Laphroaig Cask Strength

I think I haven't had a 10yo CS in my glass for too long. The last was batch 7. Before that 6, 5, 4, 3, ... What can I say? A shadow of himself! Immature. Young. Metallic bitter. Unbalanced. Where has the complexity of the first matches gone? Where's the power? where's the spice Batch 15 just tastes like smoke and alcohol. I would prefer the standard 10yo (although I haven't had a bottling of it in my glass for a long time).

Nose: less intense compared to b.012-b.014, extremely meaty, stewed white sausage in onion, medical smoke, iodine and bandages, sea crustaceans, oysters, a bit of alcohol, vanilla, powdered sugar, citrus fruits, almost imperceptible fruit . Taste: very seaside, very salty, very dry, coffee, vanilla, lemon peel, a bit of a whiksy sour on Lapek, creamy, tart wood, medical atmosphere, linoleum, cocoa powder. Finish: long, very warm and scratchy, alcohol or white pepper, salty, a bit nutty, dark chocolate with 95%-99% cocoa, strawberry liqueur.

Peated

Already a very good neat pour, but better when reduced to about 50-52%. Really tasty whisky, the nose improves a lot as the bottle empties. 6 months after opening the bottle: Tropical fruity, maritime, medicinal, sweet-chemical on the nose. Already quite mature, nostalgic for me and I don't know why (maybe some fruity-gummy candy?). Maltier on the palate, light honey thickness, very sweet-sour and then smoky-peppery. Intense and tasty as hell. The finish is medium-long, and even though it dries out a bit from all the smoke, it's still very aromatic and cohesive. Recommended.

A very good cask-strong Laphi, although not quite as fine as Batches 012 and 013. (The tasting note comes from a comparison with Batch 013)

What can one name as a reference here? Laphi CS is itself the reference when it comes to smoky, cask-strength whiskies aged 8-12 years. The high alcohol content is hardly disturbing in the nose at all. The smoke dominates the alcohol: bacon, wonderfully roasted in dripping oil, but also a fine vanilla sweetness flows into the nose, a sweet tobacco scent, one also thinks of peach. In the mouth, the sweetness dominates at first, until the smoke takes hold of the tongue and palate, then comes a little wood spice - chocolate more in the lighter dark range. Undoubtedly it gets wilder in the finish, now the alcohol content can no longer be denied. The Laphi stays in the mouth for a long time, you shouldn't try any other whisky after that, the Laphi ends the evening.

This review was written in Korean and translated with ChatGPT

A bold expression with irreplaceable Laphroaig peat character, rich sugar and grilled fruit notes.

Young & Smoky, 19Sep2025: Lagg Corriecraive https://www.whiskybase.com/whiskies/whisky/236689/lagg-corriecravie-edition 85+ Longrow Hand Filled Distillery Exclusive (06Nov2024) https://www.whiskybase.com/whiskies/whisky/268353/longrow-hand-filled-distillery-exclusive 85+ Highland Park 15yo NoNe 2010 Hungaricons#1 https://www.whiskybase.com/whiskies/whisky/282618/highland-park-2010-none 88- Ledaig 10yo OB Hebridean Moon https://www.whiskybase.com/whiskies/whisky/274631/ledaig-10-year-old 87+ Laphroaig 10yo OB CS#15 https://www.whiskybase.com/whiskies/whisky/211936/laphroaig-cask-strength 88- Kilkerran Heavily Peated OB Batch#9 https://www.whiskybase.com/whiskies/whisky/242964/kilkerran-heavily-peated 86- Kilkerran 8yo OB 2015 SC Heavily Peated https://www.whiskybase.com/whiskies/whisky/264282/kilkerran-2015 87+

Another perfect dram from Laphroaig.

Once again, unfortunately, a note on the discrepancy between advertising and truth: The marketing department of Laphroaig had texts on this batch 15 on their website for Germany: Colour: "The vibrant tawny color hints at the full power of this whisky and hints at complex notes of burnt oak." puff cake! Because the label on the back of the bottle expressly states: "With dye". Why is this done to us over and over again?

