Laphroaig 10 Review: Why it divides whisky geeks
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- Опубликовано: 11 июн 2024
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Today I delve into and review the famous Islay whisky: Laphroaig 10, an iconic peaty single malt from the renowned Islay shores.
I talk about what what does laphroaig 10 taste like,I like and dislike about this bottle, its unique flavour nuances, and my personal journey with this gateway-peated Scotch whisky.
Whether you're new to the peaty wonders or a seasoned aficionado, come explore why Laphroaig 10 has been a cherished introduction for many.
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Disclaimer: This video is only a reflection of my personal opinion and perspective. 
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So should I make more review videos?
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Yes please, Phil. Great, honest reviews, please keep doing them when you can, I value your opinion.
Thanks Andy!
Yes u should
There's no shortage of whisky reviews on RUclips, so I suggest sticking to what you do best ✌️
Your best videos are those with a theme. Appreciate the effort that goes into them and worth the wait
Laphroaig 10 was my first love. A dram here and there these days. Love the tar.
I recently got the cask strength variant of this. And... wow. What an experience. The nose is amazing. The taste is unlike any other whisky I have tried. It's way better than Lagavulin 16. Nice amount of smoke as well. But it doesn't stop there. This was my first bottle of Laphroaig ever, so I went to see what the deal is with Friends of Laphroaig. And I have to say, it's a nice experience. It costs them next to nothing (biggest cost is the dram you can get once a year, and how many of us are really going to go all the way to Islay every year?) but it makes you feel a tiny bit special. You get your own plot of land, a promise of yearly rent in the form of a dram. They make you feel like a VIP. It may be all smoke and mirrors, but it matters. So between the amazing experience of the cask strength 10 year old and the kitschy Friends of Laphroaig, I'd say this is one of my top 3 right now.
Yeah I agree, I like the FoL and the cask strength is where its at, everything about the 10 year old turned up to 11. Its how Laphroaig should be. Should also give the the 10 sherry oak cask a try. 48% and has a kind of bacony and sweeter maple syrup vibe.
The cask strength Laphroaig cask strength is a TOWER of power & taste!
Love your review style! The video clips make the review come to life!
I have about 50 bottles of 8 Laphroaig variations, love the stuff.
All I know is that I get a 43% Laphroiag at Trader Joe's for $42 and it is awesome. I will always have it on my shelf.
Not a huge whisky guy myself, but my brother had a bottle of Laphroaig he brought out at Christmas years back. I really enjoyed it.
Your videos are great Phil! Keep it up 👍
Really enjoy your breakdown and reviews on bottles Phil. Completely agree with you on this one and glad you mentioned how the branding has been slightly improved over the years to become such an underrated brilliant logo and distillery identity. Cheers!
My last bottle was talisker 10 which i love. I bought this about a month later and it was amazing. All I've heard in reviews was the medicinal bandaid stuff which has put me off laphroaig for so long but I didn't get any of that.
The first pour was heavy with the peat but not what I expected from the reviews! There is so much depth and flavour in this whiskey that I was not expecting and I love it. I can't wait to try their other releases and especially a cask strength bottle.
Last year in Seattle, I couldn't touch Laphroaig 10 for under $60, with most places having it around the $75 mark. This year, Total Wine has it for $50. Not bad, I thought. I went to Phoenix this May, and everywhere had it for $30 - Costco, Total Wine, and a smaller store in Glendale. Unbelievable. Now, I will just buy a case every time I go to Phoenix. No way I am every spending that much again.
I literally just bought a bottle today. Here in California it’s 43% so that’s a plus. I love peated whisky because it’s immediately obvious what you’re drinking. I have a lot of trouble telling non-peated scotch from bourbon or Canadian whisky or Irish whisky, but Islay peated whiskies are instantly recognizable.
Shot for the top notch content. I have learned so much from this channel in such a short time. These kids of review are super cool to share with others interested in whisky as well. We now have a whisky club at work and another in my church and reviews like these are really helpful to see what we can try next, so I hope to see quite a few more of these :P. A friend brought a Port Charlotte to a tasting based off of he recomendation on your previous vid it was amazing. So we are always looking out for what phil reccomends now :D
Finally had a chance to try the Laphroaig 10. Very good. Ready to continue my exploration of Islay whisky.
