ralfy review 979 - Laphroaig 10 yo Batch 15 @56.5%vol

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[@heavilypeted]

Back of the tube states: “….Original Cask Strength Laphroaig® is barrier-filtered only to remove the small char particles that are present. In extremes of temperature it may appear a little cloudy-this is the condition of a malt of such peaty pungence and purity of flavor”

[@BrokenSet]

The tube can be removed, even by retailers. The true contract to the customer stays with the label.

[@timthewhiskynut477]

It's on the back label as well.

[@jaytgc9525]

MIT FARBSTOFF

[@jcastano]

The website states explicitly that it's NOT chill-filtered.

[@Dumiso]

"Liquid Earthquake" love it 😂 I'm adopting that term.

[@jackwilson4284]

It does say non chill filtered, but it's hidden away in the first paragraph on the back when it should be much more prominent - "This Islay single malt is non chill filtered and bottled at natural cask strength." As you've said before though; heavy barrier filtering in winter will have a similar effect. I can't see natural colour anywhere though unfortunately - I think that disappeared off the label with the previous batch. It's still a great example of why I wish more companies did regular cask strength batches of their classic bottles.

[@tommysimpsonandtheloadeddice]

I came here to say that.

[@jimcosklo701]

I turned 21 years old (the legal drinking age here in the USA,) in 2011. The first whisky I had ever tried was Glenlivet 12 based off of your very first Glenlivet video. I liked it...well enough. 😐 The very second whisky that I tried (also based on your first review) was Laphroaig Quarter Cask, which was love at first sip! 😍🥰 I went back out that same week and bought another bottle of QC and a bottle of 10 year old Cask Strength. I still have that first bottle of cask strength, unopened, tucked away in storage. I've partially never had the courage to try it. But I had also felt like it was a special bottle and needs a special occasion. I actually haven't had any whisky at all in 2023 so far. I've been more into smelling and tasting coffee and teas. But who knows? One day I'll get to it. 🤷‍♂️

[@ralfydotcom]

. . . good start.

[@canalwhiskywhiskey]

I really apreciate the iodine peat of Laphroaig.

[@buffdogg]

Laphroaig Cask Strength is my favorite expression they make. It's wonderful.

[@anklespanker]

It was with fear and excitement (the kind of excitement you get when youre doing something wrong and you know it) but on your recommendation, nevertheless, that I handed over the money for my first Laphroaig. But, I knew that if there was ever any hope that I was to become a proper malt man with a proper amount of chest hair, that this Goliath had to be slain. Here I am years later, still here to tell the tale! I hope you live forever, Ralf

[@ralfydotcom]

. . . all part of the Journey 😊👍

[@u.e.u.e.]

Can you imagine that we had an East-German teacher for English in East-Berlin back in the mid 1980's who explained us, or tried to explain, at the age of 14 the difference between Whisky and Whiskey? I think, even beeing behind the Iron Curtain, he had experienced already both! 😂

[@anklespanker]

@@u.e.u.e. that's awesome 😆

[@u.e.u.e.]

@@anklespanker Yes, and in retrospect I have even more respect for the political view and upright position of that teacher; I think he had always been on the edge of beeing fired. 😬

[@anklespanker]

@@u.e.u.e. a kindred spirit!

[@kevinnordby4808]

Great review Ralfy! Laphroaig 10 Cask Strength is one of my all time favorites. I don’t drink it often but when I want a big peaty slap in the face nothing else beats it. If I’m wanting a little peatiness their are a lot of good options out there but for that slap in the face Laphroaig 10 CS is what I reach for.

[@bmac9936]

What a glorious day! Whisky Tribe review of Ardbeg Hypernova Community release and Ralfy reviews Laphroag 10 Cask Strength. Will sleep peacefully tonight.

[@sandrofazzolari8833]

Thanks dear Ralfy I appreciate your honesty. Happy to keep enjoying the great value Ledaig 10 and Ardbeg 10 as my peated malts. Kindest regards as always, ciao 👋 S.

[@billmorapedi4069]

these is what their site say, Once removed from the barrel after a decade, the spirit is barrier-filtered to remove unwanted char particles. Then, it’s straight to the bottle. The result is a bracing, full-bodied 56.5% vol cask strength whisky of Batch 15, delivering renowned smoke with a particular rugged character and depths of sweet and spicy flavour.

