Review #12 & 13: Laphroaig 10 and Laphroaig Select
Islay - 10 Years - Chill Filtered- Color Added - $43 (on sale for $40) - 43%
I am a fan of Laphroaig and the 10 year has been a in a rotation of daily drams for a while. I have seen the Laphroaig Select and often considered getting it. Select is supposed to be largely matured in American Oak but also have QC, PX Cask, Triple Wood and 1 in it. Between reviews and the NAS, it has been hard to pull the trigger on Select. However, tonight I look forward to the showdown of the Laphroaig daily drams, 10 vs. Select.
Color - Burnished
Nose - Peat, medicine and iodine. Some floral notes but too weighed down by peat to pick out. A little bit of smokey stale ocean.
Palate - Initial cereal is quick and passing. Honey, fruit, peat and nuts.
Finish - Medium short - Dry with caramel, nuts, and rubbery/plasticy peat
Overall - 7.5 - When I have the 10, I am not overwhelmed by complexity. However, the peat that Laphroaig brings never disappoints. A one note daily dram is not a big thing to have on hand. The only thing I wish it had was a bit more viscosity to coat the mouth a little more. It is funny with the 10, if I have more than a dram of it, I swear the next day, at random, I will pick up the slightest smells of its peat. I still have not had the cask strength, but will have to pick it up one of these days (though hard to pull trigger at 50% more than the 10).
Laphroaig Select
Islay - NAS - Chill Filtered- No Color Added - $50 - 40%
Color - Deep Gold
Nose - Laphroaig peat but the volume got turned down from the 10. Fruit comes in, lime and orange zest. Past the fruit comes a much more muted iodine. I pick up the slightest sherry notes but they come and go quickly.
Palate - Wow, does this feel watery compared to the 10. Treacle, iodine and smoke.
Finish - Short & Mild - Dry, but mildly dry. Marzipan and green apple.
Overall - 5 - This is underwhelming compared to the 10 to say the least. It lacks body, complexity and has a mild unimpressive finish. While it mutes the peat to try to bring balance, it falls flat due to being watery and lacking in complexity. Maybe I am not a fan of American Oak as I didn't care for Macallan Double Cask either. To me, this feels like the compromise that makes nobody happy.
Rating system is price influenced as it is based on my shopping decisions when buying a bottle.
10 Best in Show
9 Great Dram for Special Occasions
8 Worthy of consistent spot in my collection
7 Worth picking up a bottle if in the mood
6 I would buy a bottle if it went on sale
5 I would drink it happily if offered
4 I would drink it if offered on the rocks
3 Maybe some soda will make this potable
2 I'll Pass
1 Toilet cleaner
Comments
Post a Comment