Laphroaig 10 Year Old Cask Strength Batch 16

Description

Laphroaig 10 Year Old Cask Strength Batch 16 Bottling Note

Uncover the intense heart of Islay with the Laphroaig 10 Year Old Cask Strength Batch 16, a powerful single malt produced by the world-renowned Laphroaig Distillery. Situated on the rugged south coast of Islay, Laphroaig has been crafting its distinctively peated whisky since 1815, a history deeply rooted in the island’s unique maritime environment.

The annual Cask Strength release is celebrated among enthusiasts for delivering the purest, most uncompromised expression of the distillery’s ten-year-old spirit. Batch 16 is matured for a minimum of ten years entirely in charred ex-Bourbon oak barrels. This careful maturation process in the distillery’s coastal warehouses imbues the whisky with an unparalleled complexity. Bottled at a potent natural cask strength of 58.5% ABV, it is non-chill filtered and only barrier-filtered to remove char particles, ensuring the full, rich character is preserved.

Each batch offers a slightly unique profile due to the varying casks used, and Batch 16, bottled in 2022, is notable for being one of the more powerful releases in the series compared to its direct predecessor, Batch 15 (which was bottled at 56.5% ABV). Batch 16 balances Laphroaig’s quintessential savoury, medicinal peat smoke and maritime salinity with layers of rich sweetness. Its profile is characterized by prominent notes of vanilla, sea salt, and a delightful hint of savoury spice, maintaining the classic Islay intensity that defines the distillery. This golden-hued dram is the ultimate expression of the land, sea, and air that make Laphroaig truly unique.

Laphroaig 10 Year Old Cask Strength Batch 16 Tasting Note

Nose: Sweet and complex, featuring rich stewed apples and hints of caramelized pastry crust. A strong foundation of dense, iodine-infused peat smoke emerges, balancing softer notes of vanilla, cereal, and worn, tanned leather.

Palate: A bold, immediate arrival, intensely sweet and spicy. Notes of vanilla, sea salt, and freshly ground black pepper intertwine with a savory profile suggestive of smoked mackerel or pork crackling. The peat is robust and warming, delivered with an oily, full-bodied texture.

Finish: Long, deep, and satisfyingly warming. The smouldering peat smoke is persistent, drying slightly alongside elements of gentle baking spice and charred oak. A final touch of lingering sea salt rounds out the experience.

Overall: Overall This batch is a powerful and assertive expression of Laphroaig, exhibiting a fine balance between the distillery’s core medicinal/maritime character and unexpected orchard fruit sweetness. It drinks best with a controlled approach due to its natural strength of 58.5% ABV.