Bravo! Here you have filled, selected or simply received a cask that the distillery did not necessarily want to get rid of. The distillery character of Laphroaig is clearly felt. It is also noticeable that you are dealing with an older Laphroaig.

After tasting approx. 5cl, a great picture emerges. First, in high intensity, a medium strong but at the same time gentle smoke from a coal fire and tarry ship planks. This is immediately followed by overripe zirtones and orange marmalade. Then some salt, light herbs, very sweet wild and summer blossom honey, vanilla and a hint of caramel. It gives me the feeling of being on an old sailing ship on the Atlantic in winter or autumn - unfortunately absolutely my world and therefore brilliant! The finish is soft and long with the notes already mentioned.

The whisky is incredibly pleasing, but not weak on the chest. I tried it without dilution, it's already perfect! With water, it loses power and intensity and becomes somewhat arbitrary. However, it thrives on its manageable notes and aromas, which may not come close to older complexity monsters, but which are exceptionally strong.
You don't notice the alcohol at all! There are no off notes and the wood influence is manageable.
If I had to classify it, it would be something between a Lagavulin 12 CS (but softer and rounder) and a Laphroaig 18 (but more intense and more "straight").

Great, simple but fantastically intense Laphi with almost atypical smoke aromas. Typical bourbon barrel notes of vanilla, honey sweetness and caramel meet an aged spicy smoke with fruity notes of lemon and orange zest. In the taste, the bourbon barrel notes increase and in the finish the smoke hits the full pot again (hot smoke with cinnamon) and then surprisingly quickly makes room for intense sweetness (lemon cake with lots of glaze) and light oak aromas. medium length

A beautiful Laphi that shows its age and not the youthful, medicinal Laphroaig notes of the original bottlings.