Laphroaig Cask Strength

A very nice nose promised, but...but no... Unfortunately, the taste is dominated by burnt barrels, and this is not at all what I would like to feel in such a famous release, and then a simple dry aftertaste... hmm, a really passing drinking theme, maybe someone will like it, but I am sad, a disappointment of the evening. 22 20+ 20 20+ 83

These 10CS batches tend to be really great, especially at under €70.

Always a pleasant dram, though I'd say batch 16 was slightly better and richer.

This batch of the 10er Cask Strength has a completely different character to Batch 16. It is initially very reserved on the nose, has a distinctly more maritime note alongside the typical Laphi doctor's office and gauze bandages and appears slimmer. It lacks a little of the fruitiness that I really appreciate in the B16. It is rougher and dirtier and therefore reminds me more of Batch 12. The alcohol is very well integrated and I would never have guessed the almost 60% content blindfolded. You can save yourself the trouble of adding water. In my opinion, this doesn't add any value. The acceleration is decent and there is the typical Laphi punch in your face, which I miss a bit in the B16 and also the 2024 Cairdeas. In this respect, a CS that is closer to the original Laphroaig style, unlike batches 13 to 16, which in my opinion seem rounder and more pleasing. The only thing that bothers me about the B17 is the bitterness in the finish that cannot be ignored. It is quite penetrating at first, but after a short time it is replaced by a nice smokiness. I prefer the B12 and B16, where I cannot detect this bitterness that occurs in between. All in all, B17 is a great whisky, especially since Laphroaig has kept the price stable at €75 compared to its predecessors. Because of the different character to B16, you can have both open and, depending on your mood, sometimes choose the fruitier one or the rougher one. And the fact that it is colored, which is written on the back, does not spoil the fun.

A modern, but well-made Laphroaig. No frills.

Big and bold, sweet vanilla and spicy cinnamon/pepper, oak

Too much sweetness for my taste, especially when drinking, suffering from very heavy casks that cover the soul of the distillate with waves of cloying sweetness. Diabetics should stay away!

[88~91] complex, interesting, fun, I can spend more time with it, "I want to have it" :-D

needs some time to open up, sweet and dense texture with heavy cream toffee, cinnamon, "big red" chewing gum, black pepper, fresh american oak, freeze-dried banana, terpentine based shoe polish, resin/pine sap, medicinal whiffs of smoke intensify, iodine tincture appears older than 10 years, heavy cask influence, could even be a good amount of virgin oak or quarter cask in there, but not overwhelming. Unfortunately coloured with a slight orange hue.

Although it's a bourbon cask, its vanilla flavor is vastly different from that of a Balvenie 12 single-barrel bourbon cask. The price isn't actually expensive, but it's very unique. No wonder the ratings are consistently high. I have a point: if cows were protected animals, beef would undoubtedly be considered an unparalleled delicacy, and steak would be the grand finale of a royal banquet. It's just that beef is so readily available that people don't praise it as much. The same applies to some easily accessible yet high-quality wines. I quite like it. I can keep a bottle at home and enjoy it slowly. Considering its reasonable price, I would give it 1-2 points higher. This might be because it's my first Cask Strength product, so I have a soft spot for it.

A beautiful smoky and maritime nose. Campfire, salty sea air, iodine, medicinal notes, vanilla, caramel, honey and fine aromas of citrus, oak spices. This batch 17 combines the familiar impressions of iodine, heavy medicinal smoke and ash with sweet and vanilla notes. A very nice smoothness around a complex and tasty peat. A whisky that I love and that I would happily drink on a desert island. As it says on the bottle, a robust and spicy whisky, but with so much finesse and smoothness…

The Laphroaig 10 CS is one of the most fascinating whiskies out there because it shows the changes in the whisky industry better than probably any other bottling. This batch is still at least an 87, more likely an 88 point whisky, but it is so random, monotonous and flat that you can't hope for a freaky surprise with any new batch. The first bottlings without a batch number or age statement, but with a few real sherry casks in the batch, compared to the gradual change to coloring and then more and more of it. You can see that here. The Laphroaig 10 CS used to be dark because Laphroaig had to pour in a few sherry casks. There were lots of salty and medicinal peat smoke aromas and a little sweetness from the sherry in the dram. Fantastic and authentic. Today you get a lot of wood, a lot of caramel notes with a mash of peat smoke. The problem is that it is still exciting and very well balanced. Unfortunately, it is flat, monotonous and boring. For 90 euros it is still the best Islay cask strength with an age statement alongside the Lagavulin 8.

