I started this series around cask and batch-strength malts with an underappreciated, juicy, sherry-cask-driven malt blend, Old Perth’s take on cask-strength whisky. It is only fitting for the series to end on something diametrically opposite: a review of the Laphroaig 10-year-old cask strength. A heavily peated and often hyped Islay single malt beloved by many peatheads.
This review also has a particular meaning for me. The standard Laphroaig 10 makes for one of my formative whisky memories. It was the first whisky I had during my university student days, which I drank to savour rather than as a pure tool for inebriation. Unfortunately, either due to my changing taste or to a slump in the quality of the liquid, the current Laphroaig 10, while OK, turned out to be far from memorable when I reviewed it. And frankly, I was probably feeling generous that day. I would score it lower today.
You should not be surprised to hear that my expectations for the cask-strength version are set high. The hope of rediscovering that attention-grabbing power from that evening 25 years ago is, at least in part, the reason to grant this malt the place of honour as the closer of this series.
TL:DR: 6.5 good stuff, almost very good
Score*: Miles ahead of the standard 10 year old but the lack of integrity knocks the score down
The Origins of the Laphroaig Cask Strength
The current Laphroaig Cask Strength 10-Year-Old is a special first introduced, in its current batch-numbered form, in 2009. An earlier version of the Cask Strength 10-Year-Old, sometimes referred to as the “Green Stripe” bottling, was sold from 1995 until the introduction of the current batch series.
This expression was initially offered as a limited release, and although it is still described as such on Laphroaig’s website, it has become a regular yearly release since 2015. 2021 was a notable exception, with three batches released in a single year (batches 13 to 15). I imagine this sudden acceleration of the release schedule was driven by the demand for single malt during the pandemic.
It is then perhaps reflective of the current cooling market conditions that the latest release available for sale is the batch of Laphroaig 10 cask strength I will review today: batch 17, released in 2023.
For many whisky fans, this is considered, together with the Cairdeas, the pinnacle of Laphroaig’s output. Time to see if the hype is justified.
Laphroaig 10 year Cask Strength
Specs
Price paid: 74.90€ on offer, usually available between 80-90€
Batch: 17
ABV: 58.3%
Natural colour: No
Non-chill filtered: Yes (although it is not stated on the bottle
Casks Used: Not stated on the bottle or on Laphroaig’s website, but widely reported to be exclusively ex-Bourbon casks
Tasting Notes
Colour: That intense orange gold that, unfortunately, seems to be the popular Pantone choice for whiskies with the addition of E150 colouring.
Nose: The typical Laphroaig peat band-aid note is there, but it’s not very intense. The peat continues, more woodfire now, together with sea brine, crackers (or saltines if you prefer), a slight fruity note, maybe canned peaches in syrup and a little liquorice. Overall, it is pleasant but less powerful than I expected.
Taste: Rich, mouthcoating. A lot more peaty than on the nose. Band-aid, but also cresote, and charred wood. There is a clear maritime note, malt, some citrus and some dark caramel. The long finish, while still phenolic, is sweeter, caramel, a generic fruit note and salty.
It is a bit hot, so I wanted to see what a tiny drop of water would do. As is often the case, to my taste, the results are mixed. Water adds more phenolic complexity, both on the nose and palate, but, at the same time, it turns an already pretty linear whisky into a rather simple drinking experience.
Score: 6.5, good stuff, almost very good.
Let’s start with the positives. If you are looking for a bottle to experience Laphroaig’s character in its purest form, this is arguably the ONE bottle to choose. But that is also the problem for me. When Laphroaig advertises this as “a truly natural experience” (their words, not mine), why do they drown the whisky in what is clearly a significant amount of caramel colouring?
That choice does knock down the score for me, but less than you might assume. I have to admit that I expected a lot more, in part due to the hype. Even without the orange tone in the glass, this would score a respectable 7, but not more. It is a well-made whisky and true to Laphroaig’s unique peat. It is also pretty linear in its evolution, and I would love just a touch more complexity in the glass. It’s a personal preference, for sure. If you like this straightforward character, do not let me discourage you from grabbing a bottle of the Laphroaig 10 Cask Strength.
* Scores are based on the scoring scale used by Dramface, slightly modified to allow half-points
As I mentioned at the beginning, this post concludes my Cask Strength whiskies series. I will take a short break to revamp a thing or two on the site, and after that, it will be time for another stop of the journey away from Scotland. Stay tuned!
Interested in my take on a specific whisky style? Check the full Journey here and jump to the relevant Chapter.
After writing my tasting notes, I always find it interesting to look at other opinions. Here are a few other reviews of Laphroaig 10 cask strength I enjoyed:
Whisky Lock (comparing batches 15, 16 & 17)
Dramface (with an uber geeky review of batch 14)
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