[@ronaldbeerguy]

You are correct. It sure does state that on their website. No mention of chill filtration. 🙃

[@DayKlight]

Still, its not really getting cloudy nor does it have a very thick mouthfeel. Im guessing its hard maybe cool - barrier filtered, but not chill filtered.

[@timthewhiskynut477]

Back label of the bottle literally says "non chill filtered".

[@DayKlight]

@@timthewhiskynut477 if its heavy/cool barrier filtered, there is not that much difference to chill filtration, as the whisky barely turns cloudy, they def have cooled the whisky down to filter it, and id assume quite a heavy barrier filtering

[@Longenecker1776]

@@timthewhiskynut477That’s exactly what batch 5 from 2021 says. Non-Chill Filtered.

[@GetReal521]

Bless me Ralfy for I have sinned. I strayed away from your reviews for about 8 months. I was completing an historical non-fiction and have now finished it. Needless to say, I am eagerly returning, and what a delightful review to choose - this number 979. Now I know exactly why I returned. Your review of Laphroaig is amazing. I must say that I fully appreciate you and have for many years.

[@Howling1978Hound]

Bottles in Europe contain the comment “Mit Farbstoff” (German for “With colouring). This wasn’t the case for previous bottlings of Laphroaig 10 cask strength. (I have batches 8-15 in my collection). Furthermore it says on the bottle that it is barier filtered only.

[@user-zl1bq5se5v]

When I see you with new review I wait to go back to my home to putt a drum of whisky 🥃 🥃 and enjoying you 👍👍👍

[@timkempisty258]

Having tried this, I understand what it's like to drink whisky out of a run down bowling alley's ash tray that hasn't been cleaned out since the 1970s. Cigarette ashes, lane oil, rental shoes, stale beer... and fans will probably read this as a compliment. Such is the nature of Laphroaig. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[@richardbarrick1492]

Now, THAT'S A LOT OF Time to neglect anything 😂😂 I luv the ashtray note, ashtray, hell, bring me more cigar ashtray and loads of peaty Scotch 🥃---

[@carsandwhisky2002]

I have stocked up on several bottles of my favorite the batch 12 at 60.1%

[@timthewhiskynut477]

Ralfy, the second sentence on the back label says "non chill filtered and natural cask strength". You said the same thing with the previous batch of Laph 10 CS you reviewed, which clearly stated that it was barrier filtered only.

[@brucecrichton3996]

Thanks for pointing this out. If Ralfy cannot be bothered to read the packaging and, instead, presents his own false assumptions as fact before reviewing them, it's time to unsubscribe

[@timthewhiskynut477]

@@brucecrichton3996 absolutely agree. No fact checking, no research, just an incorrect opinion. And as we can see from the comments already, people just jump on the bandwagon and start bashing the brand. It's getting very tiresome.

[@ThyCorylus]

Still got me a bottle of this from the distillery purchased in 2017. Its in storage and I'll be visiting it later this year!

[@robfut9954]

With Lagavulin so expensive and Ardbeg up their own you-know-what Laphroig is now the true King is Islay. Reliable, affordable, and as good as ever.

[@leelifeson9150]

Ardbeg tastes life burnt peat! I much prefer laphroaig.

[@canal-do-guga-namura]

@@leelifeson9150 Same here... I will keep tasting Ardbeg every now and then hoping my palate starts jiving with it... but yeah, it's just not pleasant, whereas laphroaig with all its chill filtering and artificial coloring still tastes absurdly good.

[@jtf2dan]

Here in Ontario a Lagavulin 8 YO is 98 dollars and the Laphroaig 10 is 96 dollars...so they are very comparable in cost. And I do enjoy them both very much.

[@Watchman999]

@@leelifeson9150 Laphroaig tastes like burnt bandaids. I like both. LOL. Slainte.