Another nice batch. Could have had a bit more fruit, but the iodine and gauze bandages (especially on the palate) really come through, along with a good portion of caramel and black tea.

Nose: Sweet tar, hints of licorice, coastal notes - seaweed, salty air, medicinal peat, black pepper, and that lovely green herbal/woody/fruity note I often get with Laphroaig, it is prominent in the 18 year old, here it hides behind the peat, smoke and tar. Palate: (Neat) Lovely oak and cask spice, sweet peat, pleasant smoke. Even if it is drinkable neat, despite the high abv, I believe water is a necessity here. (Watered down) I’m getting sweet charred notes, not so much charred oak but rather the classic bourbon oak notes with a charred twist. Maybe grilled is a better word, so grilled orchard fruits, grilled vanilla toffee. Perhaps a green or yellow tropical note in there as well, grilled of course. Also some salt and pepper. Long warming finish with lingering medicinal peat, sweet tar, salty smoke and peppery oak spice.

... urgently needs water. Otherwise a solid Laphi 10

exactly what is expected from cask strength Laphroaig - powerful peat and medicinal character. Fruity notes can be found in the nose, but unfortunately do not stay long in the taste. Not the best, but also not the worst out of all 17 released batches.

A return to basics: raw, vibrant, sincere. Laphroaig proves it needs no gimmicks to shine, just a good cask, time, and a heart full of peat. This is the most honest version of whisky: rough, straightforward, and damn alive.

Nose: Campfire, lemon zest, medicinal, salty. 88p Mouth: Maritime, peat, salty, fruity, vanilla, cinnamon. 88p Finish: Peat, cinnamon. 87p Overall: 88p

21+22+22+22

Inferior to the previous ones. But overall quite drinkable at barrel strength. All at 21.5

I still can't quite get used to modern laph. The peat is too direct, overwhelming... and lacks other flavors. The flavor is too flat, one-dimensional, and unbalanced. I feel like I'm drinking peat and dust. It's not ashy, like ash, but dust. Rub the wine between my hands, and it smells like old stockings that have been gathering dust in the closet.

Still a very good Laphroaig 10cs, the nose will become more fruity as time opens, and it tastes like Laphroaig with a little fruitiness. I am still willing to pay for it

58.3% 0.7l" Aroma: Phenolic, very intense, with iodine and seaweed. Also green apples, fresh rye bread and licorice. Taste: Complex and oily on the tongue. Smoky with Szechuan pepper and salted caramel. Also fresh lemon and a touch of menthol. Finish: Long-lasting and slightly dry. A salty, sweet impression lingers. ...an incredibly good malt! After the also perfect Batch #16 and the phenomenal Batch #13, this Batch #17 is finally a bit more phenolic again; the hospital is back! Top!!! 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.

Small comparison tasting Laphroaig 10 CS 1. Batch 014 2. Batch 010 3. Batch 017

Aroma: dense, oily, sweet undertone, smoky bacon, not particularly complex, but substantial with very well-integrated alcohol and vanilla. Taste: densely structured, subtly woody and spicy, machine oil, nice balance, maritime and salty, sweet undertone, ginger, nutty, very well-integrated alcohol, medium to long finish with a slight bitter almond note. Color: Mustard-colored, medium waterline, clear Conclusion: Here's another smoother version of CS 10, with fewer rough edges, but still not mundane - overall more charming than "rebellious"...

