Great another agreement! I think the last best was 09. My fingers always smelt of bonfire for days if they sniffed a slight spill. No need to go on! It is just not what it was. I'm even trying Smokehead just now and it isn't terrible but could still improve with losing chill filtering and colouring! It's as dark as red beer, although nthe 'smoky' bottle helps that. Ach just use Amarone casks! Mind it is a French owner now. This is a crisis almost as big as edinburgh's last real brewery closing, thanks Dutch boys. 153 years of brewing scuppered not to mention jobs lost. Still there is Stewart Brewing.
The lingering aroma of Laphroaig is one of my favourite aspects. It just gets into everything and never ends! Smokehead is another wonderful brand. A shame that the presentation could be better and a MASSIVE shame that the normal stuff just went from 43% to 40% but the 46% 'unfiltered' and High Voltage are very, very nice. It's always sad when historic companies close or lay off loyal staff like that. I was reading about Whyte & Mackay the other day and how they made staff choose in 2018 between a £10,000 pay cut or redundancy. These things aren't uncommon sadly. Disgusting!
Completely agree re change in character. A CS from about 12+ years ago needed a welders helmet and gloves to open.(similar to lagavulin CS) I'm happy with the newer more approachable, sweeter models ... Wondering what a few more years in a barrel would do, as you said. Sad about the colour added, went on line to "Friends of Laphroaig" with a request for same, they said that many had requested this and would pass on to the distillery. Very much a confirmation of G whiskey's review ..well done.
Thanks Tom. I love your line about needing a welders helmet and gloves to open the old stuff. I know exactly what you mean. I don't hate the new sweeter ones. Batch 14 is still fine whisky for a decent price. I do like a little more edge though and I'm glad that batch 15 gives a little of that. Very sad about the colouring. Well done for contacting them to let them know. I've been doing the same for years but little progress so far! Cheers 🥃
Wait a minute We are in this band too (Mothers Fillmore East 1971) The 10YO goes up and down but it costs a lot less and makes Cask look a rip off IMO. Like your clear delivery and agree with a lot of what you say.
Thanks John. I used to buy the standard 10yo quite regularly but I get really frustrated by 40% these days. Quarter Cask is my cheap Laphroaig of choice. I'm not 100% sold on the very active oak but it can be had really cheap and makes a solid alternative to the slightly pricey 10CS. Cheers 🥃
Your channel has become my #1 source for Laphroaig info. Glad you're staying on top of their releases. This year was the first time we got the Cask Strength here in Canada, batches 13 and 14, so that was a nice surprise! When/if we get the 15 I'll be sure to grab one!
The best and wildest Islay I had was a 9 year old Ladaig from Cadenheads in Embra. It was off the chart of wild. Salt, peat etc it was like cornering on a bike, coming out of the corner you knew you could have done it faster if only you had been a gear lower, with that ledaig you came away wondering if you should have added even more water.. I'll give up 15 as a dead loss then. maybe Ardbeg or Bruichladdich will re-discover their form but with ownership as it is I am not so optimistic
Hahaa! Fair point. It must be said that I am more demanding in the punchiness I get from a bottle of Laphroaig but that's because I know they can do it and I feel that's what their style should be about 🙂 Cheers Rene 🥃
Another great review and I loved your tasting notes. I would however, not recommend ever drinking cask strength whisky without adding any water at all as despite the good tasting experience you obviously had, adding even a tiny amount of water (I'm talking a 2-3 drops), will open up more flavours, but that's just my opinion based upon my over 30 years personal experience. I too am very frustrated by their unwise policy when it comes to E150a caramel spirit additive. I'm afraid that bad habits are difficult to get rid of.
You do have to wonder if at this point they'd just be embarrassed by the extreme difference dropping the colouring would make. Past the point of no return as it were! Cheers Reb 🥃
As soon as a Laphroaig cask strength is released Im just waiting for your review to pop up. Great analysis as usual. I really enjoyed the batch 14 so if this is an improvement then definitely worth a purchase. Cheers 👍
Great review as always. I really enjoyed batch 13 but passed on batch 14 because of mostly negative feedback BUT looking forward to batch 15 which is yet to cross the pond. Cheers 🥃
Nice to hear about this batch. I have the 13 & 14. I agree with what you said. They are sweeter. Hopefully they are going to do more "laphroaig" type of batches, even if it's only one out of two... Cheers
Yeah, I actually wouldn't mind the sweeter and milder batches at all so long as we get some real beasts as well. Batch variation is the spice of life 🥃 Cheers
Great review mate, and good to hear that it’s a return to form for Laphroaig. Maybe a bit more bottle age, which could account for the slightly lower ABV?