A comparatively very reserved Laphroaig. No comparison to batch #12 - 14 at all!

[December 2022] I did not like last year's Cask Strength batch (No. 14) because it was much, much simpler and spiky (aggressive) than all the previous ones, with added caramel instead sherry casks. So the question is, did they go further down this rocky road witch batch 15 at Laphroaig... ...no, they did not, luckily. Still this is not on par with the great batches of the past but it improved significantly over batch 14. Obviously, they decided to add some sherry casks to this batch again (beside the caramel which still is in there). I did a head-to-head with batch 11, and batch 11 wins in every dimension (which was expected) - but the difference is not that dramtic as it was with batch 14. Still it lacks the complexity and balance of older Laphroaig distillations (before the Beam management switched the distillation regime to output maximisation), but the much higher share of sherry casks is able to compensate this to a certain degree. Because there are so many other great detailed reviews here already, I am lazy and skip these.

Very closed, but tasty, solid whisky. I think it's worth drinking more than one serving to try it in full :)

Very tasty drink, met my expectations. Very intense profile of Laphy, but the sweetness of powdered sugar in the aroma combined with meatiness and iodine typical of the brand is very funky!

One of my top three whiskies of all time. The oiliness and dense feel of this whisky is unmatchable. I tried to add 10ml of this in 30 ml of the very weak and mediocre Laphroaig select cask and the latter was completely changed. Try it for yourself!

Islay session, 24Nov2024: Ardbeg 14yo Anthology - The Unicorn's Tale https://www.whiskybase.com/whiskies/whisky/256740/ardbeg-14-year-old 86+ Bowmore Vault Edit1°n - First Release https://www.whiskybase.com/whiskies/whisky/88163/bowmore-vault-edit1n 87- Laphroaig QC https://www.whiskybase.com/whiskies/whisky/20113/laphroaig-quarter-cask 88- Laphroaig 10yo CS#17 https://www.whiskybase.com/whiskies/whisky/258022/laphroaig-cask-strength 88+ Laphroaig 10yo CS#15 https://www.whiskybase.com/whiskies/whisky/211936/laphroaig-cask-strength 88- Laphroaig 10yo CS#12 https://www.whiskybase.com/whiskies/whisky/159190/laphroaig-cask-strength 89+

Need Breathing time

It has an oily viscosity and a high-intensity bouquet. I have aromas of intense peat smoke, smoked bacon, maritime notes, herbs, honey sweetness, vanilla, pipe tobacco, spicy oak, herbs and ash. Moderately complex. A good balance between sweetness and dryness in terms of taste. The alcohol is relatively well integrated and it has a heavy body.

Blind Aroma Alcohol sharpness, maritime, salty, sweetish, spicy, some wood taste Sweet, spicy, chili, the sharpness goes with water. And the seasoning becomes nicer finish Medium length, sweet, chili, smoky note

Definitely the sweet one but I can't say it's bad. Even though I prefer the batch 13, this is also good one for who prefer a bit sweet but still smokey Islay whisky. It's more sweet than it's smoke. I believe it's a refresh bourbon barrel maturation.

Peated

A new batch of 10 year old Original Cask Strength bottled in December 2021 and released in Summer 2022. What is also annoying about this bottling: It is coloured. Why? I don't want colored premium whiskys! www.glen-efze.de

Laphroaig Rocket Fuel: 2023.04.02. Laphroaig 10yo Cask Strength - Batch 15 https://www.whiskybase.com/whiskies/whisky/211936/laphroaig-cask-strength 88+ Laphroaig 10yo Cask Strength - Batch 14 https://www.whiskybase.com/whiskies/whisky/195979/laphroaig-cask-strength 88- Laphroaig 10yo Cask Strength - Batch 13 https://www.whiskybase.com/whiskies/whisky/189372/laphroaig-cask-strength 89- Laphroaig 10yo Cask Strength - Batch 12 https://www.whiskybase.com/whiskies/whisky/159190/laphroaig-cask-strength 89+ Laphroaig 10yo Cask Strength - Batch 8 https://www.whiskybase.com/whiskies/whisky/82295/laphroaig-cask-strength 91+

My first Laphroaig 10 CS experience. 30 ml. sample. Pretty "compact" dram, intense albeit quite simple. Not harsh, but lacks elegance. Casks influence is minimal and the spirit profile is quite clean and dominated by smoky nuances. OK taste, mediocre finish, challenging nose for those who don't like medicinal aromas. Not a bad whisky at all but at least with me all the rave about the series was not confirmed.

