Laphroaig 10 Year Old

Description

Laphroaig 10 Year Old Bottling Note

Laphroaig 10 Year Old is a true Islay legend, crafted at the revered Laphroaig Distillery on the rugged south coast of Islay. This single malt has been a benchmark for peated Scotch for generations and remains the foundation of the distillery’s core range. Laphroaig’s heritage is deeply tied to the land, using its own proprietary peat cut from the bogs and drawing water from the remote Kilbride Stream. This commitment to traditional, time-honoured methods is what grants the whisky its utterly unmistakable character.

This iconic expression is matured for a full ten years in ex-Bourbon barrels, an essential step that provides a deep foundation of vanilla sweetness and charred oak influence. The unique location of the warehouses, positioned directly on the edge of the Atlantic, allows the spirit to breathe the bracing, salt-laden Islay air throughout its long maturation. This environmental factor imbues the whisky with a distinct, profound maritime salinity.

Laphroaig 10 Year Old is famous for its powerful and challenging character. It delivers a dominant, instantly recognisable peat smoke that is often described as medicinal or antiseptic—a hallmark of its Islay origins and high phenol content. Layers of seaweed and brine intermingle with the smoke, creating a powerful sense of place. The Bourbon cask aging introduces a balancing sweetness and hints of vanilla and spicy oak, creating a multi-layered profile that is both robust and complex. It is a bold, uncompromising, and essential taste of Islay.

Laphroaig 10 Year Old Tasting Note

Nose: Presents an immediate, bracing character of iodine and fresh sea spray, underpinned by dry, earthy coastal peat smoke. Behind the initial intensity, a measured sweetness of vanilla pods and soft, charred oak surfaces, offering necessary contrast.

Palate: The entry is oily and notably full-bodied, delivering robust bonfire smoke and a distinct maritime salinity. Mid-palate introduces a layer of warming spice and burnt citrus peel, followed by the characteristic medicinal note that defines this classic Islay style.

Finish: The finish is long and deeply smoky, characterized by lingering ash and dry oak tannins. The powerful maritime influence fades slowly, leaving a pleasant warmth of black pepper and smoldering wood embers across the palate.

Overall: This is an archetypal peated single malt, defined by the assertive marriage of coastal peat, profound medicinal intensity, and the smooth, decade-long framework provided by the ex-bourbon cask maturation.