Laphroaig 18y - 6cl sample

6cl sample

Laphroaig limited edition 18y old - 48%
Bottled 2025 (bottle code L5 063 LB1) - from ex-bourbon barrels.

scores:
whiskybase – no score  wb290444

Whiskyfun - 89p (see review below)

Laphroaig 18 yo (48%, OB, ex-bourbon, 2024)
Here we have the new Laphroaig 18-year-old, making a return after around a decade of absence. To be honest, I wasn’t particularly fond of the old version, which I found rather overly influenced by new American oak (WF 84) and notably inferior to the 15-year-old. It was often described as being ‘a bit plankish’. Colour: white wine. Hurray, as the previous 18 was more golden. Nose: straight to the hospital here. Bandages, camphor, a variety of balms, iodine, fresh plaster, followed by lemon and smoked oysters. It’s not an overly complex nose, but for me, it ticks all the boxes. More importantly, it buries our aperitif six feet under – or rather, under the beach! Mouth: perfect, powerful, sharp, saline, lemony, and intensely smoky. There are some small berries, a hint of rubber, a touch of tar, and a very persistent smoky, maritime character. It gradually becomes creamier, but never excessively so; the white oak behaves admirably. Finish: long, with a lovely bitterness that’s ever so slightly syrupy. The citrus pushes through in the aftertaste, joined by fresh bitter almonds. Comments: absolutely to my taste, closer to the distillate than some of the more recent official Laphroaigs, and clearly superior to the old 18.
SGP:457 - 89 points.