Thanks David. Yes, maybe a little more age. It still says 10 on the label but that doesn't mean it's only 10. Or all just 10. Who knows. Or it may just be luck of the draw with some different casks. Or perhaps they listen to us geeks more than we realise and tipped some edgier casks into the vat 🙂
Laphroaig 10 cask strength is still available at around £65 a bottle delivered at a few places at a time on offer plus Lagavulin 8 for £38 at tesco when on offer are the 2 great whisky for the price, That add twice as much water As whisky statement comes from when whisky is tasted when tasting casks and bringing it down to strong wine in strength so that you can spit it out after tasting like with wine as its pretty impossible to taste whisky especially higher strength whisky and spit it out like if your tasting wine without swollowing alcohol.
£65 is a fantastic price for this. Especially when you compare it to the alternatives. Lag 8 is still on my hot list to review soon. Looking forward to that! I get that 20% is a good strength for sampling casks. I don't find it very enjoyable for recreational tasting though. I'm glad they've changed the wording. You are very right though that tasting lots of different cask strength whiskies (as a master blender would) will fatigue your palate quickly if not watered down. Cheers 🥃
I'll get a bottle soon enough but I buy my Laphroaig 10 cask strength when it's on offer from whoever it's in offer with and it's usually on offer for about £60 to £65 usually closer to 65, 13 is my favourite of the recent batches probably because I've drunk 7 bottle's of it 14 for me is harsher but still great whisky and I still only drink heavily peated whisky 99%Bourbon Cask and 1‰ sherry cask so I'm a bit less sensitive to peat but have been reducing my Laphroaig intake so that it's more of a treat as I drink a bottle from start to finish sometimes I have a couple of bottles open but they don't stay long lol.
You're a more patient man than me 😉 I tried to buy this as soon as it went on sale from Laphroaig but for some annoying reason it said they weren't shipping to England. So I ended up getting mine from Whisky Exchange a few days later. At least this is a release that doesn't seem to go out of stock quickly (or at all) so we get the benefit of eventual discounted prices. Great stuff 👍 I wish all distilleries found it so easy to keep up with demand.
Good to hear things are back on track with this one. I still have a bottle of batch 12 (I chose 12 over 13 because reviews spoke of the excess sweetness of the latter); I enjoy it but still find it a bit sweet. I concur with what you say about wanting more refill casks to let more of the spirit character to shine through. I am drawn more and more to whisky matured in refill casks: ie Ardbeg 10 with its 50/50 1st/refill recipe seems to get it right, and now I’m really falling for cask strength Coal Ila at 100% refill. Shame about the continued use of caramel colouring!
Hi Mark. Yeah good news indeed. I agree with you about the half Refill at Ardbeg. Ardbeg is generally my favourite peated whisky and a lot of that is just down to the constantly reliable 10yo. It's the perfect balance. Caol Ila make some great and very underrated stuff too. I need to do some Caol Ila reviews soon. Cheers 🥃
You nailed it. The standard 10 yr. (43%) has lost that wow factor of 12 yrs. ago. The latest version has less peat, medicinal iodine, and sea spray. I still like it and buy it. No water added.
I would probably still buy the 10yo if we could get it at 43% but alas it's watery 40% for us peasants in the UK so we're forced to go with the Cask Strength. First World Problems 😉
My first bottle of Laphroaig 10 blew me away about 5 years ago. It was like a first aid kit thrown onto a peat-fueled beach bonfire, a powerhouse of smoke and salt and phenol. It was magical. I was completely gutted when the next bottle I purchased had barely any of the same character. Even at cask strength, Laphroaig seems a shadow of its former self. Batch 12 has whispers of what I fell in love with, but a hint of saccharine in the finish ruins it. I'm so desperate to experience that peaty-briny-medicinal magic again - should I give batch 15 a try, or wait to see if 16 has more of what I'm looking for?
I know what you mean. Laphroaig in general is a bit more sanitised these days. I think it's also true that you can never recapture those first bottles of really peated whisky that you try. My first ever bottle of peated Scotch many, many years ago was a Bowmore 12 (Highland Park doesn't count) and I remember getting really intense earthy and dirty peat notes out of it (lol 😉) and then a year later I was drinking Caol Ila 12 and Lagavulin 16 and wishing for more peatiness. You become accustomed to it and seeking 'more peat' is addictive. If you have the cash and you're looking for a good peated cask strength I would give batch 15 a try. It's ballsier than 13 and 14 at the least and there's no reason to think that 16 will necessarily be any more aggressive. Although fingers crossed 🤞
About the coloring: Checking big german whisky web shops where it is legally required to mention any added E150, it says nothing of that kind. So it looks like it is all natural. I have had the standard 10 (good, but why 40%? WHY?) and the Brodir (awesome) from Laphroaig. Will get the 10 CS next. Thank you for the review!
Hi Lilord. If you've never had 10CS I think you'll love it. As you say; the standard 10 at 40% is absurd and the CS fixes it 👍 Interesting about the lack of statement regarding colouring. Whiskybase currently says that it is coloured, like previous batches. I assumed it was because it is pretty dark for bourbon matured Laphroaig at 10yrs but I don't know. At this point I'm more annoyed that they don't tell us (or only sometimes tell us) than I am about the colouring itself. It's just not something we should have to worry about 😕 or waste time researching. Cheers 🥃
I've only tried batches 13 and 15. I wasn't a fan of 13. I got strong Christmas tree pine and menthol notes which I didn't enjoy at all. I absolutely loved batch 15 though. I must buy another bottle whilst it's still available!
