Laphroaig 10 Year Old 5cl Miniature
Two Laphroaigs - Part I
0 297
Review by @talexander
- Nose24
- Taste25
- Finish24
- Balance24
- Overall97
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I've spent a good chunk of this Labour Day weekend working (we have the Toronto International Film Festival starting in three days!), and the other good chunk parenting - but since today is a holiday, I felt I had to taste something - in fact, two from one of my very favourite distilleries. And I'm sure glad I picked what I picked!
This old mini of Laphroaig 10 Year Old comes to me from Igor Kossov. It is pre-Royal Warrant but otherwise, I do not know how old it is. It is also bottled at 43% ABV, rather than the standard 40% today. And the colour tells me there is a lot more going on here than with today's spirt matured in ex-Maker's Mark casks...
...as the colour is surprisingly dark! Some definite sherry cask influence here, which, besides the ABV, immediately sets this well apart from the present-day ten year old. On the nose, it's sherried peat done brilliantly: rum-soaked raisins, nutmeg, wet campfire, burnt sugar and vanilla, with an umami meatiness not unlike lapsang souchong tea (which I just tried for the first time yesterday!) A couple of drops of water softens everything beautifully. This is blowing me away. Deep and rich, and not the explosion of smoke we have today.
On the palate, we again have the perfect mix of peat and sherry. Lots of red berries, especially cherries. Hot pepper mixes with lime pith and Worcestershire sauce - if that doesn't entice you, I don't know what to say. With water, all is more pronounced perfectly. Sublimely delicious. I am transported.
On the finish, a smoky, long, sensual journey with sage, lemon and some barbecue smoke. It seems to go on forever, which is good as you do not want it to end. So this was the Laphroaig pre-Fortune Brands, when sherry casks were still used quite extensively. I love the present-day Laphroaig 10, and when I reviewed it here two years ago I gave it a 90, proclaiming it my new favourite whisky. Well, I've given a lot more whiskies higher scores, but this one? Now THIS could be my new favourite whisky. Thank you so much, Igor - I just wish this was more than 5cls!
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You make this sound as appetizing as Julia Child preparing a Beef Wellington. I also give the present-day Laphroaig 10 a 90, so I can only imagine what a 97-rated version would be like. You want more than 5cls? Based on your notes, I might be happy if someone dipped a toothpick in this and swabbed it across my tongue.