Nose: Lots of medicine, iodine, smoke, a sooty oven, grilled steak in spices, coarse salt, leather elements, nuts, lemon zest Taste: Lots of ash, extinguished campfire, smoke, lots of salt, almost too salty, but I like it that way, lots of herbal spices, after a while fruit, caramel appear, and sweetness emerges. Finish: Long, warming, again lots of ash in the mouth, extinguished campfire, smoldering, lots of sweetness, very pleasant

Beautiful Laphroaig, certainly not as iodine-like as the classic 10y, but it says .. Volts help it a lot, but it's still a beautifully smooth drink.

So, in my opinion, the 10erCS are becoming more and more grassy and fruity. The iodine or medicinal notes are becoming more and more in the background. In my opinion, that's a shame. Nevertheless, Batch 017 is still a Laphroag! But a "modern" one! Easy to drink and not boring!

The Laphroaig 10 Years Cask Strength Batch 17 delivers, but it sure isn't for everybody.

Laphroaig's journey of the last ten years could actually end here: a return to the old style of the 80s/90s! The best CS in a very long time: mild yet powerful, vanilla, caramel and sweet phenolic smoke, salt and sea, nothing bites or hits you, the perfect moment; I am simply thrilled and very, very happy! Let us hope this is a statement and not a slip-up; if this is the path, I will follow it with confidence that Laphroaig has understood. Especially since the eternal talk of "everything was better in the past" finally ends: The past is now; thank you for that!!!

For now, just my first assessment after trying it several times: A truly outstanding Laphi CS that combines the strong and familiar impressions of iodine, heavy medicinal smoke and ash that we love so much about the annual bottlings with newer sweet and vanilla notes. Wonderful.

Quick tasting at InterWhisky in Wiesbaden. Dry, empty and uninteresting.

Simple but good. The moderate nose of this batch is almost curious; overall, it's not very complex but harmonious. The 10 CS remains a sure thing, let's see what the future holds, but this one will certainly join its predecessors in the cellar in due course.

84- After enjoying batches 15 and 16 quite a bit, I feel this one could be the start of a downhill journey. Very muted, simplistic, lacking oomph. I have given this multiple chances, and I am confident this will not get better after more than half the bottle has been consumed over 6 months. Still, +1 for the price, the specs and the delivery, 50 euros is indeed a great price if you enjoy this profile.

The nose is a bit reserved. It only picks up speed on the palate and in the finish and you get the longed-for Laphroaig CS moment - 18.10.2024

Tasted at distillery. Sea salt, TCP medicinal Slight peat , sweet caramel, oily texture with grassy note, lovely long finish. Well worth a visit to the distillery. You feel the pride in a job well done.

Scent wonderful, lots of first Fell Bourbon Taste very complex and round I would like the finish to be longer. Really the best of the last batches

Well round and balanced. smoky but not that peaty

Color: Golden yellow； Nose-88; Taste-88; Finish-88.

Finally, it’s time to put down some notes on this cask strength, Laphroaig (quite beautiful batch, indeed). I really hope that the distillery management will not ruin its future releases… at least cask strength bottling… is it aloud to hope?

Not a bad Laphroaig, but a bit weaker than previous versions

Dark gold color. Slight oiliness.

I will quote the very one thing that perfectly suits this whisky. There is not much to be added... ‘AN ODE TAE LAPHROAIG’ by Elvis McGonagall: "The “How-Do-You-Pronounce-It?” malt Wi’ which some Sassenachs find fault Aw’ storm-lashed-sea-spray-smoky-salt Let’s exalt Laphroaig Islay rain on heather, moss and grass Through kiln ‘n cask, frae grain tae glass A snort, a drop, a dram o’ class Crack open the Laphroaig A richt rambusteous “amber bead” No yin fur faintheart or weak-kneed A muckle skelp aboot the heid Pure radge that Laphroaig Uisge beathe – nae moonshine booze The nectar that the angels choose Ambrosia, immortal muse Bottled poetry Laphroaig In seven pot stills by the ocean Liquid joy, sweet peaty potion A burning kiss of deep devotion Ooh la la Laphroaig Tastebuds flyin’ as high as a kite Brain burstin’ oot in fairy lights A deoch-an-doris tae cap the night Just wan more Laphroaig Queen o’ the Hebrides’ golden tears Distillation o’ two hundred years Skal, Prost, Salud, Kampei, Cheers Slainte-mhath! Laphroaig!"

