The colour of chestnutoloroso sherry is significantly darker than both batch 11 and batch 10 (which are almost the same at burnished, maybe 11 is a notch darker than 10). So obviously there is a higher share of sherry casks in this batch which is promising. The nose is more powerful too with stronger wine-driven aromas beside the peat and wood which strengthen the other flavours too, it seems. Compared to this batch 10 smells rather simple with too much wooden notes while batch 11 is nicely balanced and leaves more space for the malt-driven aromas to enfold. I like both batch 11 and 12 with 11 being more delicate and 12 more powerful.

The taste is clearly driven by the peat and the sherry on a firm but never dominating wooden backbone. The malt is a junior partner in this setting only but it is detectable, still. To be honest, I like this setting even if it is not perfectly balanced. Instead it is powerful and very impressive - it reminds me of the very first (and best) PX batch but with more power due its higher abv. No, it is not layered but the mix of flavours is delicious as it is. Batch 10 is completely unimpressive compared to that with just bitter peaty and wooden flavours in an unbalanced setting. Batch 11 is more complex and layered with a close-to-perfection harmony of malt, peat, sherry and wood. I like it a little better than batch 12 but both are very different on the palate and in terms of quaffability they are on par (for different reasons).

This dram arrives powerful on the palate with a creamy and warming texture that covers all of the mouth instantly. There are some hot moments (no wonder at 60.1% abv) but they are not distracting at all. The finish is long and adds more chocolatey notes and impressions of cold bonfire ashes at the sea shore. No bitter or drying moments, all stays tasty and enjoyable. The finish of batch 10 is shorter and adds no new impressions, unfortunately. Batch 11 keeps its nice taste throughout the finish with some additional chocolatey notes (which are not as bold as with batch 12) and spices. I go for another draw of batch 11 and 12 (batch 10 is much weaker, again). Some water turns this dram punchier what happens often with such powerful whiskies while a further reduction smoothes it but it takes away the untamed power too. I like batch 12 best when neat, despite its 60.1% abv.

A well-defined Laphroaig nose: phenolic smoke, seaweed, warm tar, a little pepper, marjoram, allspice, sea salt. In addition fresh fruits, vanilla and honey, very mild herbs. Removes licorice. Hansaplast. It doesn't get any more classic. And you still think: 60.1%, but there will probably be nothing in the nose for the time being - puff cake, there is - immediately - a lot.

Hard to believe, but nothing burns on the tongue here, rather it glides comfortably warm and leaves a clear peaty fragrance brand. Freshly paved road, still steaming. Sun-warmed seaweed, light breeze from the sea with some surf. Just before sunset, a lively pounding peat fire on the beach. Vanilla, honey, toffee, milk chocolate, coffee powder, licorice snails and there, the hospital corridor with Hansaplast and gauze bandages, Dr. C. at station 2, please.

Medium length and slightly dry. Smoke-driven, of course. But with nice notes of dried apricots, sea salt and seaweed. A little more machine oil and tar, espresso beans and liquorice.

Beach bonfire, drying seaweed, some sweet yellow fruit hiding beneath the classic tarry rope and salty old driftwood.
Herbal and even floral notes appear after a while in the glass.

Phenolic up front. Slightly sweet, cough syrup, oysters, fruit de mer, lemon puré, gooseberries, menthol, anise, thyme. Really rather complex.

Slightly drying, much like licking beach pebbles after bonfire night. Minerally and herbal and going on and on.

Smoke from the campfire, pleasant sweetness and vanilla tones, the 60.1% are well integrated and hardly stand out

sweet approach with pleasant power and typical lapin notes and pleasant warmth on the palate, with the addition of spices over time - cadermom, subtle ginger, white pepper and others; despite the strong volume percentages very pleasant to drink - a light caramel-cream note develops in the end, quite a well-rounded affair

The drop rolls down the throat of medium length and is pleasant and leaves a long-lasting, pleasant feeling in the mouth

The typical Laphi CS contrast: ash, phenolic smoke and that along with a wonderful sweetness, a lot of power - position your nose a little further away, plus a little herbs and vanilla

At first sweet and creamy, then the smoke and alcohol set in, quite tangy, citrus fruits come in between

Creamy pastries on the palate, the smoke and the vanilla sweetness dominate for a long time