Laphroaig 18-year-old

Overall rating
87.52/100
ratings
260
Whiskybase ID
WB256133
Category
Single Malt
Distillery
Bottler
Distillery Bottling
Bottled
14.05.2024
Stated Age
18 years
Strength
48.0 %
Size
700 ml
Label
New Design 2023/2024; Boxed
Bottle code
L4 135 SB1
Barcode
5010019001061
Added on
21 jun 2024 9:49 am by brummie
UncoloredNon-chill Filtered
Overall rating
87.52/100
ratings
260

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Whisky reviews for Laphroaig 18-year-old

70 users have left 71 reviews for this whisky. Average rating is 87.52 points.

Read the reviews
  1. Saftkenner Plus scored this whisky 89 points Connoisseur

    I compared this 2024 bottling with the 18-year-old predecessor bottle (WB42886), which I had in the glass at the same time.
    • Nose
      90 90
      A really great maritime-looking nose, and in my opinion, a typical Laphroaig one. Compared to the previous 18, it is less soft and tame, which makes it a little more exciting for me in direct comparison, even if it does make it seem a little younger. I also find significantly more mineral-salty notes, the citrus notes are a little less pronounced. Overall, I really like the nose.
      In addition to the smoke, there is a lot of vanilla, very fine citrus notes, lemon balm, toffee, light leather and delicate oak spice.
    • Taste
      89 89
      Very nice sparkling start, nice and creamy in the mouth. The smoke is also really powerful, brings no ash, and is again accompanied by maritime-salty and phenolic notes. Also vanilla, lemon zest, passion fruit, caramel, a hint of pineapple, oak spice.

      The old 18 has slightly more pronounced citrus fruits and seems a little softer overall, but has more ash in the mouth, a little less smoke, but actually has similar phenolic notes in the mouth.
    • Finish
      89 89
      Medium to long finish. Clear smoke (campfire by the sea), salt flowers, burnt caramel, pineapple and passion fruit in the fire, leather, a hint of tobacco, oak spice.

      I have to admit that I was initially skeptical as to whether the new bottle could keep up, but in direct comparison I now have to admit that the new bottling is on par, at least as far as my taste and perception are concerned. In comparison, the new bottling has slightly less pronounced citrus fruit notes and seems a little less polished, as the focus here is more on the maritime notes (surprising that some connoisseurs do not perceive this maritimeness in this bottling). It also has more smoke, although this could be because it has not been allowed to rest in the bottle for 10 years. But it is precisely because it appears a little less smooth that I particularly appreciate the new bottling, as these rough edges that are revealed here are exactly the ones I love about Laphroaig and that, for me, are part of it. I would be hard-pressed to accuse the new bottling of being watered down or adapted to the "modern whisky drinker". This Laphroaig has what I was looking for - because you can tell that it has been aged for a longer period and at the same time I still find in it what I appreciate about the young Laphroaigs, what many of the over-20 Laphroaigs, however elegant they may be, have sometimes lost. The new bottling is of course not a complexity monster - but the old one wasn't either...
      In conclusion, I'm already very happy that I don't have to look for the old bottles of the 18 at auctions, which is something I was actually afraid of at first. A nice new edition. I like it!

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