Kern

powdered medicine's bitterness

N 87 Buzz quite strong. Peat 4 (medicinal 4. Ash 2) Honey 4 Flower 3 Herb 4 Tropical fruit 4 (Rambutan 4. Pineapple 2) Lemon peel 4 Toffee 3 Cream 3 P 87 Feet 5 (medicinal 4, ash 3, seaweed 2, salt 2) Honey 4 Flower 3 Tropical fruit 3 (lychee 3, pineapple 3) Vanilla 3 Cream custard 3 Herb 4. Sage feeling F 89 Interruption-Long piece 4 (medicinal 4, ash 4, seaweed 2) honey 4 flower 3 tropical fruit 4 (pineapple 4, lychee 3) savory taste of cracker 3 pepper 3 cinnamon 3 clove 3 The finishing layer is particularly good compared to 13, 14, and 16 in 10cs batches.

Smoked ham and grilled pineapple.

Rather reserved for a Laphi 10 CS - but still a really tasty batch for me. If you are actively looking for a rowdy and high ABV profile (punch), you should choose one of the other batches.

A solid 10 CS, but unfortunately in the tradition of the last two batches before that. A little more balanced here than the last two, but overall too woody.

Certainly not a miracle of complexity, none of them are. But as always exactly what you expect/hope for. From the last few years, the 12 continues to stand out for me. I see the current 15 in the solid midfield. Overall, it tends to be on the dry and bitter/strong side, whereby bitter in no way means annoyingly bitter. For €75, as always, absolutely brilliant for anyone who likes strong Islay malts and proof that not all whiskys are constantly getting more expensive. I find it really delicious again and I am happy that Laphroaig lives consistency in price and taste, while the issue of packaging and shipping is approached in a sustainable and innovative way. It doesn't get any better!

https://399s.com/7809.html Color: Gold Smell: peat, iodine, citrus lemon, cocoa, Tasting: Peat first, then sweetness, salty cream, woody astringency, stimulation, vanilla Finish: long, iodine, ash, salty, coffee, pepper, As always, the style of Laphroaig 10cs is my favorite style, and I don’t get tired of drinking it

Tasted against a Laphroaig Cairdeas Warehouse 1 (WB209611). To be fair, the Cairdeas was freshly cracked while the CS has been breathing for a few months and there isn't much left of the bottle. Conclusion: The Cairdeas has the nicer nose, but then lacks the power of the cask strength. Tend therefore to the 10 CS. Precisely because the CS can develop similar odor notes with water.

Impeccable medicine aromas and flavors turned to maximum: seaweed, menthol, eucalyptus, balsams. Very saline in taste, malt sweetness apear with time. Great balance. Long spirity and gunpowdery aftertaste. Very coherent robust malt. 24/23,5/23,5/24.

Another pleasant occasion, another bottle!) A solid, good, drinkable, powerful winter whisky! 22 22 21 22 87 Another delicious positive drinkable batch!

A cask version of the flagship ten from the cult distillery on the south coast of Islay, batch #15. The release is matured in bourbon casks, has batch strength, is not chill-filtered, but is tinted with caramel. Nose: The aroma is bright, assertive, rich. Vanilla, malty sweetness, honey apples, salted peanuts, fried bacon, smoked fish, ash, seaweed, iodine, sea breeze, bandages, tar soap, ginger, white pepper, freshly planed board Palate: the taste is assertive, rich, bright, creamy. Vanilla, honey, plenty of nuts, spices, sea salt, bright spices, smoked meats, nori leaves, nuances of iodine, astringent tannins Finish: Bright, warming, tannic. With massive malty sweetness, smoked, marine, seaweed, tar, spice and oak bitterness. Balance: a bright, explosive, active whisky. The distillery's signature style in bourbon expression is presented in all its glory and at maximum speed. N22,P23,F21,B22