[@canal-do-guga-namura]

@@jtf2dan Never tried the 8yr but I love the Lagavulin 16y and also the distillers edition (which is basically the same. 😂). I would definitely go for a lagavulin for that price difference. Wish Diageo didn’t own them, at 46% and unchillfiltered the 16y would be very hard to beat. Cheers! (Been to Toronto once btw, loved it)

[@ZhuJo99]

I absolutely love heavily peated. Laphroaig 10, Quarter cask, Ardbeg, Ledaig 10, Kilchoman. Bought Cs batch 15 some time ago. Had not opened it, it’s waiting for special ocation. Very special. Especially because it’s very expensive here in continental europe. If I had enjoyed Quarter Cask, I bet this one will be a heaven.

[@singlemaltwhiskyenthusiast9248]

🎉 Love Peace and Laphroig 🎉

[@AkumaAPN]

Getting excited as #1,000 slowly approaches!!! I hope someone sets Ralphy up with something insane & expensive to taste. Lol! Maybe a Macallan 50 Speymalt by Gordon & MacPhail? Or an old Blue bottle of Macallan 30 Sherry Oak Official? How about someone pick up for us that 115 year old bottle of Johnnie Walker White Label languishing on the whisky exchange? Haha.

[@Eunegin23]

Or something which we also can experience (and afford)...

[@AkumaAPN]

@@Eunegin23 Oh, you mean like all the 999 videos before it? Lol!

[@Eunegin23]

@@AkumaAPN Perhaps he should skip a tasting for the 1000th and do something else instead. Insane and expensive might be something for the nouveau riche though 💸 Saw that on a business trip more than once: ultra expensive Bordeaux with tons of ice and wasting half of the bottle anyway or am Macallan 18 with Coca Cola. It still hurts. The clothes, cars and the whole rest was fitting to that...

[@AkumaAPN]

Another way of looking at it is living vicariously. When someone as well experienced and well versed as Ralfy gets his hands on a bottle we could never dream of possessing, he can give us the perfect play-by-play, while also possibly offering his opinion on other bottles which might yield a similar experience. It's a matter of obtaining valuable information!

[@pinanti]

I like this whisky a lot. Nice video !

[@gregdankert]

I agree - the blooms of spring are no place for this - I have to have on a wooly sweater - with a fire on.

[@ronaldbeerguy]

Rally, it indeed does state that it is non chill filtered on the back of the cardboard tube.

[@ccuellar6212]

We don’t do tubes around here.

[@whiteeskimo]

I was just about to post this exact thing, But it is also stated on the back label of the bottle Cheers Ralfy

[@FEWGEE1]

Yeah, it says that it's non-chill filtered on both the tube and bottle.

[@Robhalifax]

I worry about Ralfy's eyesight at times. He seems to struggle even with the steampunk.

[@ronaldbeerguy]

@@ccuellar6212 still remains a fact. It’s non chill filtered. Denying that fact, is in a manner of speaking sort of cutting your nose off to spite your face. I might also point out the cardboard tube was on the table in the video.

[@alanrobinson375]

Pint of Guinness with a Laphroig 10yr chaser is perfection. One other thing Laphroig Select is good for: making a peat whiskey cocktail called a penicillin.

[@Norris_84]

Nice review Ralphy. Im a fan of Laphroaig. Much prefer it to some other big names. I feel its like the 'Ronseal' of peated scotch. Does exactly what it says on the tin lol. Its not overly complicated or up its own a#*e. I like the 10, the quarter cask, the 10 sherry cask is really good but recently tried the cask strength batch 15 and its fantastic. Everything dialled up to 11. Thought it had good mouth feel too. Its exactly how Laphroaig should be.

[@penguinland666]

Laphie 10 CS is an affordable peat monster that will always find a place in my collection, absolute belter ...10 sherry oak finish is worth trying as well. On peat notes it might be a good time to re-review the Corry which is still affordable, but L 10 CS is tad better.

[@scrimmy45]

Spot on about Laphroaig Select Ralfy. When I received one as a gift, rather than being rude and not drinking it I simply gave each dram a splash of the CS to lift it. Job done !

[@mikeclark3013]

Laphraoig was my first go at an Islay whisky. I have come to really enjoy it. As to the iodine hit, I got that with my very first taste. After that, no more. In fact, I’ve never experienced that from any successive bottle.

