Inspired by the Atlanta upon which the Laphroaig distillery sits, An Cuan Mòr (“Big Ocean”) is composed from a selection of many casks – each batch hand-selected for its exceptional flavour by our Master Distiller.
All have been matured in first fill ex-bourbon barrels in Warehouse No. 1 – just a stone’s throw from breaking waves. This whisky is then carefully re-casked and left to sleep in the finest European Oak. The result is an extraordinary fusion of flavours, from the unmistakable peat of our spirits, to the soft and spicy caramel tones of the American wood, to the big, rich “burnt apricot and raisin” notes that European oak is so famous for. Any cloudiness when mixed with water is normal for a whisky that hasn’t been chill-filtered.
What Gary Says
Nose: Peat smoke, medicinal, iodine, smoked brisket brushed barbecue sauce and a healthy dose of sea salt, bit of baked goods – a yeasty bread. Palate: Sweet, peat with fruit notes, pears, apples, touch of honey before a peaty pepper bite kicks in. Finish: Moderately long with peat smoke and subtle fruit. Comments: Laphroaig always stands out for me. This has a nice, golden color with a touch of copper – and I like the meaty notes on the nose. Another travel retail exclusive that doesn’t appear to be available currently. Nothing off putting, but not my favorite from Laphroaig.
Laphroaig 16 Year Old Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky
48% ABV $90 Website We would like to thank Laphroaig and Multiply for sending us a sample to review.
What the Distillery Says
Laphroaig® 16 Year Old is an exceptional expression that has been matured for 16 years in ex-bourbon barrels. Over time, the whisky’s smoky flavor softens on the senses and is beautifully married with sweet vanilla notes aging in Americna Oak to deliver a long lasting, smoky sweet and rich flavor. Laphroaig 16 Year Old is best served neat or with a drop of water.
TASTING NOTES Color: Deep copper Nose: Sweet leather, oaky spices, with floral notes, roasted chestnuts with rich maple syrup, and a touch of black pepper. Palate: Sweet with treacle, caramel, Manuka honey and thyme, as well as wood smoke, creosote, lots of floral notes of heather and bergamot, and a chili mouthfeel. Finish: Long lasting, smoky, sweet with a salted seaweed, medicinal character.
What Gary Says
Nose: Thick and lovely with seaweed, iodine, leather, peat smoke, tar, and a subtle sweetness underneath. Palate: Sweet salted caramel to start, then sharpening with pepper spice, peat, smoke, oregano & thyme dried near the sea. Finish: Moderately long, smokey and drying with medicinal notes. Comments: This is a lovely dram! Water tamps the sharper edges and brings more sweetness forward, but make no mistake this is squarely in the Laphroaig wheelhouse. I was fortunate enough to have a bottle of Laphroaig 18 yr on hand to compare to, and it was fairly similar (maybe not quite as creamy of a mouthfeel and a tad less refined). Unfortunately that isn’t a standard offering, which is all the more reason I’m excited about this new addition to the lineup. In particular I appreciate the relatively high ABV. While softer than the 10 yr with more nuance, this still brings images of a peat fire by the sea shore. If you’re a fan of Laphroaig, I’d consider this a ‘Must Try’.
This unusual limited release 18 year old is the oldest unpeated CAOL ILA ever bottled and was matured in refill American Oak casks. It has a style as clean and fresh as the pale sky that follows clearing rain, with a bitter-sweet warmth and an appetising salty edge. Crisp, smooth hints of fruit and a wild strawberry sweetness dance boldly across the tongue like flecks of foam over wind-lashed waves.
What Gary Says
Nose: Cut hay, salted caramel and vanilla, strawberry greens, gentle smoke and a hint of salted sea air; a bit of water brings out more smoke and maritime notes. Palate: Rich and thick mouthfeel that starts soft and gradually warms, caramel with berries, apricots, peaches, pears, bit of allspice and smoke pick-up in the middle along with honey malt. Finish: Long with a warm and subtle spice nod. Comments: Wow – this is delicious! I like Caol Ila, and when I heard ‘unpeated’ I’ll admit that my immediate thought was ‘Folks, if it ain’t broke – don’t fix it’. I was curious how this would be without the peat, and I am so glad to have had a chance to try this. Just a lovely, complex dram that highlights the craftsmanship of the makers. Some might wonder if peated malt is a lower quality (where the peat can cover up some mistakes). This shows that isn’t the case. Takes water well, although drinks like it is closer to 50% than 60%.
This Port Charlotte 10 year old has been conceived, distilled, matured and bottled on Islay alone. We are a young team with deep-rooted values, and an ambition to make the ultimate “Islay” Islay whisky. A whisky made by people not software; a whisky watched over every day of its maturing life by those who made it; a whisky born of a community with a vision and a mission to kick start a single malt whisky revolution, this Port Charlotte 10 year old is who we are. This is where we’re from.