https://whiskylovingpianist.wordpress.com/2022/10/13/feis-ile-2022-laphroaig/ N: This one’s got some colour,… from wine, sherry,.. both? Gentile overall with a creamy light sweetness wrapped around idiosyncratic phenols. T: Creamy light-sweet again, quite some grapey-ness wrapped up with the iodine-y phenols/oils/fats/acids/esters/aldehydes,… a chew of sorts. F: At the tail, rather sour – and/or “bitter”, says Tom – ever-medicinal and saline. C: The grape elements erk me a tad, but quibbles aside, I find this one very decent.

A great whisky! 86 points.

Sample No. 10 in the 2022 advent calendar. This Laphroaig makes no compromises: Incredibly strong, incredibly smoky, with herbs and sweet malt and caramel. Fantastic!

The definitive version of Laphroaig 10 - intense and well-rounded.

Another item from Laphroaig and once again it turns out to be a feast for flavors. Beautifully arranged, quite intense, with lots of citrus fruits, sea breeze, smoke, but also pharmacy notes. I recommend.

A replacement for 14th batch that's all. Shame it is colored again...

Nose: typical smoke, sweet, vanilla, butter biscuit, light note of cherries, some pepper •• Taste: sweet, slightly spicy, smoke, somewhat maritime, slightly salty •• Finish: medium length, sweet smoke with spicy notes remains •• Conclusion: cask strength is not very noticeable. A great not too complex Laphroaig. Very balanced for 10 years.

21+ 22 20+ 21 85 Ash, a lot of ash, it hides youth well even in the fortress. But I think I'm being picky, because I drink in warm summer weather. A good drinkable mossy winter whisky!

Less full and sweet than the 14, but still a nice hit in the mouth

1952) Laphroaig, 10YO, Cask Strength, Batch 15, Release 2021

Another great CS batch. A sure bet.

This batch is number 15 and was released in December 2021 at 56.5% ABV. Like all such releases, it has been matured in ex-bourbon casks. No information is provided regarding colour or chill filtration, so it is best to assume both, despite Laphroaig being famously light and the ABV rendering such filtration pointless. The retail price for this was £78 ($105US), but prices have been plummeting over the last few years On the nose, there is immediately that wonderful Laphroaig aroma. Darkly toasted bread, sweet apricot, salty ham, a smouldering campfire. Hints of sweet grain, fresh oak and pipe tobacco with a touch of leather, nutmeg and vanilla. It spreads across the palate immediately. Smoky, charred wood, Black Forest ham, iodine-rich sea air. There is a subtle citrus freshness alongside maple syrup, sweet and spicy with notes of vanilla, toffee and sea salt, as well as a hint of cinnamon and pepper. Creamy caramel, ripe apricots, spicy oak and dark chocolate. Cask strength? No, the alcohol doesn’t bite at all; it merely lends the whisky body and power on the palate. The long finish offers warmth, espresso and salted caramel. And a hint of pipe tobacco smoke. Pleasant and inviting, with lingering spice, oak tannins, iodine and sea salt. Maturation: ex-bourbon barrel. Laphroaig’s signature style: medicinally potent, peaty and best enjoyed before bedtime. The Laphroaig 10 CS series packs a punch, yet always delivers an incredible aroma. When it comes to intensity and smokiness, the Laphroaig CS series is hard to beat.

A lot more smoky, savory, and less sweet than other batches. Still very nicely balanced

Slightly weaker nose than the batches before it. A Laphi 10 CS in which the alcohol is not so well integrated - it initially dominates in the mouth! Between the meaty BBQ notes there are always metallic nuances that I don't like. I love Laph 10 CS... but with this one the sample is actually enough for me.

Can't be disappointed with this one. A true Laphroaig with plenty of kick. Is it outstanding .....NO but is it flawless....YES

Direct comparison with WB55062 (Batch 006) Overall, a good whisky that borders on being very good in my opinion. In my perception, this whisky is even better than the older batch, although the older batch has a higher rating on whiskybase. But I probably wouldn't necessarily need a whole bottle of it.