[@whiskynotes9326]

I went on a real Laphroaig discovery journey last year. Was gifted a sample of batch 13 of the cs and loved it. Opened my stashed away bottle of the 18yo (that I bought years ago for €70-80) and that was just amazing (but for some reason color had been added to the 18, it said so on the carton), I also bought batch 15 and loved it but batch 13 was slightly better. Lastly I bought the Lore and that one was also great but not quite on the level of the cs. Nowadays when I’m looking for something peated Laphroaig 10 cs is high on the wish list, followed by Kilchoman Sanaig, Ledaig 10. I wouldn’t say no to an old bourbon oak matured Caol Ila alas it’s not within my budget

[@Mylatestdram]

I had a lot of Laphroiag over the years, there are allways one or two permutations open in my housebar, but there are hanging around the longest. I can finish a bottle of Irish or Speyside in a few weeks, Highlander and other Islays needs months in my bar, but Laphroiag as beasty as some jamaican Rums needs sometimes years to finish in my bar.

[@11thstalley96]

I’m 180 degree different. An opened bottle of Laphroaig, including the 10 yo cask strength, doesn’t last very long in my lair, while a gentler Speysider or Irish potstill is usually reserved for visitors or my traveling flask and can last months or even years.

[@revolvermaster4939]

Have 13 & 15, love them!

[@CarolineMcCabe-ov1xi]

Malt mention: Malty magnetically moony malingering malt mongers - a mention from Caroline McCabe for my other half, Loukas. We both love your channel.

[@ralfydotcom]

. . . now on the M-mention List, thanks !

[@boaz08]

First time I've heard someone say almonds. I always get marzipan, which is an almond product. And then also some Dutch anise bread, which has some baking spices.

[@markbagworth3653]

I love Laphroaig cask strength. Trouble is I find it hard to go back to their core range now. Plus very hard to get the cask strength in Australia 🇦🇺😩

[@coalstar]

I have a cask-strength IB of 10yo Laphroaig from Duncan Taylor. No color, non chill-filtering. It doesn't really get much "mist" at all, regardless of the amount of water I add. I think it's just the nature of the spirit.

[@thewhiskyscribe]

Great review as always and you’re so right about the cheaper NAS Laphroaig releases. Kept me from coming back to Laphroaig for years. Also, for how many videos have I been missing the Dalek on your shelf? Had no idea you were a whovian!

[@RebMordechaiReviews]

Hi Ralfy. I have been seriously into whisky since 1992. I have only had a few Rums due to the price being so expensive in Israel. The Laphroaig 10 CS has been one of my my all time favourites since Batch 3. I haven't bought every batch but once one runs out I try and get the latest one. I'm currently on Batch 12 "The Covid", which uses more charred barrels than other batches which gives it a sweet burnt toffee note. Highly enjoyable.

[@teunvanderlinden1740]

I love the Laphroaig 10 cask strength. For me it is not so much challenging fruity whisky's, but rather other peated whisky's. I find it, for example, difficult to fully enjoy Port Charlotte 10 (!) (to tame in comparison to Laphroaig 10 cask strength). Now, I am enjoying Bunna 12 which plays in an other - not peated - competition!

[@DonnerPassWhisky]

Always wondered how you can get through tasting cask strength Whisky without a glass of water ? I need to take a sip of water to coat the mouth before having a wee sip of cs whisky. Cheers Ralfy

[@WhiskyNotesCS]

I can't understand those "cask strength guys"... always talking about to drink the whisky without water because the distillery had a thought to release the whisky at cask strength. No! It's because we can add water to it to try it in different ways! That's the way to enjoy whisky in my opinion. 🤷‍♂️ Great review as well, Ralfy! 💪🏽

[@nairbjc]

Hello, Ralfy. On the back of my label it does say that it is Non-Chill Filtered. Also on the tube it says “this Whisky has not been chill filtered.” Natural cask strength.

[@bayls01]

I was drinking Select as I was watching this! My mistake for thinking they are similar! Love your reviews. Whiskey greetings from South Africa.