TASTING NOTES Nose: The smoke is calmed by the marine, ozone character, time has brought a balance, a harmony in the combination of oak, smoke and spirit. While the smoke is always discernible on the nose it is dry, earthy, peatash in its style and so allows the oak to come forward with waves of golden caramel, fudge, vanilla custard, hints of ginger, nutmeg and clove. There is citrus fruit, coaxed from the glass with a drop of water, gentle lemon meringue and clementine. Breathe deeply and the floral aromas of wild thyme, heather and sea pink bring you to this Atlantic coast. Palate: On the palate there is a noticeable delicacy and softness in texture and style. Again, the balance of flavour is superb as the smoke wraps loosely around the sweetness drawn from deep within the oak. Coconut, vanilla custard, lemon honey combines with smoked oysters and sun baked salty sand. Finish: The finish is sublime, smoky sure, but also the soft sweetness of fudge and malted barley, orange, mango and Banoffee pie hinting of the depth and quality of the oak. The many layers interchange on each sip. As the smoke comes and goes so too the notes of the spirit, ripe apple and apricot, beautifully intertwined with malt and oak sweetness and that typical Port Charlotte style dry smoke. Character: Ageing for 10 years on the shores of Loch Indaal has had a profound effect on this spirit. Like sunshine on a winters day, this Port Charlotte 10 brings clarity and lightens the mood, welcoming and brightening the future.
PRODUCT SPECIFICATION WHISKY TYPE: HEAVILY PEATED ISLAY SINGLE MALT SCOTCH WHISKY PHENOL LEVEL: 40 PARTS PER MILLION BARLEY PROVENANCE: 100% SCOTTISH BARLEY FROM INVERNESSHIRE REGION MATURATION PROFILE: 65% 1ST FILL AMERICAN WHISKEY CASKS 10% 2ND FILL AMERICAN WHISKEY CASKS 25% 2ND FILL FRENCH WINE CASKS BOTTLING: BOTTLED ONSITE WITH ISLAY SPRING WATER, NON CHILL FILTERED & COLOURING FREE LIQUID COLOUR: PRIMROSE TO CITRINE TASTE DESCRIPTOR: BARBECUE SMOKINESS, RICH AND SPICY WITH SWEET MALTY NOTES
What Gary Says
Nose: Boatloads of peat, medicinal notes of iodine, a briny sea mist with smoke and notes of ginger, honey, milk chocolate, and tropical fruits. Palate: Sweet start with vanilla, honey, coconut macaroons, chocolate and bits of caramel before sharpening in the mid palate with some pepper bite (and maybe oregano?); peat threaded throughout. Finish: Long and lovely, with honey and smokey peat with ocean breeze. Comments: This is squarely in the Islay peaty whisky family; which I happen to really enjoy. It takes a bit of water well, smoothing it out a bit without losing any richness. For fans of peat (Laphroaig, Lagavulin), I think you’ll want to seek this out; I’d recommend going out of your way to try it.
59.5% ABV $80 Website We would like to thank Laphroaig and Multiply for sending us a sample to review.
What the Distillery Says
Each year, Laphroaig Distillery Manager, John Campbell, crafts a limited edition malt to celebrate friendship (“Càirdeas” in Gaelic). Those who were lucky enough to attend this year’s Fèis Ìle celebrations had the chance to share a dram of this unique whisky, which is one of the most anticipated Laphroaig offerings each year. This year’s limited release is a triple maturation. First matured in ex-bourbon barrels, the liquid is next saturated with flavor in smaller quarter casks, and finished in European oak casks that previously housed Oloroso sherry, giving the expression a sweet and smooth finish. It is then barrier filtered and bottled at cask strength to create a punchy dram with Laphroaig’s signature richness of flavor and smoky taste.
TASTING NOTES COLOUR: Burnished Gold. NOSE: Polished leather and tobacco leaves with spicy lemon and clementine zest. Subtle notes of golden syrup and rich heather honey, with autumn leaves, hazelnuts, vanilla fudge and a touch of white pepper and nutmeg. Dried camomile flowers and a touch of passion fruits. BODY: Full bodied. PALATE: Sweet with rich toffee, with dates, maple syrup, praline and crème caramel. Grilled chestnuts with tarte Tatin, marzipan and strong black pepper. Cedar wood, a touch of furniture polish and beeswax. FINISH: Sweet, long with caramel and spicy buttery fudge.
What Gary Says
Nose: Peat, iodine, a smokey campfire, old leather, cigar tobacco, citrus spice notes with subtle floral wisps. Palate: Rich with caramel, peat, toffee, apricots, figs, a slightly sharp pepper bite with sea salt and allspice. Finish: Moderately long, drying with peat, black pepper and dried fruits. Comments: I’m a fan of Laphroaig, and this didn’t disappoint. My favorite readily available offering is the 10 yr cask strength, so I couldn’t wait to get this in a side-by-side match up with it. This has more depth on both the nose and palate, with more fruit notes and nuance. I can’t imagine any fans of Laphroaig being disappointed. Like last year’s Cairdeas Fino Cask Finish, they’ve done a nice job of keeping it squarely in the Laphroaig wheelhouse, with just some subtle nudging here and there.