Immense white oak influence, peat isn't overpowering, smoke and peat dissapates after 1 minute in the glass, pears and raw green spices. Water isn't neccessary here. Definitely not like the other cask strength bottlings.

Could be so tasty in and of itself without that medical miss. Just a pity, but will probably never become a friend of this Laphroaig note. I don't necessarily have to have the dirty (tar) note on the palate in this form either.

One of the weakest batches I've tried. Flat and disappointing, for a licensed batch this is a failure.

22 22 21+ 22 87+ Another delicious drinking positive batch!

no brainer for peatheads - value for money brought by every single batch so far is excellent

I wish you all the best, dear batch comparison squad! I am happy with this batch, softness, not much of the pungent Laph mojo, but nice composition and lovely drinking experience.

Certainly not bad, but a lot weaker than the previous bottle.

The new Laphi Cask Strength Batch 15. I compared it here with Batch 14 and in the end Batch 15 wins with 90 out of 100 points (Batch 14 with 88 points). What makes the difference? Batch 15 has more maritime notes, more pepper (white and black), a nice tobacco note and a nice salty, maritime note on the finish. Batch 14, on the other hand, is lighter, more citrus, more floral and slightly sweeter. If you like the latter, then clearly buy Batch 14. Batch 15: Nose: Pepper in the background before a slightly dominant tobacco note, the sweetness composed of vanilla and light honey notes discreetly in the background, light bacon smell paired with the typical Laphi medicinal smoke and a salty sea breeze Taste: tangy and slightly salty, alcohol barely perceptible and wonderfully integrated, light caramel and coffee or roasted aromas Finish: Nice and long and salty, maritime notes, white pepper glides down the palate, again nice subtle tobacco notes and very light iodine. Conclusion: buy recommendation! Those who like maritime notes, a clear salty finish, tobacco and pepper will love the Batch 15. On the other hand, if you like it lighter and sweeter, paired with more citrus notes and generally more floral, you might want to take a look at Batch 14. Anyway, I'm definitely a Batch 15 fan!

Quite good. But not as good as Batch 14 on first try

Odour: german Greasy base note, iodine, more on the fat than differentiated side, honey, burnt wood, ashy, medicinal, sweetish base note Taste: Tar, spicy wood, alcohol present, peppery, ashy, medium-bodied. until long aftertaste Colour: Copper tone, narrow to medium water rim, clear Conclusion: More on the bold side than differentiating - thus similar to Batch 13, and the dye used is unmistakable...

excellent. It owes nothing to its reputation. And for the price of €80, it is an amazing whisky

Very similar to the last two batches 13+14 with slightly more intense oak and a little more dryness - 10/21/2022

Tasting Notes Colour: Russet Smell: Subtle aromas reveal sweet grains, smoked cedar and manuka honey, fresh oak and pipe tobacco with hints of shoe polish and aged leather with waxy church candles, vanilla creme , nutmeg and vanilla. Palate: Sweet and spicy with charred oak strips, toasted marshmallow, toffee and sea salt, vanilla and Belgian caramel waffles. Roasted Coffee Fudge Creamy Sticky Toffee Pudding with a hint of white pepper and cinnamon chips. Finish: Long, floral finish with lingering spice, oak tannins, iodine and sea salt.

Warm tube Laphroaig cask strength. On the one hand, nothing new, on the other hand, everything is just as tasty. I really like the notes of offset printing on coated paper in Laphroaig’s latest releases, like sniffing a new magazine or encyclopedia while standing in the smoke of a grill and butter sizzling in a frying pan.

