle on hand…however the Laphroaig 10 cask strength is the greatest scotch whisky I have ever tasted. As a craft-presented Laphroaig (no color added, and barrier filtered to remove the wood), it is in your face, and still affordable at only $65, as opposed to the $80-90 for the Lagavulin 16. Also, it must be mentioned that the Lagavulin 16 is watered down at 43%…Should at least be 46% for the money. Man, I love your reviews! Great job.
Matt,
Thanks for the comment! I have a sample of Laphroaig CS that I’m planning to review in the near future. Have you had their Quarter-Cask? It’s only $10-$15 more than the 10 year, here in California, and I think it adds some nice body and excellent wood integration, which is somewhat missing from the standard 10. Sort of like an Ardbeg Alligator for everyday.
I have indeed had the quarter cask. While in most places I find it talked and written about in high regard, I do not find it that great. I find the sweetness found in the quarter cask…well, not for me. I’m not a sweetness lover (in my whisky). Drams that I love are the drier, smokier, oakier, peaty, and earthy whiskies. Talisker 10 is another of my daily drams, but the price can be a tad too high. That is why the cask Laphroaig 10 is so good. A mere $15 dollars above Talisker, and so much more ethereal. You are so right though, for the money (which is a phrase I hate by the way)…there is no better whisky than the standard Laphroaig 10…By the way, here in Ohio I am able to purchase the 43% version. It’s far superior to the 40%. Again, I love your site. Keep up the great reviews!
I’m sorry to tell you that 10yo Cask Strength has e150a in it I’m afraid. FOL says ‘coloring has no effect to the taste’. Well all due respect I strongly desagree! It would be a lot better without caramel.
@spep, thanks for the comment. Caramel coloring is a bit controversy among the whisky-drinking public. The consensus is that whisky at large would be better without it, and I agree. However, I do not think it alters the taste. See http://www.masterofmalt.com/blog/post/Can-you-taste-Caramel-%28E150a%29-in-Whisky.aspx for more.
I love Laphroaig, they are my favorite distillery. As soon as I can afford it I never will be without a bottle.
I also agree with Matt, the Original Cask Strength (Well, just Cask Strength now) is my favorite in their line, and my favorite whisky. I was lucky enough to grab a bottle of the first batch after they started small-batching it. I keep the now-empty bottle on my desk.
I think this review is horrible!, Smoke, Smoke Smoke? I find the smokiness as an afterthought and found the sweet sea air and malty sea flavor and sweet peat are what makes this a good scotch. Smoky ??? sure but if that’s mostly what you get than give up scotch and go back to wine tasting.
I’ve approved this comment despite your horrible attitude, because I don’t believe in censorship on the Internet. That said, I can’t imagine how you can expect to have a fulfilling or constructive conversation with someone with that kind of approach.
Contrary to Jeff I think your review was spot on. I drink the scotch I don’t think a great deal about it. There are days when I want the Laphroaig and days when I want some McCallen. The phenolic taste brings memories of the electrical work that I do, but it is the earthy taste that drifts through my mouth that reminds me of the woods and huntin and campfires of the past.
Spot on review.
I”m on my 5th bottle of Laphroaig 10 after a great friend of mine turned me on to it. I must say, after tasting several single malts including Lagaluvin 16, I still come back to Laphroaig. I really enjoy the peaty taste, and the smoothness of the Laphroaig. I”m sold! Being from Oregon, I’m anxious to taste McCarthy’s Oregon Single-Malt and compare…
McCarthy’s is very good – the peat profile is a little different than Laphroaig (less salty/seaweedy), but it’s every bit as good. In a blind taste I would swear it was from Islay.
Bought my first bottle of Laphroaig 10 this past week. It took me a couple of drinks to become accustomed to the flavours and aroma. Defiantly a bottle I will keep on hand at all times and a hit with friends. Thanks to is site for putting me on to some amazing options.
The friend that was to be the best man at my wedding some forty years ago introduced me to Laphroaig. He has sadly passed but I still have the wife and the Scotch, many bottles later.
This is my favorite whisky by far. I always have a bottle around. Definitely try the Quarter Cask or full Cask strength – they’re even better!
Can anyone comment on the Laphroaig Triple Wood in comparison to this? How far/similar from the Laphroaig 10 is it?