After describing the different regional differences of the whisky in Scotland I wanted to jump right into what I consider to be the most distinct region - Islay. The Laphroaig (pronounced La-Froyg) 10 year is likely the most common Islay that you will come across in a pub; generally, if other Islay whisky is offered, there is also a bottle of Laphroaig 10 available as well.
Laphroaig offers a 10, 18, and 25 year, as well as the Cask Strength, Quarter Cask, Triple Wood, and the PX Cask. I have often seen the Quarter Cask and Cask Strength for sale by the bottle, seldom by the glass, but they become a bit more difficult to locate after that. Usually they can be found in shops that specialize in whisky or special-ordered, but the PX Cask is only available in duty-free. It's not often that a pub will offer more than just the 10, if you're lucky you might find somewhere that does.
When I used to tend bar I would describe the aroma of Laphroaig as "campfire in a glass". The aroma is very smoky, it does indeed smell like a campfire does on the morning after being burned. In the making of Laphroaig malted barley is dried over a peat fire. The smoke from this peat, found only on Islay, gives Laphroaig its particularly rich flavor. With such a smoky aroma you can't help but want to taste it and see what this whisky has to offer.
That being said, the nose was intriguing, pleasant, and intensely peaty. The other guests at my table were all well aware of the whisky I was drinking, the aroma was so strong that it carried around the table quickly. The whisky is a bright gold color, the legs indicated that it was a lighter whisky. Upon my first taste I confirmed that it was a lighter whisky, the mouth feel was light and smooth. This came as a bit of a surprise after the intense aroma. I was able to taste the peat, but not as strongly as the nose would have suggested. As I swallowed I could feel the whisky open up, giving me a slight burn in the back of my mouth and throat. I know that I personally dislike the vague, overly-artistic whiskey reviews that I come across but in this case I have to head in that direction and tell you that if I closed my eyes, the Laphroaig experience made me feel like I was drinking whisky in a cold, foggy, seaside pub in Scotland. The aftertaste lingered, much to my delight. The distiller and I agree that this whisky is best enjoyed neat, or with just a splash of water to release the flavor.
Rating: 4.5 out of a possible 5 Casks.
Reason: Laphroaig 10 is an excellent whisky. I really enjoyed doing this review as it gave me a reason to have a glass of Laphroaig, something I have not done in years. There is something satisfying about conquering a whisky with such an intense aroma. That same aroma can be what turns a lot of people off to Laphroaig, they fear what the taste will be. The taste was in fact light and refreshing, and inspired me to seek out the other Islay whisky on the market. I really enjoyed the experience of the whisky, it is fun to drink with company and to share the aroma with. Price is about $8-$9 per glass, $45-$55 per bottle.
***Authors Note - In the Makers Mark review I stated that Makers Mark was going to begin diluting their whiskey from 90 to 84 proof. They have since decided against that due to the negative response from their consumers - the pitchfork wielding mob I mentioned. Since their reason for diluting was a matter of supplies and the lack of them, I would expect to see the price per bottle raise in the near future.
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