Whisky : Laphroaig 13 Year, Cadenhead’s Authentic Collection

Country/Region : Scotland/Islay

ABV : 59.9%

Cask : Bourbon Hogshead

Age :13 Years (Distilled 1998, Bottled Oct. 2011)

Nose : Maritime, medicinal, and subtle fruit.  Heady notes of surf and breakers as if standing on the precipice of a sea cliff, or pali, with salty mineral-laden air blowing upwards from the waves and rocks below.  Sweet earthy scent of petrichor— the initial smell of rain.  Medicinal notes of antiseptic iodine pads transitioned to green pineapple, menthol, and tinned fruit salad.

Palate :  Medium bodied and oily with maritime, medicinal, and fruity notes.  Sweet brine and citrus fruits opened with green pineapple, sprunch (sprite and fruit punch), tar, and saltwater.  Herbal notes ran throughout with the cooling menthol of a Salonpas patch along with marjoram, thyme, and camphor.

Finish :  Lingering sweet fruity sugars and salty margarita rims.

Score : 8

Mental Image : Cocktails in the Mermaid Kingdom

Notes :  I just assume any cocktail served in Aquaman’s Atlantic or Ariel’s mermaid kingdom must be pretty salty.  No need for a salt rim when no matter what you do that beverage is going to be pretty salty.  Would it be put inside of little jelly pouches made from seaweed extracts or would it just be based on the super salt-saturated that sinks below normal ocean water?  I suppose it does not matter, fictional worlds need not match the conventions of our own.

This was absolutely what I want in a young cask-strength Laphroaig.  While this was not the most complex Laphoriag— it was a bit simple and a tad hot— it was uncompromising and hit all the classic Laphroaig notes perfectly.  I thought this was miles above any of the 10 Year Cask Strength Editions I have tried, though those have the advantage of being generally more widely available than a random single cask bottling and are far cheaper than this.  

Overall, this was a wonderful snapshot of the sort of single cask Laphroaigs that were bottled a decade ago, but which have become increasingly uncommon as the distillery hoards most of its production to meet its own supply and market needs.  At a summertime “Laphroaig Peat Night” tasting we did with our local whisky group, this was my favorite of the night and a real treat.