[@11thstalley96]

I received a bottle of Select as a gift from well intentioned friends who knew I appreciate Laphroaig, and since I never look a gift horse in the mouth, I gladly accepted it. I had written off Select a few years back, but the whisky in this bottle was very tasty, much tastier than I remembered. I glibly attributed that to the belief that anything free just tastes better. Now, I sometimes get a dram of Select when meeting friends in bars when social interactions in public can distract my weak mind from concentrating on the whisky in hand. I’ve come to the conclusion that Select suffers from one of the widest spectrum of batch variance of any single malt that I’m familiar with. I wonder if it’s because Select may be the dumping ground for whatever Laphroaig may have overproduced or underdeveloped.

[@Balkonwhisky]

Enjoyed your Review with a Dram of Williamson CS (Sherry Matured by BB&R) 😋

[@wout_s]

I went to the shop for a Laphroaig Quarter Cask but they only had the Select so I bought that. I wish I had seen this review before, because it really is disappointing. You're absolutely right Ralfy, now I have no wish to buy any Laphroaig any time soon. There are plenty of other whiskies to explore.

[@losnoobos7938]

Laphroaig 10 CS is always an enjoyable Whisky.,while the batches differ to some extent in taste and intensity. Which is of course very good in order to explore the different facets of Laphroaig. I'm always looking forward to the new batch. You can just buy this Whisky without even thinking about it (and the price is very stable within the last few years). The only downside with Laphroaig is the addition of caramel. Such a good Whisky wouldn't need that...

[@davidelourenco2537]

Its my favorite distilery, and I do try to have it rarely. Just like not watching lord of the rings every day. So when I do.. It's like meeting a very old friend with whom you can just get the conversation going where you left when last saw each other. Cheers!

[@davidelourenco2537]

The quarter cask does say non chill filtered. Don't know why this one is.. 😢

[@davidmajor5393]

The Select is pretty good to use in a Smokey Cokey .

[@whiskycatacat]

Hello my new buddy malt! Remeber once time with travell us to Disney Paris. It was the first plane's travel daughter. At home, latter four tyred days, open a Bowmore 10 and my dauhter say me: Bowmore smells like an airport! 😹 Cheers dear! 😻🥃

[@jamesmorgan9695]

Rock on 1000 reviews I'll be there touch wood.😂

[@fusemunk]

regular 10 year Laphroaig is lovely. £30 at Morrisions - great

[@Longenecker1776]

13:11 Cyanide 😂😂😂. I’m not sure what that tastes like thankfully! Haha. You explained it..

[@jameseverett9035]

Stopped buying all OB Laphroaigs a couple of years back

[@peatbull3426]

Can you recommend any of IB? Williamson or any other?

[@dezandloper6838]

you are getting sharper in your comments! and that is a good thing in times that everything is getting more expensive!

[@NayNay-hw6im]

I bought a bottle of Laphroaig CS (not sure what batch) but I was disappointed on the nose as it didn't have that medicinal TCP smell, it was much sweeter, the taste was fantastic though.

[@gentlemannr.2]

You're to mean with Laphroaig, Ralphy! I'm with you. Whisky belongs to be natural, because it is on it's best then. Laphroaig makes real good stuff. Think how amazing it would be, if they bottled it up natural. But it is already amazing yet! I think it's a question of time, when they release a natural Laphroaig 10 year old at 46%. I would celebrate that! Stay happy and healthy! Best Greatings from Germany from your mate Torsten

[@kaiserhog]

On another note, Wild Turkey Rare Breed (cask strength Wild Turkey) is selling an unchilled filtered version in Canada and not the US. Hopefully, this is a test run for the US market.

[@FEWGEE1]

I was shocked to learn the standard Rare Breed is chill filtered. It's so oily and viscous. I would love to try the NCF version.

[@kaiserhog]

@@FEWGEE1 I love it too. Can't wait to try the NCF version as well.

[@calcote100]

I love me some Laphroaig 10!

[@daveinbv8387]

My bottle says non chill filtered. Does say barrier filtered though.

[@timjames558]

I hope Laphroaig CS 16 is treated with a full craft presentation going forward. Its really baffling that Laphroaig select is natural colour, but the cask strength is not. Why does Laphroaig need colouring anyway? It is sold in a cardboard tube, in a green bottle, and if a drinker has gotten as far as to pop the cork and pour it into a glass, I very much doubt they are going to scoff and turn their nose at the light coloured spirit. Its a real disservice to this spirit as it is excellent value at roughly £65-75 a bottle

[@FEWGEE1]

Laphroaig select is not natural colour.