Excellent review and pleased to hear it's a good one. I liked the 13 but thought the 12 better and bought a couple of extra bottles which meant I skipped the 14. I don't think it's "great value" by any means. It's only 10 years old after all. I just picked up a bottle and will report back later. I expect I'll love it though. It's my favourite distillery Laphroaig by a long shot. I agree with what you say about the sweetness and pleased that this one is toned back a bit.
Thanks WT. It's my favourite core Laphroaig too. Probably followed by Triple Wood. I had a dram of the Cairdeas Triple Wood Cask Strength last night. Fantastic. How do you rate Laphy 10CS in general against Smokehead High Voltage? That's a comparison I'm looking forward to. Hope you enjoy batch 15 🥃
@@WhiskyLock It's been a while since I had the Smokehead High Voltage but I do like it. I can't remember how young it tastes. I had some Scarabus Batch Strength yesterday and, even though I like it, it's pretty feinty.
Sounds like a good one. As someone who's less experienced with this line, I'll be very curious to see how this compares to the 14. Glad to hear it's a step up for you. 🥃
Yeah, definitely above average in my books. But then they are all worthwhile. Will you get a bottle of #15 if you get the chance? Or too expensive to try again so soon?
@@WhiskyLock If I could get it at your prices I'd probably be following each and every release. Not likely to happen in Taiwan, though. I'll definitely grab it if I can find it at a good price, but that would be a minor miracle out here. 🥃
Great review of Laphroaig 10 CS batch 15 WL. The Laphroaig 10 CS offerings seem to be getting into their sweet spot to shine figuratively speaking. They just need to fully disclose the natural presentation or otherwise. I have the 13 & 14 and will be on the look out for the 15 when it shows up in my market. A wishful thinking but it would be great if they could bring back the 18 as a core range and the Cairdeas Triplewood CS as a yearly release.
Thanks Rohit. It is mind-boggling that they can't make this a full craft presentation. If they want to screw around with colouring and filtration in the 40% 10yo and (ironically) Select then fair enough. Most people buying those aren't going to care too much. But I find it hard to believe that many people who buy and enjoy 10CS are uneducated enough to think that a pale whisky is a sign of anything bad. I feel like they're just doing it out of stubbornness at this point 🙂 I'd love to see the 18 come back but I feel like it'd be significantly more expensive than it used to be if we ever see it again. I still have a bottle of it on my shelf. And yeah the Cask Strength Triple Wood was great. I don't know if you can order direct from Laphroaig but they still have it on the website. Sorry if I just talked you into an £80 purchase...
@@WhiskyLock I am in your camp re: Laph 18 as I have an unopened bottle stashed away that will be savored someday. I wouldn't even hazard a guess as to what the price would be for an 18 yr Laph in today's highly inflationary market. As for the Cairdeas Triple Wood CS, I see the regular Triplewood listed but unavailable on their website but not the CS. It will be a lucky find if I ever run into one. Cheers WL!
apologies for asking lot of questions. may i ask, among batch 12.13.14.15, which batch has the strongest laphroaig character? and which batch do you prefer?
Thank you, bro! Your review inspired me to get it and I'm super happy I did. I'm on what seems to be a never ending quest to find a peated scotch that will punch me in the mouth with flavor and I can only handle so much of it. Even the Octomore series is somewhat light weight for me. But, this might be the one. I just opened it, so time will tell. The thing that stands out to me the most is the savory nose and palate. I image bacon grease and maple syrup/burned brown sugar. What other peat monsters would you recommend? Greeting from San Francisco, CA!
Thanks! I'm glad you're getting on well with it so far. I agree with you about Octmore. I'm on record as saying its not as heavily peated as advertised. Not in the glass which is where it matters. Have you tried all the usuals: Ardbeg 10, Port Charlotte, Ledaig 10, Kilchoman Machir Bay? Caol Ila 12 is good if you're OK with a slightly lower strength. And I really like Loch Lomond Peated Single Grain for a very different kind of peated whisky. Cheers 🥃
@@WhiskyLock I've tried all of them except for Loch Lomond. I'll definitely be on a lookout for it now. As to Ladaig and Machir Bay, I had cask strength versions of them and they were amazing. Especially Ladaig 12 by IB. I highly recommend Kilchoman Madeira Cask 2021. I has a very unique ashy peat. I really appreciate how informative your reviews are and not gimmicky.
Mind boggled! All batches are good. It's Cask Strength Laphroaig after all! But no way would I put #14 on top. I didn't find it particularly complex OR bold. Perhaps some liked it because it was a bit more middle of the road? Or perhaps the high score reflects that nobody truly hated it? Interesting.
