Effectively I suppose we ought to contact on that pronunciation just before we dive in — it’s “La Froyg” (or at least that seems to be the consensus among non Gaelic-speakers). It’s also “The most richly flavoured of all Scotch whiskies” — or so offers the slogan for Laphroaig 10 — a daring assert for the 43% ABV dram without a doubt, specially presented this Islay shares its dwelling island with Lagavulin. But any individual who’s experienced a sip of Laphroaig appreciates, even though contestable, the “rich flavour” of the 10 yr previous warrants far more than a little consideration.
Sipping it now as I create this, I am strongly hit with nostalgia for the past time I loved a dram of Laphroaig, on the working day my good buddy Mark obtained married. One of the other groomsmen generously supplied the bottle, and the wedding social gathering got to sip it sluggish ahead of the ceremony.
I contemplate this a mark of character in a whisky – if I can absolutely associate it with a specific second, it signifies it has enough special features to stand out alongside a variety of other smoky scotches I have had before. Laphroaig 10 has its possess issue heading on, no question. But what does it taste like?
Laphroaig 10 Scotch Evaluate
If you read through the term “Islay” higher than you almost certainly previously have some preconcieved notions about this whisky. For just one, you in all probability feel this is a big peat-smoked fella’ and you’d be absolutely proper. 1 disgruntled LCBO overview compares it to the odour of burning rubber, nevertheless I’d have to politely but firmly disagree with that characterization. Certainly far more like bandaids.
In fact, I actually imagine Laphroaig 10 is one particular of the additional reserved and approachable Islays out there, and I adore it for that. It pours a deep gold, searching each year (and more — probable colouring) of its ten years. The nose is massive and burly, but lest chokingly acrid than, say, Lagavulin 16 which I have a tendency to take with a little bit of water. Laphroaig 10 brings intensive iodine and peat smoke but also a pretty lemon-sucker sweetness, and just a kiss of the ocean to spherical matters out.
The taste is more of what you (most likely) like. Carried by the medium-heavy overall body, to start with through the door is that smoke, but it’s fulfilled with a hug by a very sizeable brown-sugar sweetness. I believe in a considerably less potent dram I’d come across it too sweet, but in this article it feels pretty nicely balanced. The 1st-aid package notes play nicely in the sandbox and lend a welcome complexity.
Last to join the celebration is that candied lemon — it seriously does flavor like lemons preserved in sugar, or fairly the syrup from them. The end reveals extra of the ocean-brine notes, with a lip smacking saltiness, the iodine, and plenty of that sweetness long lasting for a looong time.
So is Laphroaig 10 “The most richly flavoured of all Scotch whiskies”? No (I have some cask strength bottles I’d like it to meet up with). But it is damn fantastic, genuinely damn good, and I might actually give it the controversial nod in excess of Lagavulin 16 (personal preference). If you’re seeking to department out into the genuinely smokey classification of Scotches, I believe Laphroaig 10 is a great location to get started.
The submit Laphroaig 10 is (Much) Less difficult to Consume Than Pronounce appeared to start with on Elegant Imbibing.