Laphroaig Quarter Cask, a favourite full Peat!

Episode 444. The weather has become miserable here. Blowing snow and icy roads. That is a clear indication it is time to drink peated Scotch. Quarter Cask is a favourite of mine. Here I sip this vs Ardbeg 10. What would be your favourite? #laphroaig #scotch #whiskyneighbour

[@richcole3931]

It's such a pleasure to watch your videos.

[@WhiskyNeighbour]

Thanks, too kind!

[@michaelwood3203]

It's such a comfort to have a warming whisky when the mercury drops and the winds of winter blow in the dark cold nights. Peated smokey tar, burnt ash, and the medicinal influence sem to resonate with the season. Great review.

[@WhiskyNeighbour]

Those flavours sure do! Cheers!

[@annebennett2095]

My advent calendar came yesterday. Looking forward to your videos!

[@WhiskyNeighbour]

Awesome!!!!

[@ThiloBauer]

Your German neighbour here. As you possibly knew (now you know (-: )), the german law demands the mentioning of any kind of additions, so I can testify to the natural color because there's nothing about color on the label.

[@WhiskyNeighbour]

Thank you for letting me know. I certainly wish Canadian law enforced that too.

[@ThiloBauer]

@@WhiskyNeighbour I certainly wish the government had a hands-off-approach to not only the production and marketing of whisky... I'd gladly give up this one good act of regulation (-: But this item we happily put aside. Sláinte!

[@onewomanswhisky]

For me, Laphroaig always tastes like Ireland. I have friends there, and until very recently they used peat as fuel for cooking and warming their home. This practice is now being discouraged as it is, apparently, more polluting than coal burning. The peaty Islays take me back to many magical times with some wonderful friends over the years! Caught this vid last night, decided to follow along with the same two offerings. I agree with your tasting notes, but for me the Laphroaig won out this time. New Scotland (Nova Scotia) trip was extraordinary. The items from my uncle that we took to the Naval Museum found the perfect home. Emotional, but gratifying. Haven't had a chance to watch the OSWA awards yet, hope to get the time on the weekend. I've resisted peeking, so I won't know who won what until I watch it through. Cheers Jon 🥃😁🥃 Marian 🇨🇦

[@WhiskyNeighbour]

So wonderful you could make that trip, and a part of your Uncle can live on. I hope you find the time to catch up, the OSWA were great. Fairly long, but fun

[@Jamesy1993]

Great to see you on the OSWA's last night. I love QC and personally much prefer it to Ardbeg. I love those madicinal notes and the hit of caramel.

[@WhiskyNeighbour]

The OSWA's were a lot of fun, and I love that they represent people's votes. The medicinal notes are awesome here!

[@Hii-d4l]

“10 whiskeys I will always buy” would be a great video. I hope you make that next.

[@WhiskyNeighbour]

Another way to look at it is, what do I pour after shooting a new review. It might be surprising!

[@danielmcevoy976]

I love the Laphroaig 10... it's the only Islay I need on the shelf. It had more of a tar taste years ago which is gone these days and it tastes younger now. It's still my go to smoke bomb.

[@WhiskyNeighbour]

Thanks for sharing. Laphroaig 10 is an excellent release!

[@foodquig]

Both of these are wonderful whiskeis and also very affordable... I have both of them currently on my bar ready for the next storm.

[@WhiskyNeighbour]

Either are a good choice for a storm!

[@drax14QC]

I tasted Quarter Cask once a few months ago at a bar.. and I still remember how good it was and that blast of flavours after each sip ! Definitely a bottle I will buy someday. Would you suggest I buy the Laphroaig 10 as my first Laphroaig ? The 10 is 87$ and the QC is 92$ in Québec. Right now I’m really enjoying a freshly opened bottle of Ardbeg Wee Beastie !

[@WhiskyNeighbour]

That is a tough call. I personally prefer the QC. A little more oak, and I would say smoke too. But Laphroaig 10 is a classic, but beware of the medicinal note. I enjoy, but can take a few sips to settle in. Wee Beastie is delicious!

[@drax14QC]

@@WhiskyNeighbour yeah that medicinal note, definitely! I tasted Laphroaig 10 once at a bar and I was amazed at how smoky, medicinal and coastal it was! I have a bottle of Ledaig 10 and compared to it, I found the same maritime/coastal notes in the Laphroaig but with a lot more heavy smoke!

[@johnzajac9849]

I had a wee dram of it last night, for the first time. Wow! It will put hair on one's chest!

[@WhiskyNeighbour]

@@johnzajac9849 Absolutely!