The Last Laphroaig c/s I had was batch 12, think it was 61.3% , guess those angels are a bunch of thieving buggers ;-) Will give this a try at some point. Dry as ever WL ;-)
Thanks Gareth. Yes batch 12 was a very high strength one! The angels must have been particularly thirsty this year. It's interesting trying to put connections between the ABV, the flavours and what has been happening in those casks. Cheers 🥃
Hi! I reviewed Lagavulin 12 last year. It's quality stuff and will please most Lagavulin fans but I probably won't be getting it again for a few years. I think 12 years in refill isn't enough to make Lagavulin the best it can be. And importantly, it's nearly twice the price of Laphroaig 10CS! Cheers 🥃
@@WhiskyLock Tnx. I saw this review. I mean the difference between 16-17-18-19-20-21 releases. I agree with you about overpriced. Actual is about 200 pounds for laga 12(2021) in RF.
@@Dmitriy_Izhevsk that's a lot of money! Personally I'd want a much higher age statement for that much. I've tried a few Lagavulin Feis releases at the high teens and low 20s at cask strength which would've been worth £200 but IMHO not the 12yo.
I knew someone was going to ask the obvious and impossible question. Congratulations, it's you 😉🤣 I really liked batch 7 for the maturity and fruity profile. I liked batches 8 and 10 for being more ballsy and raw. Probably one of those three depending on my mood. Very hard to pick just one. I think #15 will sit close behind #8 and #10 but not quite up to those glory days. But very good!
Yes I'm glad to say that I think it is. There's much more Laphroaig DNA than in the 14. Although not as much as some of the real ballsy earlier batches. A welcome improvement IMHO though 👍
I bought this bottle as a result of this review but I am not too happy about it. For me the medicinal and peat aspects are extremely dominant, I don't get much else. When I had the Uigeadail, it reminded my of sweet smoked bacon which I love. This Laphroaig reminds me of smoked medicine, I also don't find much sweetness. The Iodine note in my opinion is incredibly overpowering, I feel like they need to tone it down and perhaps add an additional 2 years in some sherry cask to give it more dimensions. It's not a bad whisky but it's very very particular with the medicinal and iodine notes, I can see why most would avoid this whisky or Laphraoig in general.
Sorry to hear that although it sounds like you might just not be accustomed to the really medical Islay malts. Maybe put it aside and revisit it every few weeks and see if you get used to it? Being cask strength Laphroaig it will probably mellow out a little now that the bottle is open as well. Ironically, a bunch of Laphroaig fans are disappointed by recent Laphroaigs because they *are* sweeter than they used to be but this one is a slight return to that previous style that was more sweet bourbon cask dominated and that's why I really like it. If you're after this kind of thing but sweet then the Sherry Oak is very good. The sherry cask knocks a bit of the intensity out of it but that may be to your liking. And of course there's Triple Wood which is partially matured in Oloroso but if you're looking for sweet and smoky Laphroaig I'd probably recommend the Sherry Oak.
Thanks! Hard to say for sure because I finished my batch 12 but I think the #12 still just about beats this. Close though which is fantastic news for the new batch. Cheers 🥃
@@WhiskyLock Happy to hear it. I have access to Batch 12, but I guess I'll see how I like Batch 15 before taking the plunge. Hope to see your channel continue to grow 🙂
I think of myself as a Laphroaig fan, but I'm embarrassed to admit that I've never tried a CS. I've actually still got a batch 5 (Feb 13), that for some reason I never got around to opening. I think I need to try a batch 15. Your video may have given me the push.
Batch 15 would be a great place to start 🙂 if you're put off by the ABV try adding 10ml of bottled water to a 30ml pour. Leave it for 5 mins and you've got approx 43%. Next time try adding 7ml of water. Then 5ml until you find your happy place 😉 But if its not the ABV putting you off then as a Laphroaig fan I'm sure you'll love it!
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I love anything Laphroaig even the ones I don’t like. The Batch 15 is fantastic!
That's a great way of putting it. Especially with 10CS some are just better than others. And yes 15 is one of my favourites 👍
Great another agreement! I think the last best was 09. My fingers always smelt of bonfire for days if they sniffed a slight spill. No need to go on! It is just not what it was. I'm even trying Smokehead just now and it isn't terrible but could still improve with losing chill filtering and colouring! It's as dark as red beer, although nthe 'smoky' bottle helps that. Ach just use Amarone casks! Mind it is a French owner now. This is a crisis almost as big as edinburgh's last real brewery closing, thanks Dutch boys. 153 years of brewing scuppered not to mention jobs lost. Still there is Stewart Brewing.
The lingering aroma of Laphroaig is one of my favourite aspects. It just gets into everything and never ends!
Smokehead is another wonderful brand. A shame that the presentation could be better and a MASSIVE shame that the normal stuff just went from 43% to 40% but the 46% 'unfiltered' and High Voltage are very, very nice.
It's always sad when historic companies close or lay off loyal staff like that. I was reading about Whyte & Mackay the other day and how they made staff choose in 2018 between a £10,000 pay cut or redundancy. These things aren't uncommon sadly. Disgusting!
