Our original expression. Laphroaig 10 is the foundation of all our whisky created to bottle the nature of Islay. Expect a big peaty slap, hints of seaweed and a surprising sweetness.
Laphroaig 10 is the definitive Islay peated single malt, distilled following traditions laid over the last 200 years by passionate master distillers. It’s a staple for connoisseurs and a peaty rite of passage. Its unique flavour profile is conjured from malted barley which is first cold-smoked over peat fires, like only a handful of distilleries.
The grain is then dried over those same fires and tossed on our malting floor facing out to sea. It spends the next 10 years in ex-Bourbon barrels. Because a full decade is what it takes to create our full-bodied 10 year old whisky with bold smoky flavour, notes of salty seaweed, and a lingering sweetness. Sip neat or over ice. Either way, you’ll be drawn in by its quintessential Islay charm.
Colour:
Sparking Gold
Nose:
Peat smoke, Seaweed scent and a medicinal essence hit the nose with a hint of sweetness.
Palate:
Surprising sweetness with hint of salt and layers of peatiness.
Finish:
Long and Lingering. Wait for the seaweed afterglow.
Maturation:
Matured for 10 Years in Ex-Bourbon Barrels for smoothness and character inherited from charred oak.
Our Review
Review Number 10 we looked at Ardbeg 10 Year Old Single Malt. The has been debate about which one is the best, Ardbeg 10 or Laphroaig 10. Hopefully we will be able to clarify some differences in our review.
Created over 75 years ago by Ian Hunter, the 10 year old is the foundation of their current core range.
With an average retail price of £36.95, it is bottle at 40% abv.
Regarding chill filtration and colour, the bottle, box and website make no english statements about these attributes, however, an interview posted on Forbes website in 2018 with John Campbell, the distillery manager at Laphroaig, states that all of their expressions are NOT chill filtered and only the Quarter Cask specifically mentioned, has occassionally added colour. However, the eagle eyed amongst you will note that the tube the whisky is packed in has the words 'Faven justeret med karamel' which translated from German means colour adjusted with caramel, so the 10 year old does have E150. Can we believe what is stated about Chill Filtration? the tube for the Quarter Cask mentions that it is not chill filter rather 'barrier' filtered, as was the standard for quarter casks. So the question is still relevant about these two attributes, does it have colour? and is it chill filtered?
We have to decuct points for the overall value score, so Laphroaig 10 gets an score of 85.81/100 for value. Arbeg 10 scores higher by over 9 points.
On the nose it is intense TCP/Iodine, it has a damp ash note, its a different peat intensity to Ardbeg 10 which, for me is more BBQ. Laphroaig 10 is fruity with some maritime and salt influence. There is note of Esters, but it is an enjoyable whisky.
On the palate, it is smoked fruit, maybe skewered fruit of Apple, Pears, maybe mango and possibly pineapple, then there is iodine, salt and spice.
Its a bit bitter with oak on the finish which keeps going, giving the occasional re-emergence of smoked fruit. The smoke taste reminds me of the artificial smoke smell often used in interactive ehibits or museums.
Laphroaig 10 is an intensely peated whisky, on the brave who are new to whisky would give this a go. Smokely/Peated whiskies need to be gradually introduced, usually by trying lightly peated whisky and working up the peat intensity.
For the nose and palate we score Laphroaig 10 year old 88/100.
Its a fantastic whisky and is one which invites the taster to want to explore more the distillery has to offer.
On a final note, like Ardbeg 10 and Lagavulin 16, unless you are having an evening of peat and smoke, Laphroaig 10 is one which you would usually enjoy at the end of the evening, after you have enjoyed lighter or less intense whiskies.