Morning, all. Good times at the tasting last night. Really didn't care for any of the Auchentoshans. Liked most of the Laphroaigs. Only real dud of the evening was the Laphroaig Select, which the rep said was "selected" from other casks of the 10 Year, Triple Wood, Quarter Cask, etc, and blended together. To me, that sounds like scrap whiskey that didn't fit a profile so they just mix it all together and sell it cheap.
sort of like the description of how they salvage tobacco to make them Papas Fritas...
''Very smooth for Laphroaig-the extra aging has mellowed this whisky. Soothing honeyed malt, creamy vanilla and toffee provide a bed for peat smoke, charcoal, tar, along with more subtle brine, smoked seaweed, anise, ginger and citrus. A, gentler, creamier, more tactile, less medicinal Laphroaig when compared to some of its siblings (Cask Strength, 15 year old, 25 year old, and even Quarter Cask). Will you prefer the new 18 year old to the 15 year old it is replacing? That depends. I enjoy the balance and subtle complexity of flavors with the 15 year old, but I also like the enhanced richness, mouth-coating creaminess of the 18 year old. The higher strength (and no chill-filtering) of the 18 is certainly a bonus.''
Malt Advocate Rating: 90pts that marketing had me going for the 18 yr old Laphroaig select. it's all how you are introduced to a product. But I acknowledge Joes sense of what he likes.
We had the 18 Year last night, but I honestly didn't like it as much as some of the others. I find that I tend to prefer scotches a bit on the younger side. I suspect that's because they're still new to me, and "mellow" and "subtle" flavors from a scotch are still a bit lost on my palate. I need the flavors to jump out at me a little more.
Dollar for dollar, my favorite last night was probably just the base Laphroaig 10 Year, followed by the 10 Year Cask Strength. After that, the Triple Wood, and then the Quarter Cask. We also tried the 2014 Cairdeas from Laphroaig. Also good. Not sure where I'd fit that in the rankings, probably close to the top.
I would equate Laphroaig (and a number of other scotches...not all) to discussions of cigar aging. For some cigars, you like the pop of fresh pepper and some other flavors that seem to really stand out. With age, the pepper mellows considerably and the flavors smooth into something more homogeneous and subtle. Laphroaig 10 has a bright fresh in your face presentation that is considerably mellowed in the 18. I prefer the 10 as well.
The worst thing Laphroaig ever did IMO was to discontinue the 15yr and make it 18yr, it lost too much of it's character. It used to be my favorite scotch, I'd buy it at Xmas time but the 18yr version just isn't as good