[@danhammer106]

Lot of us been asking that exact same question, be it the e150a or the filtering. Who on earth buys a freakin Laphroaig and demands those?

[@notarbolz926]

@@FEWGEE1 What's your source? In my market, Germany, every coloured whisky needs to state it on the label. Most Laphroaig expressions are stated as coloured, even the 10 CS, with the Select being the exception. The German online retailers need to state whether colouring has been added as well, and most expressions except for the Select are listed as coloured.

[@FEWGEE1]

@@notarbolz926 wow! After doing some research, it appears that you are right. Select really is bottled at natural colour. What are are Laphroaig thinking by adding e150a to Laphroaig 10 CS, but not Select?! How backwards...

[@weldhard996]

Ralfy you may or may not have heard of brave new spirits Glasgow based. I have had their voodoo range in my local very nice it is too. But we had a tasting with Paul Dempsey formerly of spey distillery . He brought along their single cask range . Very affordable full of flavor paul shared four with us the last one was a ardmore matured in a islay cask as with some casks they cannot tell us the distillery of independent bottling or cask used but paul gave us the nod & wink it's the distillery your tasting here . & I have to say it's far far far better than the standard ardmore of the 10 year old your tasting. I would not tell you how to suck eggs as they say , as you have vast amount of experience ,more than myself but I would say keep a eye out for these beauty's

[@ralfydotcom]

. . . I hear ya' 😊

[@sachinkainth9508]

I wonder if there is something wrong with me. I have been drinking this same bottling, the 10 year old cask strength, batch 15, and I never screw my face up drinking this; I find it to be lovely.

[@alexandermeldianov3197]

"...squeak, which is a part of theater that we enjoy" - Frankly, I'm here for such thoughts as much as for whisky

[@ahpadt]

on the flavour scale, I call laphroaig "beyond savoury" because i struggle to connect it to anything ive ever eaten or drunk before. not quite for me.

[@asonuniq]

Ralfy, it says non chill filtered on the back of the bottle. Get your steampunker and look!

[@lindenblock]

Ralfy, could it be time for a revisit of Glen Garioch 12yo @ 48%vol?

[@chrislouden]

Just starting the video. I bought batch 15 a while back and it's pretty good but 13 was much better. I'm still looking for older bottlings though. Very curious to hear what ralfy has to say

[@FEWGEE1]

I didn't like batch 13 at all. I love batch 15 so much, I bought three more bottles of it.

[@cenyth5840]

Great review Ralfly, as always. Why would a distillery chill filter a cask strength whisky? Doesn’t the mist go away at around 46 percent?

[@FEWGEE1]

They don't chill filter it. They state "barrier filtered only" on both the tube, and bottle.

[@cenyth5840]

Right! Cheers

[@STVG71]

I'm really starting to enjoy peated Scotch. I like the Port Charlotte and Ardbeg 10 so I'm wondering if the Laphroaig 10 yo would be overpowering? I've been enjoying my journey down the road of Scotch whisky so far.

[@nutyyyy]

If you like Ardbeg 10, then Laphroaig will be fine for you.

[@STVG71]

@@nutyyyy Thanks much! I'll put it on my list. Cheers!

[@Mikego55]

Ralfy, you need a pen pal in the USA you can do a little trading bourbon for scotch. I volunteer to do the research for interesting bourbons. Can you imagine the up in arms the tax man would get if he thought that bartering on the sly was going on?

[@peter.stimpel]

I am still enjoying the 10ys and 18ys non cask strength Laphroaigs I have. Seems, I have to enjoy at a much slower rate ... especially the price of the wonderful 18 ys old was going through more than one roof ... a shame

[@peter.stimpel]

@undilutedryan Yes, as written: a shame. On the other hand this shows just how responsible I am consuming the stuff :)

[@Eunegin23]

On the official Laphroaig website it says about batch 15 “Once removed from the barrel after a decade, the spirit is barrier-filtered to remove unwanted char particles. Then, this cask strength single malt goes straight to the bottle.” Why don't they simply print that on the label?? Still not clear about added colour. The just say "Its vibrant tawny colour reflects the full strength of this whisky, hinting at the complex notes drawn from the charred oak."

