Category: Single Malt
Producer and bottler: Laphroaig Distillery
Region: Islay
Fortress: 40%
Volume: 700 ml
Bottling date: 01/31/2020
Barrel type: ?
Age: 10 years old
Filtration: yes
Dye: present
Nose. Such a strong smoke, a fire, as, for example, the closest competitor in terms of exposure to Islay, Ardbeg 10, is not observed in this Laphroig's nose, rather it is fading coals and ashes, ash. However, the nose is by no means unattractive, forgettable. The aromatic profile is based on marine motifs (iodine and algae, fish marinated with pepper, bay leaf and lemon slices) and medical themes (pills, Vishnevsky ointment) with nuances of sheep's wool. Fruits (apples, pears, plums, cherries), berries (dried blueberries, cranberries, lingonberry juice), vanilla and the malt theme of shortbread cookies add sweetness to the nose. In general, it turns out smoothly tailored, rich in diverse nuances, a wide aromatic palette.
On the palate, peat, burnt wood, pepper bitterness manifest themselves more actively, but still not as powerful as we would like. Probably due to the low proportion of alcohol and the use of cold filtration, the whisky does not feel dense and oily enough. In general, the taste can be described as sweet and smoky. There are the same iodine, marine motifs as in the aroma, again smoked fruits, lingonberry juice, toffee, baked chestnuts, hot smoked chicken, dried smoked mackerel, very sweet malt. Due to its excessive, as for me, sweetness, the taste is sometimes perceived as rather cloying.
The aftertaste is of medium duration, dryish. Peat, sweet malt, spices, iodine.
An interesting, non-trivial whisky spoiled by excessive reduction. A good entry-level malt from Ayla, but I still find its taste a bit unbalanced, emphatically malty, as if you are drinking a smoked sweet lager with demidrol (hehe). So, for now, its competitors of about the same age (Ardbeg, Bowmore, Caol Ila) from our favorite island, I personally, give more pleasure. Well, this one is purely in the mood.
Rating: 83 out of 100.