The 10 is still my favorite. I've tried the others but the 10 just has that little something that makes it stand out. Why search for something better when you found perfection.
Ditto. Perfection!
What about Laphroaig Select ?
@@ricni3464It's shite
Good call suggesting the CS. A massive step up in quality over the regular 10. Great vid, buddy! 🥃
Agreed! Thanks man
Cask Strength - This Is The Way
This was the first whisky that really struck me, I love it
I've tried to move on from it but I can't. It's still my favorite. Of course we're fortunate to get it at 43% and the CS is readily available as well. So far for me, only PC 10 and Talisker 10 come close. If I still had a bottle of Lagavulin 16, I would happily trade it for a Laph 10. I also have an independent bottling that I'm pretty sure is a finished Caol Ila that is truly excellent but still not Laphroaig. The Ardbegs I have had are all quite good but again, not as good. There's just something in the mid pallet that no one else can match. Sort of like a smoked, honey roasted cashew.
Lagavulin 16 is weak, it’s amazing how many are brainwashed…. Secretly I believe it’s because they don’t really like strong peat. Ardbeg and Laphroaig is where it’s at for real peat.
Hi Phil ! Laphroaig is my onest favorite whisky , one month ago i open Laphroaig 10 yo CS batch 015 56.5% abv .....it's amazing ))) Good job , like. Slainte !
A couple of friends and I did a blind tasting with all the smoky whiskeys we’d collected. Laphroiag 10 was against contenders such as Lagavullen Distiller Ed, Port Charloette 10, Talisker 10, and Laphroig Sherry. But it came in second only behind the Ardbeg Ulgedahl. It ranked highly amongst friends as well. It just punched through so well amongst the competition. So so good.
I’ve only had a handful of Scotches so I really appreciate the information. So far my favorite is Port Charlotte 10 but looking to try more. Thanks
Try nothing by Ledaig if you get the chance.
I love port charlotte but damn this competes with it
First peated whiskey i ever drank was lagavulin 16( i got a pint for 7 bucks) it was awsome.
Laphroaig 10, Lagavulin 16, and Bowmore 12 were my introductions to peated whisky. I suppose I'm like many whisky geeks in that I've moved on from them, but I'll always have a soft spot for them. I still think they have a place. They are good for beginners, and lower strength, filtered whiskies can be good as a warm-up/palate cleanser before moving onto sturdier stuff. Currently, for this purpose, I have a bottle of Connemara non-age statement peated. It has a softer, more easy going flavor than Laphroaig 10, so I find it more suitable as a warm-up drink, and it would be a nice choice for beginners to peat who want something milder than Laphroaig. For the more serious moderately or heavily peated whiskies, I have Port Charlotte 10, Ledaig 18, Springbank 15, and Westland peated. All of these give me more of what I like than Laphroaig 10. I still need to check out some of the other Laphroaig offerings and maybe an independent bottling if I'm fortunate enough to find one. If I can find a higher strength, non-chill filtered version, I might just go for it.
I've got a couple bottles of the 10 CS. That's a whole different beast. And although I love it it's a handful and needs to be diluted so I tend to drink it on cold days or special occasions. The 10 sherry cask is actually my go to Laphroaig at the moment
In the USA Laphroaig 10 is bottled @43%, which is a perfectly fine strength, and is still about $50, which in 2023 is something of a miracle.
Now if we can just get them to axe the coloring & chillfiltering...✌️
I think if I had access to the 43% version. It would make for a great casual sipper, especially at that price, so it's easy to restock.
@@FirstPhilWhisky The thing is that not too long ago bottles like Ardbeg TEN and Port Charlotte 10 were about the same price as Laphroaig 10, and those have more appeal to us whisky-nerds.
However, over the past few months those bottles have shot up in price, with Ardbeg TEN now about $60, and Port Charlotte 10 now a shocking $80, which is no bueno, which makes the $50 Laphroaig 10's blemishes a bit easier to overlook; it also makes peated Mystery Malts from Scarabus and others much more attractive.
They should just make it 46% uncolored unchilfiltered
While it would be nice to see Laphroaig (and Bowmore and Auchentoshan) embrace modern craft presentation, especially with it's most iconic bottling, I wouldn't hold my breath because they don't think things are broken and they're very successful ✌️
@MrChristopherMolloy most stupid thing a company on the top can do is do no innovation because theyre on the top right now... look at Toyota lol
Nice video Phil!
