Tip:
Highlight text to annotate it
X
Hello and welcome to the whisky channel!
We already talked about the Laphroaig 10 yo
and the Laphroaig 18 yo.
Both whiskies, especially the 10 yo
which is more famous because more affordable
evoke intense peat, instantaneously.
This is completely justified.
As far as the 10 yo is concerned,
the peat is masking most of the other aromas
because it's so intense!
Not that it is a bad thing
especially if you're a beginner, on the contrary, it is interesting
to start with the 10 yo.
Enjoying it is something different!
The 10 yo is such a phenolic dram!
Phenols are the organic compounds that you find in peat.
It may be off-putting for some of you.
The 10 yo has matured in ex-bourbon casks.
Those casks generally bring delicate and fruity flavours
which may remain uncovered in the 10 yo.
Now, we're moving on to the Quarter Cask.
This is to me the expression of Laphroaig that "brings back" the cask.
Let me explain that.
The maturation for this whisky lasts for 5 to 11 years.
Also in ex-bourbon casks.
Then the content is transfered to smaller casks.
125-liter casks.
The so-called quarters casks, which are four times smaller than
500-liter sherry butts.
In smaller casks,
whisky ages faster.
Why is that? Because the ratio of the surface of wood that the casks offers
and the volume of liquid that can be put inside of the cask
is higher.
So what are the consequences?
Well, after 6 years of maturation,
you get the aromatic richness
of a 12 yo whisky.
Whereas the peat only has 6 years of age!
The peat would have been toned down after 12 years in a cask
provided it actually was a 12 yo whisky.
This whisky has not been chill-filtered.
Chill filtration is a process that consists in
preventing the formation of a cloud
because of temperature changes.
Most consumers actually expect their whisky to be limpid.
Unfortunalety, this process also filters some of the aromas from the whisky.
When you read the non-chill filtered statement on a box or a label,
it means that you have a maximum respect of the flavours of the whisky.
This whisky is bottled at 48% ABV.
This will boosts the flavours up!
Let's go for it.
On the nose, powerful peat,
but very well balanced by a superb fruity atmosphere.
Citrus in particular.
Later on, a drier atmosphere, biscuit-like.
Along with a touch of wood, that is almost absent in the 10 yo.
On the palate,
Sharp, frank, clear attack.
Powerful mouthfeel.
Lots of spices, smoke also.
The finish is rich.
Chocolate, coffee, citrus again.
It tingles. Very salty, also.
This is quite an accessible expression of Laphroaig
because the palette of aromas is so much larger than the 10 yo's.
You can find this whisky at liquor stockists' at around 45€
but I know a website where it is sold at 30€!
See you on a next episode!