Laphroaig 30

If you like all the ones in the range you list, the 30 will blow you away! The 25 would also. Worth the money for a bottle? Not sure. I was lucky enough to try them at two different year's SMWS Extravaganzas.

I recently saw a bottle of the 25 at my local grocery (which has the best prices on whisky here in New Orleans), and it was $500. I assume the 30 is at least as much. As much as I love Laphroaig, and have tried all the expressions mentioned, I just can't see myself parting with that much cash for a bottle.

No! I'd rather six bottles of Quarter Cask. But you'll never know until YOU try.

I picked up the Laphroaig 30 yo back when I was turning 30 (6 years ago now). At the time I got it for $215 in Seattle. It was a good deal then! (If I had picked a few extra bottles I could make some money on it now).

I opened it along with the 10 yo, 15 yo, and the 10 yo Cask Strength. The 30 yo has sherry casks in it which make it a very different Laphroaig then the other standard releases. It was nice and smooth with a bit more attitude then the 15 yo. It was interesting to compare it directly with the 10 and 15 because you really watch the peat and smoke slip away. I wouldn't have said it was better then the 10 only very different.

Now the Cask Strength blew it (and everything else) away. It was far more complex and intense. It was all things Laphroaig turned up to eleven.

Since then I have compared it to the Quarter Cask and the Triple Wood. I still like the 10 y old Cask Strength Red label Laphroaig best but the Quarter Cask is a close second. I think the Triple Wood is very similar in profile to what you will get with the 30 yo simply because they both use sherry casks. The Triple Wood works less well simply because the peat and sherry are too much at odds. In the 30 yo both really seemed to integrate better . . . it is simply less of both.

If you like it smooth and subtle you might love it. I certainly like it better the Glenanything 30 yo. However, when I pick up a Laphroaig that is the last thing I am thinking about. If you are talking the ultimate Laphroaig I will grab the Cask Strenght 10 yo every time. If I want age I would grab the 18 yo (so much better then the 15 in my opinion).

Hope that gives you a window into my Laphroaig world view.