Alcohol well integrated, rather on the rough and ashy side, finish dry

22+22+22+22

Still very enthusiastic about Batch 014 (Jun 2021), the successor Batch 015 (Dec 2021, available since August 2022) for the 10 CS is coming onto the market unusually quickly. At 56.5%, this batch has a comparatively low alcohol strength, only the Red Stripe, Batch 003 and Batch 007 were lower. That may be the reason why Batch 015 is so accessible, as it presents itself wonderfully smooth on the tongue without being the slightest bit boring. In this respect, it fits perfectly with this year's Càirdeas, which is also a comparatively "tender" Laphroaig. So here is the warning: Friends of a brute Laphroaig style, hands off! In my second (and by no means last) bottle of the 014 batch there was still enough material for a comparison tasting 014 vs. 015, so that I can state here that both batches are competing for the crown; at the end - with slightly different individual grades - to finish together and at the same time. Batch 014: 91 - 91 - 90 = 91/100 Batch 015: 90 - 91 - 91 = 91/100 So it can go on. Finally, for the sake of completeness, a word about the color: Yes, this batch is also "With dye" again (thanks to the German food law, which makes this transparency possible). Yes, Laphroaig really didn't need this. But does it prevent me from enjoying this whisky? Very clearly: no.

Somewhat disappointed. Yes, a recognizable profile in the aroma, however, at the same time, for me, there are too few medicinal notes and too much burnt wood. In the taste and finish, there are also more sour and bitter components than I would like. 22-21.5-21.5-21.5 (86.5)

Nose as always, a bit grassy and bitter at the back. But as always with this batch high level.

This is the weakest batch I have ever tried. In the aroma, peat is the main background and it is very difficult to catch additional notes. Coal on the palate with great bitterness from wood. There is no Laphroaig in that sense and I'm really sorry about that.

Sulfur, unbalanced and immature. At least the alcohol is well integrated.

My first experience with the 10 year old at cask strength. It suits him really well.

Tasted at the Utrecht Whisky Tasting Festival, so this review is based on a single glass. What a feast this whisky is! It has all things yummy in the right amounts. Goes right to the top of my list.

2024… and another bottle is uncorked. Given that contemporary whisky prices are completely insane, this one is definitely around 88-89 points! Honestly, +1 point for the price performance ratio... Of course if you’re a Laphroaig lover. Bold, sweet and spicy.

22.5+22+22+22

Powerful, as expected, but still round and harmonious.

A very good oily thick smokey sweet malt, well worth the extra £ over the standard ten.

Chemical, tar and rope. Salt and pepper. Greenish. Powerfull with ashy tones

Smoke, cucumbers, seaweed, salt, light green salad in a smoky room. recognizable profile.

Anyone who likes the Quarter Cask will also like, probably even love, the Batch 015 of the cask-strong ten-year-old. Everything is more intense, the smoky notes of bacon plums roasted over a campfire are intoxicating, the 56.5% is not too heated. A fine, strong Islay classic.

OK, I like batches 12, 14, 16 and 17 a little better today, although they are all of the same high quality. Batch #15 is too mild and flowery for me compared to the other bottlings. But that's more a matter of the day, if my mood calls for a fruity CS from Laphroaig, then this one is perfect.

I rate this one very high, maybe too high but it is certainly a good one. Until further notice a 91 points whisky Did anyone else notice the change on the back label? Going from: we recommend that you add twice as much water as whisky To: we recommend you add a small amount of water Were the earlier versions that much stronger? ????

