Description
Laphroaig 18 Year Old Offical Tasting Notes
Colour: Bright Gold
Nose: At bottling strength, a soft toffee sweet but faintly spicy flavour counterbalances the trace of delicate phenols and fruit. An all encompassing smoothness brings these together. A touch of water allows the seaweed and salt to come through but not enough to overpower the vanilla and honey sweetness with just a trace of new mown hay and peat at the finish.
Body: An intense depth that is exceptionally balanced and warming.
Palate: An instant warming tang of smoke fades into smooth floral scents, which blends seamlessly into an oaky nuttiness and leaves a lasting sweetness on the taste. With a touch of water, the peaty warmth fills the mouth but does not overshadow the sweet chocolate smoothness. This is balanced by the rich toffee taste and slowly fades into a delicate hint of heather and peat smoke.
Finish: Full bodied, long with a luxurious oily smoothness.
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Tasting Notes By Laphroaig’s Distillery Manager, John Campbell
Nose: Very big. This is a beast of a whisky, with a breakfast character (granary toast, salty butter, a touch of orange juice and coffee). After a while of nosing it you’ll start to get banana loaf, developing alongside the applewood smoke, perhaps even cocoa too.
Palate: Very rounded and thick. Golden Syrup? Salt spray, fiery wood spices, dark and brooding peat, star anise, dark chocolate and stewed prunes.
Finish: Very long, with liquorice, Seville orange marmalade, salty butter and kippers.
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Tasting Notes By Rob Allanson
Nose: Gentle coal tar soap. Freshly cleaned fire grate. Buttered kippers and a hint of juicy fruits.
Palate: A ginger biscuit quality. Smoke has been over taken by those fruits.
Finish: Long with the smoke playing about.
Comment: Very drinkable and not the peat power house you would expect. A little cracker.
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Tasting Notes By Martine Nouet
Nose: Sweet and gently phenolic. Coal smoke with a touch of soot rising up from the chimney on a wet day. Lemonade. A touch of cucumber. A pleasant refreshing mix.
Palate: Sweet, smooth. Velvety. The smoke is less present than on the palate. Lemon curd. Biscuity also.
Finish: Dry, lingering on soot and vanilla.
Comment: Not the big phenolic guy but a very refreshing islander. Smoke is well integrated and the aromatic display is elegant.