Laphroaig Elements L2.0
59.6% ABV - Islay, Scotland
Nose: Sharp peat smoke with a punch of candied fruit, white pepper, bubblegum, and a delayed citrus arrival.
Taste: Smoky and bold, with tangy, spicy notes and a hint of crispy bacon. The fruits are trying to break through but are largely dominated by the smoke.
Finish: Fiery oak and smoke lead the way, with light fruits waving a subtle goodbye.
I tasted Laphroaig Elements L2.0 just a day after reviewing L1.0, the first release in this series. The two are remarkably different. I stumbled upon this bottle in Washington State and, despite the steep taxes, I was more than happy to take it home.
I feel like this whisky could handle a bit of water, though for this review I haven’t added any yet. It’s certainly sippable as is, but I’m tempted to experiment with a few drops later.
This release from Laphroaig feels both familiar and intriguingly different. It gave me flashbacks of Caol Ila and Bruichladdich’s Octomore—quite the experiment for Laphroaig. In a blind tasting, I might not have immediately guessed it was Laphroaig. However, the more I sip, the more I’m reminded of their funky 10-Year Cask Strength releases. So if you’re a fan of that range, you’ll likely enjoy this one.
There are clear differences between this and the first release in the Elements series. The previous release was packed with information about the barley, wort, and mash tun sizes. This time around, it’s all about fermentation time—and I’m loving the detailed notes.
Note: I decided to experiment with GPT-4o to help refine this review after training it with some of my previous ones.
Details: (Official) The following is a description of the fermentation times… this parcel of whisky was distilled during a particularly frosty January.
24 hours: Yeast begins fizzing as temperature increases from 18° to 32°.
55 hours: First washback is emptied.
67 hours: Second washback is emptied.
79 hours: Third washback is emptied.
91 hours: Fourth washback is emptied.
103 hours: Fifth washback is emptied.
115 hours: Sixth and final washback is emptied.
Tasting Notes (Official): Nose: Fruity and subtly coastal. Stewed apples, vanilla custard and zesty orange peel with subtle peaty notes. Palate: Fruity, sweet and salty. Green apples and runny honey with cream soda and soft peatiness of a smouldering bonfire and smoked seafood. Finish: Sweet with an increasingly warming smokiness to finish.
Tasted 4 October 2024. (Posted 4 October 2024.)
