Laphroaig 25-Year 2018 Edition
52% ABV - Islay
Nose: An explosion of light fruits, peat, and ash. An earthiness with grasses and tropical fruits. There are hints of an orchard fruit pie, with some vegetal and floral notes in the background.
Taste: It is a medium-density vegetal peat, getting more into the medicinal spectrum here. Lots of green, fresh, tropical fruits… guava, pineapple. Citrus. Flavours of lime and grapefruit, which I do not come across very often. Honeyed fruits.
Finish: Fog of smoke wrapped around fruits, peach or passionfruit, root beer, and mango. The sweet and tangy flavours outlast the smoke.
How do you summarize the experience of Laphroaig 25-Year and do the write-up justice?? I’ve had this open for a while (since February 2019!), and it’s been waiting for me to review… but, I have found it hard to arrange the "perfect setting" in which to sip thoughtfully on this. Finally, I learned that the only good time is anytime! And so here we are, and here we go…
It’s an expensive entry fee to this party and the prices have gone up even higher since I purchased this 2018 Edition, which is a full on ex-Bourbon maturation. I’ve got to say that this Laphroaig has the thickest label compared to any other Laphroaig that I’ve put my hands on. Oh, and a very tight fitting cork! (Quite satisfying.)
Laphroaig 25-Year 2018 Edition is a complex, fresh tropical, orchard fruit dream. It gets high marks right across the board. I really enjoyed the 15-Year and they share a lot of characteristics, but the 25-Year has layers upon layers to unravel, comparatively. I really like the smoke content on the nose (stronger than I would have expected, given its age) and it’s here where I detect a multitude of flavour. On the palate, the hints of medicinal notes on top of the fresh fruit is delightful. It’s just personal preference (and bias due to price) keeping this from a perfect score.
This is also my ONE HUNDREDTH review! To date, I have only written these more detailed reviews for whiskies that I have purchased. Having the bottle allows me to enjoy the spirit over multiple sittings, and arrive at an internal consensus (and confidence!) for what I am tasting before me. Naturally, with that approach, it takes a while (and savings) to get to that 100-bottle mark.
If you are reading this, thank you for sharing this malt moment with me.
Tasted 6 November 2020. (Posted 07 November 2020.)