I really don’t like the stats of Laph 10 but the juice is soooo good. I actually prefer it to the Quarter Cask. Still…. Laph 10 Cask Strength would be my winner of the three.
Oh have you ever poured Laph10 over vanilla ice cream? Now that’s a dessert!!! So good!
Hi Phil. Laphraiog 10 was my intro in to the world of peat, but the CS 10 yr old is where it’s at. Also the QC and Lore are definitely better. Slàinte Phil, excellent review.👍
Thanks David! Sounds like we are at a similar place with Laphroaig on the whisky journey
The Quarter Cask is far superior to the standard 10yo.
The 10yr cask strength is the way to go!
More reviews!!!!
Please :)
I´ve been buying different Laphroaig bottles and I´ve becoume a fan of the distillery.
Best scotch whisky ever
Laphroaig 10 is like you said a whisky we go back less and less but it'll always have a special place in my heart as the one which made me love single malts. I always keep one at my bar just to get a whiff of nostalgia :) Cheers Phil 🥃
Well said!
Still one of my favs. It has a thicker oily feel you don't get on the others
It’s a mixture between diesel and tabaco… that’s (also) a quote from a Scot that we met on the Isle of Skye (I agree)…
The notes I got initially were TCP and a house fire, but add in the diesel and tabaco and it sums it up nicely.
Great review. Have to agree with most of what you said. Haven't tried any Laphroaig yet, but got select on my shelf. Doubt that it's good but maybe I will get some basic style of Laphroaig. Laphroaig qc cost same as port Charlotte 10, so doubt if it's worth it. P.S would love to see more reviews, cause you make Dem good one's
Try it. I love PC 10 but for me, Laphroaig is better
Thanks! Glad you liked the review!
Select is the weakest laphi but for someone who never tried any Laphroaig like you Select is perfect for start alongside with the 10. Also Select is superb for cocktails (penicillin). QC is definitely is worth a try. Its very good indeed. PC 10 is a belter. 👍😁🥂🙋🏻♂️
Here in Canada I get the 43 percent version it still leaves me wanting a little more depth of flavor but its probably the best whiskey I've ever had at that abv
Another good video! Perfect theme!
1. I think if someone (e.g. wife, non-whiskey drinker) doesn't like or is trying smoky whiskey for the first time - laphroaig 10 is a terrible choice. This is a very smoky one, and only the peet dominates - you need to ventilate a bit and you need a whiskey background to find it. It makes them vomit if you stick it under their noses. (benriach smoky line, or other less smoky can be a good start - more pleasant)
2. LAPHROAIG 10 (40%) - 10-year Islay is good for a collection - but unfortunately you can feel how good it could be, but it is weak and has holes. Ardbeg 10, PC 10, Leadig 10 (not Islay), even cheaper Scottish NAS Blend, etc. a much better choice if you are a whisey taster and not a drinker or mixer. LAPHROAIG 10 is a marketing product - the name takes it away. My favorite analogy: toothless Tom Cruise. (now imagine the photo) It looks very action-packed from afar, but up close - it's just a joke picture.
3. However, the majority of customers are more whiskey drinkers - and since the peat is the best part of Laphroaig 10, it's really great, so if you want that and a good brand name to sip on - it's a perfect choice! And within the LAPHROAIG range there are plenty of excellent items.
The first time I tried was in 2012 when I smelled it , smelled like campfire that's the best way that I can describe the smell, when I tasted it, it tasted like a campfire with a little bit of mint ,sea salt and the campfire lingered for a long time..
i hate Laphroig 10 because of my ignorance ,but later i came to know how classic it was and now it's one of my favourite
Talisker is a similar type. In UK it is 45.8 %
I was ruined early. A Laphroaig Cask Strength from Cadenhead's was my 1st plunge into peated single malts many years ago, (it was love at first taste!). After that the regular 10 OB was always just too weak.
I love peated whiskies, all , but the only one I don't like from Islay is Laphroig, there is a characteristic note of Laphroig I always get of synthetic burned robber/ tire, fuels, that doesn't let me enjoy the other note of smoke, burned steak, sea salt, that I also fine in other Islay scotches including Talisker,
Hey Phil, great take on Laphroaig 10. I've always picked QC over 10. The Laphroaig 10 CS releases are at totally different level so I've chased down a couple different release years of those. The one I would love to try is the Lore but it's just priced out of reach.
