Laphroaig 10 Year Old Islay Whisky 40 % 0.7 l

Among whisky enthusiasts Laphroaig is the epitome of smoky single malts. 

The Laphroaig 10 Year Old probably contributed a great portion to this reputation. 

It is still produced as it was 75 years ago, when Ian Hunter created this dram. 

Today this expression is known as the most tasteful or rather the smokiest Scotch on the market. But the enormous smoke is to be found predominantly on the nose. There it is very heavy with a tendency towards a phenolic aroma. 

After a while, when the nose gets used to the smoke, nuances of salty seaweed, iodine, bromine and a very soft sweetness are arising. 

On the palate the smoky peat is still heavy but maybe a bit less than the aroma suggested. Again it shows the phenolic and clinical character. Furthermore, flavours of a salty sea breeze, iodine, oak and some vanilla from the bourbon casks fill the mouth. 

The finish is still powerful and a little dryer. Even though the Laphroaig 10 Year Old has a massive, smoky character the alcohol note is pleasantly smooth. This is a result of the specially designed stills at the Laphroaig Distillery.

To produce a single malt Scotch like the Laphroaig 10 Years Old, it is important to manufacture the barley in a certain way. Especially the process of the kiln drying can influence the later character of a whisky to a huge extent. At the Laphroaig Distillery the green malt is drying over a peat fire. Thus, the smoky character can be shaped even before any alcohol is distilled. 

The Laphroaig Distillery is located not far from a town called Port Ellen on the Isle of Islay. There it was established in 1815 and outlived quite a few other distilleries. Laphroaig is the southernmost whisky producer on Islay and has its warehouse directly at the shore. That could be the reason for the typical salty nuances, which are part of many Laphroaig characters. 

The Laphroaig 10 Year Old received way too many awards to state them all. Some from the recent years should be listed anyway:

• International Whisky Competition 2015: 3rd Place in the category Best Single Malt Scotch 10 Years
• International Wine & Spirit Competition 2014: Silver Outstanding in the category Scotch Single Malt Islay
• International Wine & Spirit Competition 2013: Silver Outstanding in the category Scotch Single Malt Islay