14 Nov, 2009

Laphroaig 10 yo Cask Strength (batch 001)

Posted by: Ruben In: Laphroaig

Laphroaig 10 year old cask strength has been a favourite of many peat heads. As of February 2009, Laphroaig started mentioning a batch number on the bottles. The first batch has been around for a while now, but still it’s not widely available so I guess batch #002 will not be released soon.

Laphroaig 10 yo Cask Strength (57,8%, OB 2009, Batch #001)

Nose: immediately smokey and medicinal. Dry ashes and tar. Lots of phenols. There’s certainly less fruit than the former 10 Year Old CS. I do get some sweet peach but the whole is too smokey to make it stand out. Charcoal. Quite a lot of rubber / tires as well and hints of pencil shavings. Mouth: peppery peat smoke, starting sweet but getting quite dry after a few moments with a remarkable wood influence. Hints of salty liquorice and seaweed. Still no obvious fruit, although there is some apple skin to be found. Finish: again smokey, quite dry and salty. Long aftertaste.

Laphroaig 10 years old CS confirms itself as a very powerful dram although a bit more mono-dimensional than previous batches. Only recommended if you’re into heavy smoke. Around € 50.

Score: 86/100

Laphroaig 10yo CS
(bottling code LG010R2K)

- relatively fruity with vanilla
- sweet peat smoke
- medicinal
- balanced smoke

Laphroaig 10yo CS
(Batch #001)

- less fruit, faint hints of vanilla
- tar, charcoal and burnt notes
- rubbery
- big emphasis on smoke

I’ll repeat the remark I’ve made for Ardbeg Corryvreckan and the recent Lagavulin 12 years old: there seems to be a general tendency towards heavier smoke and ‘burnt’ peat. Now that’s not necessarily a bad thing, just an observation.

Tags: 10y, batch 001, cask strength, islay, Laphroaig

12 Responses to "Laphroaig 10 yo Cask Strength (batch 001)"

November 14th, 2009 at 01:05

Wow, Ruben. Once again, you’ve nailed it! You’re describing pretty much exactly what I’m experiencing with this expression (minus the rubber). I also feel like the wood makes itself known on the nose, and that seems to be winning points for me right now (a la QC).

Did you try with some water? It brings out more sweetness and calms down the tar. When in the mood for Laph CS, though, I’m generally looking for the “neat” experience.

Cheers,
Jeff (into heavily smoked whisky at the moment)

2 | Charlie

November 14th, 2009 at 11:34

Yeah, like Jeff said. Water will free the fruity taste and sweetness, with the tar taste reduced.

3 | Tweets that mention Laphroaig 10 yo Cask Strength (batch 001) | WhiskyNotes -- Topsy.com

November 14th, 2009 at 17:09

[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Ruben and WHISKYhost, scotchhunter. scotchhunter said: #scotch #whisky Laphroaig 10 yo Cask Strength (batch 001) – Laphroaig 10 yo Cask Strength (57,8%, OB 2009, Batch #0… http://ow.ly/161vkY [...]

November 14th, 2009 at 17:11

I added some water but it didn’t change much. Maybe not enough then. I’ll remember to add more water the next time I taste it (although I tend to evaluate whisky on what is in the bottle, not what you can make of it when you’re lucky to add the right amount of water, Coca-Cola or whatever).
@Jeff: I’m glad we share the same experience on this Laphroaig. Thanks.

November 14th, 2009 at 17:12

i have not tasted batch 01.
but i do prefer the QC.
i need to try that one too.
as i LOVE smoke (and Jeff can attest to that) i think it would be right my alley.

have u tasted the Triplewood?

November 14th, 2009 at 17:13

Sure: http://www.whiskynotes.be/2009/laphroaig/laphroaig-triple-wood/
I think I like Triple Wood more than most other reviewers.

7 | Recap of Whisky Fest New York City, Touring Tuthilltown Distillery | Whisky Party

November 15th, 2009 at 07:19

[...] Whisky Notes also tastes the Laphroaig Batch 001. [...]

8 | Jorgen

November 15th, 2009 at 11:53

“you can make of it when you’re lucky to add the right amount of water, Coca-Cola or whatever”

9 | The Bonding Dram – Battle of the stunners | WhiskyNotes

January 20th, 2010 at 01:12

[...] Ambassador’s Choice vs. Laphroaig 10yo CS (batch [...]

10 | Charlie

April 9th, 2010 at 13:58

Batch 002 58.3% 2010 is out. Any chance to try it Ruben?

11 | Ruben

April 9th, 2010 at 14:27

I won’t buy this bottling myself, but if I can find a sample, I’ll certainly try it.

12 | A Laphroaig Cask Strength comparison « Scotch Hobbyist’s Blog

August 24th, 2010 at 08:26

[...] – 10 CS Batch 001 (86 pts); Cairdeas 12 2009 (88 pts); Cairdeas master Edition 2010 (86 pts & comparison with [...]

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