Completely agree re change in character. A CS from about 12+ years ago needed a welders helmet and gloves to open.(similar to lagavulin CS) I'm happy with the newer more approachable, sweeter models ... Wondering what a few more years in a barrel would do, as you said. Sad about the colour added, went on line to "Friends of Laphroaig" with a request for same, they said that many had requested this and would pass on to the distillery. Very much a confirmation of G whiskey's review ..well done.
Thanks Tom. I love your line about needing a welders helmet and gloves to open the old stuff. I know exactly what you mean.
I don't hate the new sweeter ones. Batch 14 is still fine whisky for a decent price. I do like a little more edge though and I'm glad that batch 15 gives a little of that.
Very sad about the colouring. Well done for contacting them to let them know. I've been doing the same for years but little progress so far! Cheers 🥃
@@WhiskyLock Thanks for your reply, have bought 2 bottles of 15 on your advice.
You are not going to believe this ..it's arrived ... batch 13 ...so i've got 3 1/2 bottles of this ...tragic haha. No complaints
Wait a minute We are in this band too (Mothers Fillmore East 1971) The 10YO goes up and down but it costs a lot less and makes Cask look a rip off IMO. Like your clear delivery and agree with a lot of what you say.
Thanks John. I used to buy the standard 10yo quite regularly but I get really frustrated by 40% these days. Quarter Cask is my cheap Laphroaig of choice. I'm not 100% sold on the very active oak but it can be had really cheap and makes a solid alternative to the slightly pricey 10CS. Cheers 🥃
Your channel has become my #1 source for Laphroaig info. Glad you're staying on top of their releases.
This year was the first time we got the Cask Strength here in Canada, batches 13 and 14, so that was a nice surprise! When/if we get the 15 I'll be sure to grab one!
Thank you Sascha. That's high praise indeed :-) I'm glad 10CS is making its way over to you. Cheers!
The best and wildest Islay I had was a 9 year old Ladaig from Cadenheads in Embra. It was off the chart of wild. Salt, peat etc it was like cornering on a bike, coming out of the corner you knew you could have done it faster if only you had been a gear lower, with that ledaig you came away wondering if you should have added even more water..
I'll give up 15 as a dead loss then. maybe Ardbeg or Bruichladdich will re-discover their form but with ownership as it is I am not so optimistic
Very poetic tasting notes there 👍
Memo from my palate: There is nothing inoffensive about Laphroaig 10 CS😝😂
Great informative review as always🙂
Hahaa! Fair point. It must be said that I am more demanding in the punchiness I get from a bottle of Laphroaig but that's because I know they can do it and I feel that's what their style should be about 🙂 Cheers Rene 🥃
Another great review and I loved your tasting notes. I would however, not recommend ever drinking cask strength whisky without adding any water at all as despite the good tasting experience you obviously had, adding even a tiny amount of water (I'm talking a 2-3 drops), will open up more flavours, but that's just my opinion based upon my over 30 years personal experience.
I too am very frustrated by their unwise policy when it comes to E150a caramel spirit additive. I'm afraid that bad habits are difficult to get rid of.
You do have to wonder if at this point they'd just be embarrassed by the extreme difference dropping the colouring would make. Past the point of no return as it were! Cheers Reb 🥃
As soon as a Laphroaig cask strength is released Im just waiting for your review to pop up. Great analysis as usual. I really enjoyed the batch 14 so if this is an improvement then definitely worth a purchase. Cheers 👍
Almost a tradition now 🙂 I think any 10CS fan will be very happy with this one. Cheers 🥃
Great review as always. I really enjoyed batch 13 but passed on batch 14 because of mostly negative feedback BUT looking forward to batch 15 which is yet to cross the pond.
Cheers 🥃
Thanks John. Definitely a step up for me and I look forward to hearing your thoughts. Hope it gets to you soon. Cheers 🥃
Nice to hear about this batch. I have the 13 & 14. I agree with what you said. They are sweeter. Hopefully they are going to do more "laphroaig" type of batches, even if it's only one out of two... Cheers
Yeah, I actually wouldn't mind the sweeter and milder batches at all so long as we get some real beasts as well. Batch variation is the spice of life 🥃 Cheers
Great review mate, and good to hear that it’s a return to form for Laphroaig. Maybe a bit more bottle age, which could account for the slightly lower ABV?
Thanks David. Yes, maybe a little more age. It still says 10 on the label but that doesn't mean it's only 10. Or all just 10. Who knows.
Or it may just be luck of the draw with some different casks. Or perhaps they listen to us geeks more than we realise and tipped some edgier casks into the vat 🙂
Laphroaig 10 cask strength is still available at around £65 a bottle delivered at a few places at a time on offer plus Lagavulin 8 for £38 at tesco when on offer are the 2 great whisky for the price,
That add twice as much water As whisky statement comes from when whisky is tasted when tasting casks and bringing it down to strong wine in strength so that you can spit it out after tasting like with wine as its pretty impossible to taste whisky especially higher strength whisky and spit it out like if your tasting wine without swollowing alcohol.