[@secordman]

Finally gave Laphroiag 10 a shot, the nose is familiar, wet wood (Bowmore 12 prepared me) but the palate gave me the ashtray, which I am still tasting. Getting a pleasant sweet finish when i added a little water. Not really getting the band-aid yet. This will warm me up this winter. Good review of the QC.

[@WhiskyNeighbour]

Awesome, you got to try this. Also good the band aid did not come through. For some, it can be strong. A great Winter dram, cheers!

[@tooslow1614]

Thank you

[@WhiskyNeighbour]

You are welcome!

[@richardarmitage5976]

I just wish there was more from laphroaig in Alberta or the world really. Great stuff.

[@WhiskyNeighbour]

I certainly agree!!

[@Rohit_M]

Excellent review of the two bruisers Jon! I agree with you on starting the journey with Highland Park 12 before diving into these. The downside of starting with these and then heading over to HP would be a slight disappointment in my experience. Both of these and many other Laph and Ardbegs are so classic and still represent true of Islay. Great drams for the fall/winter's cold weather and storms...heck you can even enjoy them in summer with the BBQ fare.

[@WhiskyNeighbour]

Agreed, they could be enjoyed all year. They are such classic releases. Thanks for sharing your thoughts here.

[@rickramer14]

Two great scotches. Not shocked to see the A10 edge it out! Cheers Jon!

[@WhiskyNeighbour]

Both are so good, especially in winter. Cheers!

[@chrisbrook1234]

I absolutely love both of these drams, although I think I would agree with you that Laphroaig Quarter Cask is my preference. I recently picked up Lagavulin 8 Year Old for the first time as well and I must say, it's right up there with those two in terms of quality and flavour, perhaps leaning more towards the Ardbeg in flavour profile. I will always have a soft spot for Laphroaig though; it was my first full peat dram in my whisky journey after moving up from Bowmore 12 Year Old. As far as value goes, at the LCBO here in Ontario they've just bumped the price of Ardbeg 10 Year Old to $110 which is really starting to push it out of reach, although Laphroaig QC and Lagavulin 8 aren't far behind at $98 and $97 respectively. While I always keep a bottle of full peat Islay on my shelf, with those prices I've found myself searching out and picking up peated blends so I can enjoy those flavours without blowing the budget.

[@WhiskyNeighbour]

Those are tough. Good Scotch, but moving more to very occasional drams! I need to find a middle of the road peated blend. I have these Single Malts, and then some very inexpensive. Not that many in the middle for full peat.

[@chrisbrook1234]

@@WhiskyNeighbour there really isn't a lot of peat in the middle ground is there? I'm not sure if you can get it in the Edmonton area but I would actually recommend Dun Bheagan Islay Single Malt. It's bottled by Ian MacLeod at 43%, non-chillfiltered and here in Ontario it is $55 which, by LCBO standards, is very reasonable. I don't know the exact origin distillery, and it seems to vary with each batch, but I've heard it's often younger 5-6 year old Laphroaig.

[@WhiskyNeighbour]

@@chrisbrook1234 I have not seen it here, but will keep an eye out. Thanks for the recommendation!

[@markbagworth3653]

Both are great drams! But I love the Ardbeg 10 always seem to get something different from the 10. Sometimes smokey and peaty sometimes citrus and spicey. Never let's me down at a much more reasonable price over here in Melbourne.

[@WhiskyNeighbour]

Cool it gives you so many flavours, also great it is a good deal! Cheers!

[@WhiskeyNovice]

Nice one Jon. In my opinion, there are better Laphroaigs and there are much worse. But if you were only ever gonna buy one....buy the Quarter Cask. I'd imagine it is virgin oak quarter casks. Maybe we're both wrong but, it's that sweetness and (as you said) creasote that the smaller cask brings. Great, affordable stuff. Cheers buddy.

[@WhiskyNeighbour]

Thanks for dropping in. Yep, this is not the best whisky, but it sure is tasty and full of peat!

[@alandiaz1041]

I too love Laphroaig QC. It is a really well balanced Islay. Yes, you get those traditional Laphroaig medicinal, iodine flavors. However, they are subtle in comparison to the Laphroaig 10. Unfortunately, the QC has crept up to $73 USD here. I can find better scotch in that price range than the QC. Still, I will keep it on the shelf all the same. Ardbeg is my favorite Islay distillery. Of course the Corryvreckan and Uigeadail are my favorites among the core line. The Ardbeg 10 is definitely a delicious dram. Interestingly, the Ardbeg 10 is only $55 USD here. So is the Laphroaig QC almost twenty dollars better than the Ardbeg 10? No, it is not. We’re they both the same price, I would definitely chose the QC. Whatever a person’s budget, they couldn’t go wrong with either scotch.

