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KWM 2020 Whisky Calendar Day 10: Laphroaig 10 Year Old

Posted on November 7, 2021

by Evan

Day Ten for our 2020 KWM Whisky Calendar has arrived, and with it so has our second foray into heavy peat. This also represents our first trip to the island of Islay in the Calendar.

Presenting: The Laphroaig 10 Year Old.

This is one of the Islay classics, one of the peated beasts that makes you either love or fear this style of Single Malt Scotch. For me, this was the first heavily peated Scotch Whisky I ever purchased years and years ago. I was just getting into Scotch Whisky at the time, and I had no experience with the smoky, peated side of it yet. I just picked a bottle of Laphroaig 10 Year Old off the shelf because I liked the plain, stark style of the label on the tube I guess.

When I got around to cracking open the bottle and tasting it for the first time I honestly thought that there was something wrong with it, like a corked bottle of wine. I asked my Dad to taste it to see if I should take it back and he instead confirmed that yes, that is what Laphroaig is supposed to taste like. If memory serves, I choked down the rest of that bottle of Laphroaig 10 Year Old by mixing it with coke and ginger ale.

That first dive into the deep end of heavily peated Scotch is nearly two decades back in time for me now. After that, I started going to tastings and festivals and tried more Scotch and quickly developed a love for peated whisky.

Belly Of The Beast - Inside The Malt Kiln At Laphroaig Distillery

Laphroaig Distillery celebrated its 200th anniversary in 2015. Two centuries plus five years back now, it was founded by two brothers, who placed the distillery right on the shores of Islay. Today, it remains one of a handful of distilleries to at least partially supply its own malt. Using the floor maltings and kiln at the distillery, the malt is peated to a spec of between 50 and 60 PPM. The distillery's own maltings can only supply about 15% percent of the malt needed, though. The rest is brought in from Port Ellen Maltings, which is less than a 10-minute drive to the west, on the opposite side of the town of Port Ellen. The sourced malted barley is peated between 35 and 45 PPM.

Two Kilometres down the road from Laphroaig Distillery is Lagavulin Distillery. Walk or drive another two clicks down the same road and you will hit Ardbeg Distillery.

On Islay, all other distilleries are dwarfed production-wise by Caol Ila. Laphroaig can outproduce most other Islay distilleries beyond that, but wouldn't only be able to pump out half as much spirit as Caol Ila if they were both running at full capacity. However, Laphroaig is the number one selling Islay Single Malt Scotch brand. It also happens to be the favourite Scotch Whisky of the Duke of Rothesay, who also goes by Prince Charles when he is not in Scotland.

The core lineup of Laphroaig currently consists of the Laphroaig Select, the 10 Year Old, Quarter Cask, Triple Wood, Lore, and 25 Year Old. There is also a 10-Year-Old Cask Strength which sadly does not come to Canada. I believe we can all agree that is a travesty. Let us drown our sorrow at this terrible misfortune by trying the 43% version of the Laphroaig 10-Year-Old.

Laphroaig 10 Year Old - 43%

The iconic Laphroaig 10-year-old has was first introduced by Ian Hunter three-quarters of a century ago. Since then it has become a staple peat-heads and Islay-philes the world 'round.

Evan's Tasting Note

Nose: Coastal, floral, and deep, earthy peat smoke. lavender potpourri and iodine, toast with salty butter, apple turnover, lemonade, licorice tea, Fisherman's Friend lozenges and ashy embers from a fire pit.

Palate: Chalky, floral and salty on the palate with that earthy peat smoke again. Rosemary ham, lemon and lime citrus notes, green apples, Parma Violet candies and a touch of anise.

Finish: Smokey and floral all the way down. Even with all of that dirty peat and iodine, there is still a freshness to it.

Comment: If you don't like peat, then this is everything you were always warned about. If you enjoy peat, then this is everything you ever wanted. The Laphroaig 10 should be and nearly always is near the top of any list of classic Islay whiskies, and for very good reason.

It has been a surprisingly long time since I have tried the basic Laphroaig 10, but there is nothing basic about it. I am so glad this was behind Door Number 10. Will Door Eleven be just as exciting? We will have to wait and see!

Cheers,
Evan
evan@kensingtonwinemarket.com
Twitter and Instagram: @sagelikefool