[@Howling1978Hound]

Batch 15 in The Netherlands 🇳🇱 and Germany contain the comment “Mit Farbstoff”. This means “with colouring” in German as most whiskies do. Previous batches didn’t contain this comment.

[@NicolasMD85]

Just a practical question: What do you do with the opened bottles, Ralfy? I can't imagine that you can possibly finish 48 bottles a year. I know that you keep them for years, but they just keep adding up, don't they?

[@ralfydotcom]

. . . they do.

[@DileepB]

The Cairdeas 2023 is about to be released.

[@pascalverheijden5110]

I have a bottle of 10y standard, 40,% and in my opinion that is a disappointing version. Every time I tast it i can't go around the fact it tastes very watered. The peat is present bud there's no layer behind it anymore. I'm really disappointed with that bottle. I aspectted more from it.

[@cujoguai4899]

I agree, the standard 10 is too watered down, a little bit higher and it would work, but I can't taste it without thinking it's too low strength. Love a lot of their other bottles though, the 10 CS, the Lore, the 16 and typically the Cairdeas although it does depend on the year.

[@pascalverheijden5110]

And yet, there's a master blender who is apparently satisfied with this result. 😂 I just can't image that...

[@cujoguai4899]

It's my understanding that when you're over 46% you're not going to get much cloudiness by adding water to whisky, is that wrong? The experimenter in me gave it a try, adding a bit of water to get it down into the 40s, and an ice cube to my Laphroaig Cask Strength and it got pretty cloudy.

[@Brad-ic4bp]

The only non-colored, peated Scotches I’m aware of are Port Charles 10 and Lagavulin 8. Anyone know of any others?

[@anton7288]

I believe during a vPub John Campbell mentioned that the idea behind Laphroaig Select was making cocktails. While there are some better batches, you shouldn’t expect it to be a real Laphroaig 🥲

[@MrLachlanmackenzie]

I think it's fair that it's not doing the brand any favours pitching that way if it's true.

[@ralfydotcom]

. . . agreed.

[@robfut9954]

And in the US it’s barely cheaper than the already cheap 10

[@henryDzieciontko]

Oak select has actually really improved recently at the same time as the 10 year old has went really badly down hill.

[@xcfjdyrkdtulkgfilhu]

It's a shame they let the select go downhill. I think from the time I got the one bottle of it I tried, it must have been from one of the earliest batches. Nothing spectacular, but it was in the range of solid value for what it cost. Havin had having had an off bottle of the 10yo 46% at the same time, I'd hoped the select might remain a decent option. Guess it was just the ambassador bottling effect.

[@rkostyantyn]

Please advise which Laphroaig is worth paying attention to in 2024? If I want to experience the true character of this distillery.

[@jfgenie]

It's a pity where I live, in the Canadian province of New Brunswick, the very few bottles of this batch we received were reserved to the select people who could afford to pay a premium to go to the whisky festival. Shameful.

[@TheKagehisa]

That was me 25+ years ago with my Dad's whisky 😅

[@grahamokeefe9406]

I lke peat, but I'm not crazy about Laphroig. I prefer Ardbeg, LaGavulin, Kilchomen, and Port Charlotte 10 are all preferable to me.

[@kebbergenoegvan3554]

How come all the 40% yesteryear 10yo chillfiltered and coloured Laphroaigs score 90+ on whiskybase and whiskyfun?

[@Watchman999]

I ate my shirt on Batch 14 - but it was worth it. Also met John Campbell in person last week. He's a great ambassador for the industry regardless of where he works.

[@leojanuszewski1019]

I've not had this batch #15, but it is difficult to believe that any bottle of Laphroaig 10 CS rates a mere 84.

[@WhiskyLock]

Great to hear your thoughts on this one. I've made sure to get a bottle of every batch of this for quite a few years now and it's always a favourite despite the presentation problems! The way that Laphroaig continue to colour and chill filter is really unacceptable in products of this calibre and IMHO the way that they're so inconsistent with their presentations and whether they state it on the label is a dishonest attempt to confuse people until they stop caring. But there's no excuse! Yes this is great whisky... but that's no excuse to compromise it. Very frustrating. Cheers Ralfy 🥃

[@christophercheng7151]

I took your advice and added similar amount of water, and purely my personal opinion, the experience was not convincing - much less aromatic, too soft the mouthfeel. It defeats the purpose of drinking a cask strength whisky. The only difference is that I get to drink a bigger sip.