Quarter cask and 10 Cask Strength are priced reasonably.
@@DileepB I totally agree Dileep. Let's hope 10 CS releases stay consistent on both quality and price fronts.
I don't mind the fact that is 40% I just love the flavour profile.
I tried almost all the others trendy peated whisky, I still have bottles and do side by side comparisons, I also tried to water down to 40% PC10, Ardbeg, Kilchoman, Ledaig, Talisker, I prefer Laphroaig 10, it's the only one I always have.
I don't mind the artificial color because I homebrew beer and I tried to buy E150 (you can find it in most homebrew stores) and taste it in water and in whisky, no way you can taste it in a peated whisky.
Where I am this can be found for $36usd on sale. For that price it's worth getting, especially since we get 43% 750ml bottles. For comparison Ardbeg 10 is $60, Port Charlotte 10 & Ledaig 10 are $70. Cheers
Agree that this is one to move on from and mainly just because of the strength. Along with the way the flavour profile has changed over the years it's not one that many malt anoraks are going to give much time. It's a shame though as with a small ABV increase it could be so much more. The flavours are there, just held back. At least we can be thankful that most of the rest of the range is better presented. Cheers 🥃
Agree completely! Thanks mate!
I've come to terms with Laphroaig some time ago and I know they never change a thing in the 10. This one acts so well as a gateway to the peated side for all the good reasons you mentioned in your video. Did its magic for me 10 years ago and it'll sure be there for those knocking on the peated door. Cheers from Romania!🥃
Laphroiag Select is was the bottle that got me hooked on peated whiskies, it is naturally coloured and non chill-filtered, so it does have some stats going for it (for all the haters out there). Not sure I've moved on from it yet but i think im starting the prefer the quarter cask the more i drink it. I enjoy a lot of the peated whiskies but i really like the iodine that laphroiag brings and that is what keeps bringing me back.
I enjoy the 10, but I think I like the Quarter Cask even more. Now that my bottle of 10 is gone, I might pick up a cask strength one. Yes, by all means, do more bottle (or distillery) reviews.
I can handle Lagavulin 16 to me it’s not heavily peated but Ardbeg is just way out for me. So I’m guessing this brand is a tad more peated than I personally would like. I really like speyside whisky however it would be better if it had a higher ABV. Enjoy!!
My entry into whiskey was laphroiag 10 😂
You summed it up perfectly Peated whisky just has to be 46%+ The quarter cask is great but the 10 at 40% is ashtray flavored water. Really disliked my last bottle
I guess I'll be in the minority here: Laphroaig 10 was the whiskey that turned me off from whiskey for a long time. Not knowing any better, I thought that all scotch was like Laphroaig, and since it was one of the first I actually sat down and tasted, I completely wrote off whiskey for about five years after drinking it. I finally came back and tried some other whiskeys, but stayed away from peated scotch, because again, I thought it was all going to taste like Laphroaig. But after trying some Highland Park 12 and 18, and then some Talisker Storm and 10, and then some Lagavulin 16 (which is now probably my favorite peated scotch), and then some Bruichladdich Port Charlotte and Octomore, along with a few others, I realized that peated scotch doesn't suck. It's amazing! So, having had this revelation, I decided to try Laphroaig again. It almost made me wretch. I will never understand what people find enjoyable in it. Just about every other peated scotch I've had has been wonderful, but that taste of burning used band-aids completely wipes out every other flavor for me and I just can't do it.
So I'm not the only one who thinks that. Found the Ailsa Bay to be like a unpeated version of it so there's two distilleries I avoid.
Sounds like a starter as well as “ I want a glass but keep it light “
Great video as usual, i did a video where i compare the 40% and the 43% and the 43% is noticeable better
Anyone know why they seem to bottle at 40% in the UK/European market but 43% for the US?
Laphroaig select was the first smoky whisky I ever had. Thought it was ok, not great but not bad either. Tried a few others till I had Ardbeg then fell in love
Yeah the Ardbeg 10 is great. Helps it being 46% too
@@FirstPhilWhisky I do find it interesting how that extra few percent in strength can make the world of difference to the taste.
