Laphroaig 10 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky (1000ml)

The full history of Laphroaig seems to be lost in the mists of time. It's clear that the Irish had been distilling on Islay for many years and that the locals picked up the skills when they left, but because it was illegal the small stills on the farms were rarely discussed - just a nod and a wink in the right direction!What is known, is that the family called the Johnstons started farming there around 1800, and that soon after messers Charles and Willie Doig were asked to do some 'work on a distillery' at Laphroaig. By 1815 Laphroaig's reputation had spread and the tax man was getting suspicious so they 'officially' established 'Johnston & Johnston' - the legend of Laphroaig had begun.

Laphroaig is a malt to either love or hate. Full of the smoke and iodine, seaweed character Islay has become famous for, it has spurred some commentators to describe it as 'mouthwash', 'hospital gauze' or at best, 'medicinal'. Suffice to say, this is not a whisky for the faint hearted. Take Laphroaig neat like a stalwart, or with a splash of soft water. Roll it around on your tongue, release the pungent earthy aroma of blue peat smoke, the sweet nuttiness of the barley, the delicate, heathery perfume of Islay's stream and either swallow or spit. The final judgment on Laphroaig must always be left to the individual. 40% alc./vol.

Other reviews...Golden amber color. Toffee, caramel, light smoke, and faint iodine aromas. A supple entry leads to a fruity sweet full-bodied palate with honey, salty, toasty nuts, smoky embers, and a brush of iodine on the finish. Straightforward and classically styled Islay malt.
89 points (Highly Recommended) www.tastings.com

Nose: Phenolic, seaweedy, with a hint of estery, melony, sweetness. Palate: Seaweedy, salty, oily. Finish: Round, dry, iodine-like. Comment: The most medicinal of Islay malts. I love it.  Rated: 8.5 /10
- www.whiskymag.com

Nose: A thick coating of peat isn't enough to cover a soft, oaky background. Iodine appears alongside a pear-fruity sweetness. Delicate for a whisky so big. Palate: Continuous gentle waves of dry peat lap upon the tastebuds but are balanced by a sweet malt middle and the most hesitant of vanillas. Finish: Long and peaty, the shy vanilla now begins to show as the oak adds a certain dryness. Comment: A gentle giant. 92 points
- Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible 2006. Retasted: 90 points