[@johnburns3703]

Oh righr!! 15 is filtered after all. They still haven't replied to my question asking if it is filtered. Bugger, will have to look for a replacement.

[@nairbjc]

On the back of my label it does say that it is Non-Chill Filtered. Also on the tube it says “this Whisky has not been chill filtered.” Natural cask strength.

[@johnburns3703]

aye but there is no cloudiness on adding water and the 'chlorine' briny taste is non-existent.@@nairbjc

[@whompbiscuits8930]

Strange (and incorrect) thing about chill filtration I've heard from apologists and enablers, is that they used to say something like "you don't have to chill filter above 45%" (or thereabout) whenever asked if this or that was chill filtered. A non-answer, because fact is you don't have to chill filter at any ABV. Yet several whiskies, especially bourbons, are chill filtered at those higher than 45%. One example, several bottled in bond whiskies are chill filtered, that's just a sad fact. So the above argument from chill filtration apologists falls on its face. I wonder what their next excuse will be, my guess is that it will be the ever-insulting "chill filtration improves the flavor." Or perhaps some technical gibberish meant to confuse the questioner.

[@ralfydotcom]

. . . the chill-fill hides the poor casks and weak finishes. It happens to help producers, NOT customers.

[@gerritgreveling]

Ow that’s a disappointment. Chill filtration. Still can remember your review I saw after my batch nr 1 purchase. Which I bought for 29€. Indeed a while ago. I just started drinking proper whisky and wouldn’t spend too much money on it. What would I now. I new nothing yet but this one blew me away. And hearing this I quite disappointing. But what the hell. Still got batch nr 2 unopened. Time to pop the cork I think. 299€ btw. Cheers

[@ketsan]

I know that face! That was the face I pulled the first time I had Laphroaig!

[@MrSweelinck]

" It's like a campfire ... in your mouth." First, and still favorite, Scotch Whiskey

[@brianarthur1218]

Well I have a few bones to pick about this review Ralfy. 1. Laphroaig is not the smokiest of single malts, that honour would currently go to Bruichladdich Octomore. 2. Laphroaig 10 is not the peated Scotch it was. You are just a wee bairn laddie, (that is with a Northumbrian ascent, not Scottish). I remember drinking it in the late 70s and very early 80s, and it was much more heavily peated. Much more. It is a different whisky now. 3. I remember the guy who owned the Scotch whisky shop in Greek St, Soho getting together a consortium to buy the distillery after it was shuttered, but they were turned down. The Laphroaig lawyers also prevented him from selling full peat versions of it. There was a long article in the New Yorker about that episode; I don’t know how available that article is, but is really worth a read. 4. I really doubt your spoon is actually 5 ml. It looks like an older spoon, and more probably in the 4-4.5 ml range. Just get yourself a steam punk pipette.

[@MT-pi3ct]

Quarter cask review?

[@Nikolay_Nikolov]

I tasted a sample of this one and was not all that impressed. Yes, it is intense and characterfull malt, almost naturally presented, but its peat style is not quite to my liking. The flavor profile lacks elegance and intricate development for me. Glad I tried a sample before falling for the rave. I like all kinds of whisky, heavily peated included. I do love Kilchoman, Ardbed, Ledaig, Port Chatlotte, peated Bunnahabhain, to name a few, but as it seems I can't connect with Laphroaig yet. I've had the Quarter Cask and the regular 10 yo before and none of them does it for me. Have a bottle of Lore in the stash and I can only hope my palate will be ready for it when I open it. Cheers!

[@daveinbv8387]

On the back of the label

[@ralfydotcom]

. . . missed that bit in the blurb 😕

[@tontobb8956]

Bought a bottle a month ago Coming from bourbon Drinking this stuff was like a kick in the bollocks. So to speak Very different. This far. Not enjoying it. I’ll come back to it in 6 months and see how it settles nice past the neck pour