£65 is a fantastic price for this. Especially when you compare it to the alternatives. Lag 8 is still on my hot list to review soon. Looking forward to that!
I get that 20% is a good strength for sampling casks. I don't find it very enjoyable for recreational tasting though. I'm glad they've changed the wording. You are very right though that tasting lots of different cask strength whiskies (as a master blender would) will fatigue your palate quickly if not watered down. Cheers 🥃
I'll get a bottle soon enough but I buy my Laphroaig 10 cask strength when it's on offer from whoever it's in offer with and it's usually on offer for about £60 to £65 usually closer to 65,
13 is my favourite of the recent batches probably because I've drunk 7 bottle's of it 14 for me is harsher but still great whisky and I still only drink heavily peated whisky 99%Bourbon Cask and 1‰ sherry cask so I'm a bit less sensitive to peat but have been reducing my Laphroaig intake so that it's more of a treat as I drink a bottle from start to finish sometimes I have a couple of bottles open but they don't stay long lol.
You're a more patient man than me 😉 I tried to buy this as soon as it went on sale from Laphroaig but for some annoying reason it said they weren't shipping to England. So I ended up getting mine from Whisky Exchange a few days later. At least this is a release that doesn't seem to go out of stock quickly (or at all) so we get the benefit of eventual discounted prices. Great stuff 👍 I wish all distilleries found it so easy to keep up with demand.
Good to hear things are back on track with this one. I still have a bottle of batch 12 (I chose 12 over 13 because reviews spoke of the excess sweetness of the latter); I enjoy it but still find it a bit sweet. I concur with what you say about wanting more refill casks to let more of the spirit character to shine through. I am drawn more and more to whisky matured in refill casks: ie Ardbeg 10 with its 50/50 1st/refill recipe seems to get it right, and now I’m really falling for cask strength Coal Ila at 100% refill.
Shame about the continued use of caramel colouring!
Hi Mark. Yeah good news indeed. I agree with you about the half Refill at Ardbeg. Ardbeg is generally my favourite peated whisky and a lot of that is just down to the constantly reliable 10yo. It's the perfect balance. Caol Ila make some great and very underrated stuff too. I need to do some Caol Ila reviews soon. Cheers 🥃
You nailed it. The standard 10 yr. (43%) has lost that wow factor of 12 yrs. ago. The latest version has less peat, medicinal iodine, and sea spray. I still like it and buy it. No water added.
I would probably still buy the 10yo if we could get it at 43% but alas it's watery 40% for us peasants in the UK so we're forced to go with the Cask Strength. First World Problems 😉
My first bottle of Laphroaig 10 blew me away about 5 years ago. It was like a first aid kit thrown onto a peat-fueled beach bonfire, a powerhouse of smoke and salt and phenol. It was magical. I was completely gutted when the next bottle I purchased had barely any of the same character. Even at cask strength, Laphroaig seems a shadow of its former self. Batch 12 has whispers of what I fell in love with, but a hint of saccharine in the finish ruins it. I'm so desperate to experience that peaty-briny-medicinal magic again - should I give batch 15 a try, or wait to see if 16 has more of what I'm looking for?
I know what you mean. Laphroaig in general is a bit more sanitised these days.
I think it's also true that you can never recapture those first bottles of really peated whisky that you try. My first ever bottle of peated Scotch many, many years ago was a Bowmore 12 (Highland Park doesn't count) and I remember getting really intense earthy and dirty peat notes out of it (lol 😉) and then a year later I was drinking Caol Ila 12 and Lagavulin 16 and wishing for more peatiness. You become accustomed to it and seeking 'more peat' is addictive.
If you have the cash and you're looking for a good peated cask strength I would give batch 15 a try. It's ballsier than 13 and 14 at the least and there's no reason to think that 16 will necessarily be any more aggressive. Although fingers crossed 🤞
Spot on! My experience exactly thanks Louis Vitton!
About the coloring: Checking big german whisky web shops where it is legally required to mention any added E150, it says nothing of that kind. So it looks like it is all natural.
I have had the standard 10 (good, but why 40%? WHY?) and the Brodir (awesome) from Laphroaig. Will get the 10 CS next. Thank you for the review!
Hi Lilord. If you've never had 10CS I think you'll love it. As you say; the standard 10 at 40% is absurd and the CS fixes it 👍
Interesting about the lack of statement regarding colouring. Whiskybase currently says that it is coloured, like previous batches. I assumed it was because it is pretty dark for bourbon matured Laphroaig at 10yrs but I don't know. At this point I'm more annoyed that they don't tell us (or only sometimes tell us) than I am about the colouring itself. It's just not something we should have to worry about 😕 or waste time researching. Cheers 🥃
I've only tried batches 13 and 15. I wasn't a fan of 13. I got strong Christmas tree pine and menthol notes which I didn't enjoy at all.
I absolutely loved batch 15 though.
I must buy another bottle whilst it's still available!