We've been slugged over the head by Laphroaig 10 in Australia! 40% and the price sometimes tops $110! Before COVID i bought it at $80, somestimes $70 on sale. That could be due to extortionate alcohol taxes, but this is just too much punishment for 40% haha lament over
I would not buy it!
I've been drinking it for many years, I always preferred it over the 15 year old. What impressed me about the 10 is that it has held its quality over the years, where some well known whiskies have not. I still buy it at £30 and find it very enjoyable - so disagree with your entrant blurb. It's still a great whisky and stands on it's own.
I'll take the Laphroaig Quarter Cask over the Port Charlotte 10 every time.
Growing up in the US, all you hear about (before the internet, that is) is blended whisky. For some reason (obviously marketing), Chivas Regal was thought of as the pinnacle of scotch. Horrible! Anyway, I eventually tasted Laphroaig. It was the first scotch that lived up to what I thought in my mind a scotch should taste like. Peaty, salty, and a little rough. I found myself disliking highland whiskies, because they never tasted the way I imagined scotch to taste.
So, I did like Glen Morangie for a change, and then found The Balvenie (12yo doublewood) to be enjoyable as a different style. I bought a few other bottles (e.g., Caol Ila 18, Ledaig sherry finish, Bunnahabhain 12, and Lagavulin 16). For my taste, they were hit or miss…mostly expensive misses. So, I gave up.
After watching a few whisky RUclips videos, I’m now ready to restart my journey. I’ll start with the Port Charlotte 10 and go from there. Thanks!
I would rather drink the quarter cask for $10 more. Laphroaig 10 is about nostalgia, but it is time grow out of puppy love and go for the cask strength if you want the 10!
Laphroaig 10 is just a solid whisky. It's also a good choice for people trying to get into Islay whisky and try the more peaty and smokey kinds. It's something i always come back to every once and awhile. Even though i really prefer Lagavulin 16 and other whiskys from Islay.
Best whisky ever but yes, abv is too low
The iodine medicinal note is to much for me
The quarter cask and the triple wood ...even better the Cask strength 10 year are superior iterations, good review re deficiencies ...low ABV, colour added and chill filtered... tragic
But it’s still tasty!
But not as tasty as it used to be. Sure If I was cuddled up to a rock in the mountains I'd be grateful, but should you drink or more importantly should they make inferior drams of low ABV, chill filtered and colour added ...its a no brainer and I'd happily more for 46% non chill / no E150A ..and it would be a classic @@revolvermaster4939
I think Laphroaig is basically what I imagined peated scotch to taste like, and is one of the easiest to drink. For me, the hardest part of peated whiskey to get behind is the mossy and vegetal approach rather than the medicinal or maritime flavors, and Laphroaig seems to exchange the former for the latter.
IT'S NOT STRONG ENOUGH!!!😂 make it 43% at least! I dont think i'll buy it again
Baby Whisky , Smoky , sort of , but no get up and go, flat as a Witches T!t, waste of time , now the Cask Strength 10, that’s a Whisky, good Whisky , good kick, but no Bruichladdich Charlotte cask strength, whoaaa now we talking !!!!!
I do not buy whiskys in general which are colored, chill filtered and diluted to 40% - that is really bad for good stuff. Laphroaig I only buy from indepedent bottlers which is usually non chill filtered, natural colour and comes with higher ABV. Everytime I pour Lore I feel deceived, even if it is good stuff.
It’s smells like a doctor clinic
Laphroag 10 got me out of whiskey for 9 years.
Anyone who doesn’t like this needs to stick to Coors Light and continue shaving their legs.
This is my least favorite of the Islays I've tried so far.
If you have a old slow cooker don't do this.
It is now $65, which simply too much for a chill filtered, watered down 10 year old bottle of scotch.
Man, the Costco near me has it for $39.99.
Just bought a bottle. 60$ plus tax and recylcling fee. Beginner bottle? Thanks! Joe Bidens' inflated economy.
A Terrible whiskey, and i said it all. ALL whiskey i have are peated because they-re amazing. Laphroaig is just...terrible.
Let's face it. Whisky doesn't have scents of lavender, nutmeg, liquorice or pussy-cat juice.
It tastes like alcohol stored in a barrel for a few years. The more you drink the more
pissed you get.