In a direct comparison to Batch #016 (a second bottle is currently open), it loses the nose comparison quite clearly, but then catches up a little in terms of taste and makes up ground. The finish is then (finally) a peat party. As different as the 10 CS batches are, such a tamed nose is not necessarily necessary, one can and should still expect something different from a 10 CS.

Intense but quite sweet smoke, the nose in the ashtray, earthy and herbal notes, light medicinal touch, almonds and green apples, biscuits soaked in milk, the iodine is very discreet. Banana and semi-salted butter. On the palate, it is creamy, on a thick layer of smoky peat, with white fruits and vanilla, menthol and woody notes, rather controlled spices, ginger and pepper. Long and deep finish, coal, tar, black and damp earth, concentrated peat, licorice and coffee, roots just out of the ground, angelica, chestnuts, acorns, bark. I was a little disappointed by the nose, very smoky, sweet, not very iodized and medicinal, which is what I like about Laphroaig. On the other hand, on the palate it is excellent, very creamy and fruity, and the finish corresponds to what you would expect, very Laphroaigish, peaty and herbaceous, with coffee and earthy notes. https://ilikesky2020.blogspot.com/2024/10/laphroaig-10-yo-cask-strength-batch-017.html

In my whisky adventure I managed to try, describe and evaluate Laphroaigi 10 cs from B.10 to 17. What I can notice is that the even ones are much better than the odd ones :D Coincidence? I don't know, I reckon b.18 will be as good as b.14/b16 or the oh-so-delicious b.12/b.10.

My first Laphroaig 10 CS.

Iodine, medicinal tones, industrial notes, burning peat bogs and damp swamps, and all this with yellow delicious fruits. Lovely!

A solid whisky of its kind. Nothing more, nothing less. I found the previous batches (I've had them all since batch 12) to be more or less better. However, I only paid €55 for this one on sale. I wouldn't necessarily buy it again, as I still have about 10 bottles of the CS (previous batches) in my cupboard. I bought this one to open and enjoy immediately. It serves that purpose perfectly. Still a fantastic value and a no-brainer if you like smoky whisky and the Laphroaig profile.

A great balance between bright peaty, medicinal and sweet notes with baked goods. No soles, sleepers or burnt rubber.

As always, a bank. For me, this batch is more on the sweet side. Less fruity, but with lots of bourbon vanilla, creamy summer honey, fresh barley malt, only a subtle mineral note and rather dry charcoal smoke. The alcohol in this batch is clearly noticeable in the taste, especially when drunk neat. The otherwise typical Laphroaig hospital character of iodine and gauze is also not as pronounced. This time the bourbon barrels are in the foreground. I like the batches with the fruity, maritime character a little better.