[@WhiskyNeighbour]

Thanks for sharing your journey here. Those prices seem out of sync for what they offer. Here, QC is $10 less than the Ardbeg 10 for sure. That seems about right I enjoy both, and I was surprised here, that in a head to head, I was leaning toward Ardbeg. I am usually a QC fan!

[@jtf2dan]

Great review...I love them both as well!

[@WhiskyNeighbour]

Thanks!!

[@jtf2dan]

@@WhiskyNeighbour No!...thank YOU!...I am drinking some of the Ardbeg 10 right now...after seeing your review I couldnt stop myself! LOL Beautiful dram for sure.

[@WhiskyNeighbour]

@@jtf2dan a great dram to enjoy. Especially when the ice and snow is blowing. Cheers!

[@dribsanddrams]

I can’t get with that quarter cask, though I’ve tried. It’s full of notes that are right up my alley, but I’m really band-aid averse.

[@terrys9478]

Just splurged and ordered the Advent Calendar from SOV. Looking forward to sipping along with your comments throughout the Christmas season. If anyone likes an Old Fashioned, I HIGHLY recommend one made with their No. 82 Amaretto, Angostura and Peychaud bitters and Knob Creek 9 year old. Excited to explore their production more through the calendar.

[@WhiskyNeighbour]

Ok, that is amazing! I am now looking forward to this season more than ever! Cheers!

[@secordman]

$97.95 in Ontario, never on sale. L10 is in a gift pack with two glencairn glasses so might finally try that . Still have some Bowmore 12 left which I really like.

[@WhiskyNeighbour]

The medicinal notes here are higher than I shared. I guess I enjoy them, but as so many have noted, they are certainly there!

[@i-am-vonnegut]

Laphroaig have brought out an oak select dram. It's delicious but different to its brothers.

[@WhiskyNeighbour]

Cool! I have yet to see that. Thanks for sharing.

[@Canadian_Chris]

Going to take your advice and start with the Highland Park. I was considering making my own "blind" Advent calendar but the one generously donated to you looks awesome. Please do share where it came from. It would be great to nose and taste the same whiskies during your videos.

[@WhiskyNeighbour]

sonsofvancouver.ca/store/2022-sov-whisky-advent-calendar

[@WhiskyNeighbour]

It might be hard to get, but it certainly would be fun to share some thoughts!

[@BigDave24can1]

Would love to see the 10 to 20 on your always have/rebuy list And KZbin loves top 10 lists

[@WhiskyNeighbour]

It certainly does. But they take more time to build, and work is frustrating and busy right now!

[@johnzajac9849]

One wonders what a third glass with a little of each SW in the glass would taste like!

[@WhiskyNeighbour]

@@johnzajac9849 A fun idea

[@totalperspec]

Ardbeg 10 is the scotch that got me into scotch. Can't say I dug it the first time but I could tell that it was well made and well balanced, and that was a fine start.

[@WhiskyNeighbour]

Agreed it is excellent, but that would have been a challenging start for me.

[@bandicootman]

Just finished the oswa watch now here with lagavulin 8 in hand. Also very windy here in Cambridge Ontario.

[@WhiskyNeighbour]

Lag 8 is another excellent Isaly! Thanks for dropping in, even after the OSWA. Lots of whisky conversations!

[@Jesse_James_Games_]

I was under the impression that scotchs don't contain color almost like Bourbons how it is banned, is this wrong?

[@WhiskyNeighbour]

Sadly many Scotch releases contain colour. The best way to check is find someone in Germany to read their label. By law, they have to declare if they have added e150 colour or not.

[@Watchman999]

This is my go to Laphroaig. 10 year is consistently underwhelming.

[@WhiskyNeighbour]

For me, I enjoy the combination of heavy peat with a little more oak!

[@richcole3931]

Anyone try the Lore? Is it worth the extra $ from the quarter cask?

[@WhiskyNeighbour]

Lore is fantastic, but I have only had drams or samples. Tough to compare as it's 3x the price!

[@jonathanbean7097]

May I be so audacious enough as to ask your age? It occurred to me that through out you videos, you never seem to age. I have my money on 47!

[@WhiskyNeighbour]

Lol! Thanks. I am 51, but sadly do age!

[@jonathanbean7097]

@@WhiskyNeighbour Think of your sprit, and just attach that 51 year old age statement to it, and realize that you're aging gracefully. Must be the passion of whisky! We all age, but not always gracefully!

[@WhiskyNeighbour]

@@jonathanbean7097 thanks!