Hi Fewgee. That's very interesting. 13 wasn't my favourite either but for different reasons. Agreed that 15 is a fantastic return to form. Cheers! 🥃
Excellent review and pleased to hear it's a good one. I liked the 13 but thought the 12 better and bought a couple of extra bottles which meant I skipped the 14. I don't think it's "great value" by any means. It's only 10 years old after all. I just picked up a bottle and will report back later. I expect I'll love it though. It's my favourite distillery Laphroaig by a long shot. I agree with what you say about the sweetness and pleased that this one is toned back a bit.
Thanks WT. It's my favourite core Laphroaig too. Probably followed by Triple Wood. I had a dram of the Cairdeas Triple Wood Cask Strength last night. Fantastic.
How do you rate Laphy 10CS in general against Smokehead High Voltage? That's a comparison I'm looking forward to. Hope you enjoy batch 15 🥃
@@WhiskyLock It's been a while since I had the Smokehead High Voltage but I do like it. I can't remember how young it tastes. I had some Scarabus Batch Strength yesterday and, even though I like it, it's pretty feinty.
Sounds like a good one. As someone who's less experienced with this line, I'll be very curious to see how this compares to the 14. Glad to hear it's a step up for you. 🥃
Yeah, definitely above average in my books. But then they are all worthwhile. Will you get a bottle of #15 if you get the chance? Or too expensive to try again so soon?
@@WhiskyLock If I could get it at your prices I'd probably be following each and every release. Not likely to happen in Taiwan, though. I'll definitely grab it if I can find it at a good price, but that would be a minor miracle out here. 🥃
Great review of Laphroaig 10 CS batch 15 WL. The Laphroaig 10 CS offerings seem to be getting into their sweet spot to shine figuratively speaking. They just need to fully disclose the natural presentation or otherwise. I have the 13 & 14 and will be on the look out for the 15 when it shows up in my market. A wishful thinking but it would be great if they could bring back the 18 as a core range and the Cairdeas Triplewood CS as a yearly release.
Thanks Rohit. It is mind-boggling that they can't make this a full craft presentation. If they want to screw around with colouring and filtration in the 40% 10yo and (ironically) Select then fair enough. Most people buying those aren't going to care too much. But I find it hard to believe that many people who buy and enjoy 10CS are uneducated enough to think that a pale whisky is a sign of anything bad. I feel like they're just doing it out of stubbornness at this point 🙂
I'd love to see the 18 come back but I feel like it'd be significantly more expensive than it used to be if we ever see it again. I still have a bottle of it on my shelf.
And yeah the Cask Strength Triple Wood was great. I don't know if you can order direct from Laphroaig but they still have it on the website. Sorry if I just talked you into an £80 purchase...
@@WhiskyLock I am in your camp re: Laph 18 as I have an unopened bottle stashed away that will be savored someday. I wouldn't even hazard a guess as to what the price would be for an 18 yr Laph in today's highly inflationary market. As for the Cairdeas Triple Wood CS, I see the regular Triplewood listed but unavailable on their website but not the CS. It will be a lucky find if I ever run into one. Cheers WL!
apologies for asking lot of questions. may i ask, among batch 12.13.14.15, which batch has the strongest laphroaig character? and which batch do you prefer?
No problem! IMHO I think it's between 12 and 15. Perhaps 12 but very close.
👍🏻
Bought 2 at Walgreens with no tube patch 7
Nice find!
Thank you, bro! Your review inspired me to get it and I'm super happy I did. I'm on what seems to be a never ending quest to find a peated scotch that will punch me in the mouth with flavor and I can only handle so much of it. Even the Octomore series is somewhat light weight for me. But, this might be the one. I just opened it, so time will tell. The thing that stands out to me the most is the savory nose and palate. I image bacon grease and maple syrup/burned brown sugar. What other peat monsters would you recommend? Greeting from San Francisco, CA!
Thanks! I'm glad you're getting on well with it so far. I agree with you about Octmore. I'm on record as saying its not as heavily peated as advertised. Not in the glass which is where it matters.
Have you tried all the usuals: Ardbeg 10, Port Charlotte, Ledaig 10, Kilchoman Machir Bay? Caol Ila 12 is good if you're OK with a slightly lower strength. And I really like Loch Lomond Peated Single Grain for a very different kind of peated whisky. Cheers 🥃
@@WhiskyLock I've tried all of them except for Loch Lomond. I'll definitely be on a lookout for it now. As to Ladaig and Machir Bay, I had cask strength versions of them and they were amazing. Especially Ladaig 12 by IB. I highly recommend Kilchoman Madeira Cask 2021. I has a very unique ashy peat. I really appreciate how informative your reviews are and not gimmicky.
Just got this for 52 usd, my first cask strength Laphroaig I’m excited. Cheers 🥃
Awesome price and it's a good one to start on. Enjoy! 🥃
Thats an awesome price! May I ask if you can provide a link to their website?.....Cheers!
@@gman5986 I wish it was a website, Ohio is a controlled state so when they hit the shelves at amazing prices they’re usually gone in a day or two 😔
Whisky Base have scored Batch #14 as the best CS Laphroaig!! A fair bit better than the Batch #15.
