Laphroaig 13 Year, Ian Macleod’s “Chieftain’s,” K&L Wine Merchant Selection
Whisky : Laphroaig 13 Year, Ian Macleod’s “Chieftain’s,” K&L Wine Merchant Selection
Country/Region : Scotland/Islay
ABV : 58.3%
Cask : Sherry Butt
Age : 13 Year (Distilled Sept. 2005, Bottled Aug. 2019)
Nose : Smoke, chocolate, and new tires. Sharp smoke from burning tar, thick black acrid smoke, dirty maritime salt, new tires, automotive department, winter chimney smoke, and that old dirty tire in the middle of the playground gravel pit. Slightly sweeter notes peaked in with fresh berries and smoked chocolate cake.
Palate : Medium bodied with a mild oiliness and notes of smoke, tires, and chocolate. This was dirty with burning tires, diesel and an acrid smoke that parted to reveal cured meats, salt ponds, tobacco, and cola. Beachside barbecue with dried driftwood, chargrilled burgers, and salmon. Slightly earthy notes of ginger root and cacao pods lingered at the end.
Finish : Lingering sweet smoke and mild earthy salt.
Score : 7
Mental Image : “Ninja Smoke Punch”
Notes : The name for this comes courtesy of the wife who imagined an ninja dropping their smoke bomb and escaping while everyone else is left coughing. This was certainly the dirtiest smoke I can recall coming across on a Laphroaig. This had none of the sweetness I have come to expect after recent sherried Laphroaigs: PX Cask, Triple Wood, or 2019 Cairdeas. I thought the body on this had some nice structure with a mild dryness that built over time. While I enjoyed some of the dirty smoke on the nose and palate, I thought the finish faded sometimes from sweet smoke to bitter herb.
A few drops of water elevated some of the cask sweetness and carried the flavor profile in the direction of smoke chocolate desserts, cacao pods, and orange rind infused dark chocolate. The smoke faded more into the background along with some of the dirtiness.
Overall, a really tasty young Laphroaig with some unique notes that help make it stand out from the typical distillery releases.
Image Credit : kpax23 on Whiskybase