"THE NEW...Batch 17." Under this title, I, like many other Friends of Laphroaig, received the personalized newsletter from my favorite distillery on July 23. The first sentence ("We are delighted to announce the arrival of Laphroaig 10-Year-Old Cask Strength Batch 17 – our latest offering, bright golden and bottled from the cask with an uncompromising alcohol content of 58.3%.") aroused joyful anticipation in me, but immediately followed by doubts: "...bright golden and bottled from the cask..." – does that mean it also has natural color, with no added coloring? The tasting notes in the newsletter also whetted my appetite: "Aroma: Sweet, bold, and smoky. A spicy version with notes of candied apple slices, crème brûlée, and sugar pastries. Taste: At the beginning, sweet and fruity aromas such as apple compote, vanilla cream and pears in syrup dominate, followed by a wave of sea salt, herbal smoke, fresh seaweed and a hint of cooling menthol. Finish: Very long with black pepper and its tingling spiciness, old leather and sweet grassy smoke that fades into a tarry peat aroma. Barrier refiltration is explicitly advertised for Batch 17, but the company remains tight-lipped about the coloring. I also found no concrete information about caramel on the distillery's website. So I had to dig deeper... I made my small request via the contact form to info@laphroaig.com: "Dear consumer service team, your text advertising Laphroaig Cask Strength Batch 17 is: ..."what you pour is what we draw from the barrel." If this is right, it must be natural color - without any use of coloring /E150a. Can you state that your Laphroaig Cask Strength Batch 17 is free of coloring? With kind regards from North Rhine Westfalia, Germany Martin PS: As a real Friend of Laphroaig I would love to have at least Laphroaig Cask Strength and Càirdeas natural color! The following reply came immediately: "Dear Rudolf Martin, Thank you for your inquiry. As a matter of policy, we don't share specific information regarding our formulas or ingredients. .... Kind regards, Laphroaig Team" This standard answer to my somewhat complex question seemed unsatisfactory, to say the least. I had to clarify my request once again and made it clear that I wanted to enjoy at least Laphroaig Cask Strength and Càirdeas without coloring. And that I wanted to know before ordering whether coloring had been used—and not have to wait until I opened the package to read on the back of the box: "With coloring." In fact, I immediately received the final answer: "Hello Friend, Thanks for writing in. Our Batch 17 expression contains caramel coloring (E150a). The phrase 'what your pour is what we draw from the barrel' refers to the strength (ABV) of the whisky. Kind regards, Laphroaig Team" End of story, but not a happy ending for me. I'll probably order a bottle. And I'll keep digging, but it seems like there's a lot of fuss involved! Update 08.09.2024: I received my ordered bottle today. I found no indication of the use of colorant aka caramel aka E150a, not on the bottle labels, nor on the box! My conclusion: The issue of coloring seems to be quite sensitive for Laphroaig – similar to doping in sports? It's a shame. I hope for more openness and transparency in the future.

For me, it was even better in the mouth than in the nose. The advantages of Batch #16 were here in the nose, a full broadside of smoke, tar, soot, peat, salt and algae with the first sniff of the glass. The smoky, medicinal and maritime aromas in Batch #17, on the other hand, seem more subtle, reserved and overall friendlier, not so harsh. That changes with the first sip, and as usual the full broadside of Islay aromas comes through here too. You're always prepared for that with CS bottlings. The finish is averagely long and good compared to other batches. It no longer has the strong smokiness and tar note of some other batches. However, it seems more complex and settled, the tar and smoke do not overwhelm you but combine pleasantly with yellow, green (apple, pear, peach, citrus) and a few red fruits (red currants, blackberries). Seaweed and iodized salt are of course not missing either. I tend to see it as almost unique in the CS range in terms of taste and the way it combines aromas, at least so far. It's difficult to make comparisons if you don't have the different batches in your glass at the same time, as they are very similar. Nevertheless, I would say it is comparatively calmer and rounder compared to all the other batches that I know. In my opinion, it offers good fruity notes in the mouth, like Batch #15, including smoke, tar and campfire embers. Overall, not an absolutely outstanding cask strength bottling for me, but still at a very high level with a new direction for me. It may be that one or two of the old bottlings before Batch 11 also had a similar range of aromas, but I have not tested these yet. I am happy that wet sherry casks were left out here. Personally, I often have a small problem with Laphroaig and young sherry casks. Neither the PX Cask, nor the Laphroaig 10 Sherry Oak, the Triple Wood or the 2024 Cairdeas blow me away with their respective combinations of relatively short sherry cask storage and smoky, medicinal, maritime aromas. I don't really like the strong smoky, phenolic notes in combination with the biting, scratchy wood impressions of these bottlings. I always find a slight dilution advisable. Conclusion: Batch #17 is by no means a disappointment, quite the opposite, the typical Islay notes are beautifully interwoven with the fruit impressions, and it is not even cloyingly sweet - more on the dry side like Batch 12, for example. And the price is unbeatable for the quality. If Laphroaig would just leave out the awful caramel coloring, it would be perfect.