Mind boggled! All batches are good. It's Cask Strength Laphroaig after all! But no way would I put #14 on top. I didn't find it particularly complex OR bold. Perhaps some liked it because it was a bit more middle of the road? Or perhaps the high score reflects that nobody truly hated it? Interesting.
The Last Laphroaig c/s I had was batch 12, think it was 61.3% , guess those angels are a bunch of thieving buggers ;-)
Will give this a try at some point.
Dry as ever WL ;-)
Thanks Gareth. Yes batch 12 was a very high strength one! The angels must have been particularly thirsty this year. It's interesting trying to put connections between the ABV, the flavours and what has been happening in those casks. Cheers 🥃
It will be interesting to know your opinion about CS releases of another Isla distilleries. Laga 12 for example.
Hi! I reviewed Lagavulin 12 last year. It's quality stuff and will please most Lagavulin fans but I probably won't be getting it again for a few years. I think 12 years in refill isn't enough to make Lagavulin the best it can be. And importantly, it's nearly twice the price of Laphroaig 10CS! Cheers 🥃
Check out review 64. Obviously this year's Lagavulin 12 might be different but IMHO it's pretty similar year to year and never been my cup of tea.
@@WhiskyLock Tnx. I saw this review. I mean the difference between 16-17-18-19-20-21 releases. I agree with you about overpriced. Actual is about 200 pounds for laga 12(2021) in RF.
@@Dmitriy_Izhevsk that's a lot of money! Personally I'd want a much higher age statement for that much. I've tried a few Lagavulin Feis releases at the high teens and low 20s at cask strength which would've been worth £200 but IMHO not the 12yo.
What was your fav batch of all time? Mine is Batch 10! Good news on the 15 batch.
I knew someone was going to ask the obvious and impossible question. Congratulations, it's you 😉🤣
I really liked batch 7 for the maturity and fruity profile. I liked batches 8 and 10 for being more ballsy and raw. Probably one of those three depending on my mood. Very hard to pick just one.
I think #15 will sit close behind #8 and #10 but not quite up to those glory days. But very good!
@@WhiskyLock You complain in such a nice way. LOL
is iodine/medicinal character, which was quite toned town on batch 14, back on batch 15?
Yes I'm glad to say that I think it is. There's much more Laphroaig DNA than in the 14. Although not as much as some of the real ballsy earlier batches. A welcome improvement IMHO though 👍
I bought this bottle as a result of this review but I am not too happy about it. For me the medicinal and peat aspects are extremely dominant, I don't get much else. When I had the Uigeadail, it reminded my of sweet smoked bacon which I love.
This Laphroaig reminds me of smoked medicine, I also don't find much sweetness. The Iodine note in my opinion is incredibly overpowering, I feel like they need to tone it down and perhaps add an additional 2 years in some sherry cask to give it more dimensions.
It's not a bad whisky but it's very very particular with the medicinal and iodine notes, I can see why most would avoid this whisky or Laphraoig in general.
Sorry to hear that although it sounds like you might just not be accustomed to the really medical Islay malts. Maybe put it aside and revisit it every few weeks and see if you get used to it? Being cask strength Laphroaig it will probably mellow out a little now that the bottle is open as well.
Ironically, a bunch of Laphroaig fans are disappointed by recent Laphroaigs because they *are* sweeter than they used to be but this one is a slight return to that previous style that was more sweet bourbon cask dominated and that's why I really like it.
If you're after this kind of thing but sweet then the Sherry Oak is very good. The sherry cask knocks a bit of the intensity out of it but that may be to your liking. And of course there's Triple Wood which is partially matured in Oloroso but if you're looking for sweet and smoky Laphroaig I'd probably recommend the Sherry Oak.
Great review! How do you think Batch 15 compares to Batch 12?
Thanks! Hard to say for sure because I finished my batch 12 but I think the #12 still just about beats this. Close though which is fantastic news for the new batch. Cheers 🥃
@@WhiskyLock Happy to hear it. I have access to Batch 12, but I guess I'll see how I like Batch 15 before taking the plunge. Hope to see your channel continue to grow 🙂
@@jonvu90 Thank you Johnathan 🙂 things do seem to be picking up nicely now 👍
i clicked like the moment u said laphroaig😂
Everyone loves a cask strength Laphy 😀
Aye but nae bonfire?
Ah there's probably always at least some bonfire in a 10CS.
I think of myself as a Laphroaig fan, but I'm embarrassed to admit that I've never tried a CS. I've actually still got a batch 5 (Feb 13), that for some reason I never got around to opening. I think I need to try a batch 15. Your video may have given me the push.
Batch 15 would be a great place to start 🙂 if you're put off by the ABV try adding 10ml of bottled water to a 30ml pour. Leave it for 5 mins and you've got approx 43%. Next time try adding 7ml of water. Then 5ml until you find your happy place 😉
But if its not the ABV putting you off then as a Laphroaig fan I'm sure you'll love it!