I’ve already reviewed Batch 13 [9.9/10] and Batch 14 [9.8/10], and now it’s time for Batch 15. Laphroaig 10 CS has become one of my favorite whiskies, perhaps my favorite full stop. The balance between the distillate, the age, the cask influence, and the ABV is simply perfect from my point of view. It’s a whisky I find absolutely irresistible every time I pour a dram, and with which I have a kind of love-hate relationship because, although I simply adore it, it also frustrates me a bit to know that I could completely abandon my project of always trying new bottles, buy dozens of bottles of Laphroaig 10 CS for the rest of my life, and take up a different hobby, since, against all odds and without intending to undervalue the full potential of this hobby, I have the bitter underlying feeling that I’ve already beaten the game. In other words, for me, these Laphroaig 10 CS releases are something of a dead end. If I pour a dram of this whisky, I’m not going to pour anything else afterward, because it seems unbeatable to me. It’s strange to realize that I probably won’t find anything I like more, and that at best I can hope to find bottles I like more or less equally, but for different reasons. On the nose, simply beautiful. Peaty, sweet, salty, coastal, funky, woody, tropical. It begins with notes of intense, aromatic, oily wood (intense vanilla, nutmeg, cinnamon, a good dose of wet leather) that immediately give way to complex coastal notes (sea breeze carrying aromas of sun-dried seaweed, fresh fish stalls, smoked salmon, lovely iodine, etc.). Between these two extremes, you find everything one could wish for: tarry ropes, grilled pineapple, sea salt-soaked pier wood, decomposing organic matter on the beach, fresh tobacco, sweet malt, dried apricots, honey-glazed almonds, thyme… even a touch of farmy funk. The properly smoky or toasted notes are fairly subdued; it’s the peat, with all those organic and seafood-like nuances, that shines on the nose. On the palate, the impact is tremendously forceful. Fatty, oily, saturated with organic and maritime peat, very woody as well. Gentle toffee, woody vanilla, dark chocolate, serrano ham, maple syrup, and white pepper intertwined with seawater, seaweed, grilled seafood, and kippery notes. The toasted notes are more evident, with hints of campfire and coffee. All of this is adorned with countless details: more leather, green forest notes, nuts, sour pineapple, sweet peach, herbal honey, greasy bacon, bitter nutmeg… The mouthfeel seems honestly perfect, combining excessive yet balanced woody astringency, fishy salinity, sticky sweetness, and refreshing fruitiness in a dense, full-bodied liquid. The finish is very long and intense, as bold as one would expect: salted caramel, roasted pineapple, and spicy wood covered in miso soup, oysters by the shore, and grilled herrings. Lots of dusty nuts, salty apricots, and vegetal vanilla. Menthol, grassy, and astringent notes stand out, from an almost virgin oak. It builds up and goes insane: the smoke turns into ashy, charred oak, the pepper develops into chili, the funky iodine notes accumulate and shine, accompanied by a strong bittersweet sensation. It slips easily into bitter and charred territory, which prevents it from reaching its full potential. The quintessential maritime, sweet, salty, tropical, woody, funky, explosive peat bomb, the benchmark against which all other peat bombs of the 21st century are measured, at least in my mind; the Platonic paradigm of what a whisky aspires to be, not only unapologetically but proudly peated. A celebration of excess, overflow, and exuberance, presented with a somewhat nostalgic elegance and enigmatic restraint; all the immoderation and richness that a mere physical entity in liquid form can contain, so brimming with intensity, personality, and originality that any imitation or parody is impossible. Absurdly evocative for someone like me, who was lucky enough to spend the summers of his childhood in a small coastal town, surrounded from morning to night by all the aromas of maritime climate and cuisine: the taste of seawater in the mouth, seaweed roasting in the sun on the rocks, the stinking grilled herring stalls along the promenade, the half-rotten wood of the pier where tourists fish, the chocolate waffles from the nearby fair… I can’t shake the feeling I’m drinking a pirate concoction straight out of some romantic 19th-century literary mythology. Anyway, this is quite a woody whisky, which works perfectly since the distillate literally cries out for a strong counterbalance, so the final result is absurdly well balanced and coherent, in my opinion. It’s also worth mentioning that it doesn’t need water at all, at least for me, as it is perfect straight from the bottle. It’s a total sensory overload, and on the palate it’s a true feast: phenolic, iodized, greasy, astringent, sweet, salty, bitter, acidic, rancid, organic, funky, farmy… It needed quite a long time to oxygenate in the bottle; when I first opened it, it was much more restrained. Whereas Batch 13 seemed to emphasize the maritime seawater notes more, and Batch 14 the sweet vanilla notes, this Batch 15 emphasizes the aromatic, astringent, and tropical wood notes; although the differences are subtle and will likely vary from person to person. Even if my scores are gradually decreasing as I finish the batches, it’s probably not due to the bottles themselves but to the fact that they impress me slightly less each time, due to my familiarity with the profile. Probably. In any case, one of my favorite whiskies.

Batch 015 is a fresh, crispy release with lots of spice, medicinal and smoky notes well integrated.

22,5+22,5+22+22