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+

On the nose an intense vanilla scent envelops the nostrils, despite the alcohol content not affecting the vanilla essence. In Gusto, licorice reigns supreme, warm and creamy. The finish is delicate and creamy, just the right amount of long.

again Laphy in cask strength bringing excellent bang for buck as almost any batch in the series

Delicious, sweet, fruity whisky, with smoke, pharmacy notes, asphalt and perfectly hidden alcohol. Laphroaig maintains the standard as always and that is commendable. Excellent price-quality ratio.

The 17th batch in the Original Cask Strength series was bottled in November 2023. So far, the Cask Strength Laphroaigs have always convinced me. What really bothers me is that this batch is also colored. Why do they do that? The cask strength whiskies in particular are bought by nerds who want a pure whisky. So the coloring is unnecessary and it really bothers me. glen-efze.de

A wonderfully intense whisky. On the palate, you're greeted by bright fruit notes and a pronounced sweetness, followed by a full-on burst of smoke. Juicy red apple, pear peel, and hints of apricot. The distinct citrus notes lend the whisky a wonderful vibrancy. The consistently pronounced sweetness is accompanied by robust vanilla and intense smoke. The smoke is mineral, characterized by harsh charcoal and cold ash. Delving a little deeper, you'll discover earthy notes, leather, and hints of herbal tea and tobacco. At 58% ABV, this whisky packs a punch, but it also delivers a tremendous amount of flavor. In terms of intensity and smokiness, this Laphroaig is hard to beat. Accordingly, I thoroughly enjoyed it in the glass.

Is this the best Laphroaig 10 CS? I don't know, but it's definitely another very good one. The robust smokiness is very intense here. Everything is very well interwoven, and it would be drinkable neat. But it also tolerates a lot of water, and that's how I enjoy this whisky. It's still fairly priced this year, and the premium over the regular Laphroaig 10 is worth every cent.

A solid Laphroaig. Typical in taste, pleasant peat and smooth on the palate!

In 1 test session Batch 3, Batch 14 and Batch 17. All three whiskies have the same bright yellow/gold color. All three whiskies leave a considerable amount of whisky on the glass. Thick waves, but also thick, slowly dripping tears. Do you like smoky whiskies and have never tried the 10 cs? DO IT! If it's too strong, you can always reduce the ABV to your desired strength. They are three completely different whiskies. I've seen several reports that batch 17 has an old-school profile, and I certainly can't confirm this compared to batch 3.

Clean Laphi. Uamami, seaweed, no dirty cask notes. Btw, NOT couloured, b'cause here in Germany is must be stated on the bottle, if it contains E150 (on #14 there is a statement "mit Farbstoff"). So this batch 17 should be free of colouring. Alcohol is a bit aggressive. A spot of water does it well, still. A batch No.6 Feb 2014 is another stuff, a clear 90 thing: full throttle seaweed, mellow (!) mouth feel. In comparison to Batch 6 this 17 feels a bit thin.

It has an oily viscosity and its bouquet is of high intensity. I have aromas of intense, maritime peat smoke, smoked bacon, honey sweetness, vanilla, pipe tobacco, spicy oak, herbs, ash, creme brulee and apple compote. 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.

The Laphroaig 10 Cask Strength is the "grown-up" version of the Laphroaig 10. While the smoke is less dominant than in the standard bottling, it is much fuller-bodied, more robust, deeper, and more complex. The higher alcohol content brings out the individual aromas significantly. It's a superbly crafted whisky that beautifully blends fruit, smoke, and herbal notes. For lovers of smoky whiskies, the Laphroaig 10 Cask Strength is definitely a must-try.

Licorice, sweet vanilla, salty. Very well done whisky