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- Raided Score: 95
- Publication: The Whiskey Jug
- Excerpt: Compared to the peat levels in something like the old Laphroaig 18, this Laphroaig 25 Cask Strength 2019 Edition is an Octomore. Usually Islay whiskies lose their peaty smokiness over the years, but this seems to have gained some, coming through heavy and bold.
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Intro:
Distilled before the turn of the century, this is Laphroaig 25yr: a cask strength, limited edition, release from one of Islay's few distilleries. It's bottled at 51.9% ABV with no coloring or filtering. Let's dive in.
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Nose:
Peaty yet not overwhelming, full of cream and lemon, sweet almonds and light honey with peppery qualitty.
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Taste:
Rich on the palate, this pour has such a luxurious mouthfeel - creamy, silky, velvet-y. The peat is present here again but takes a back seat to the sweet, delicious dessert characteristics of this pour, no doubt the function of a quarter century aging in oak. Tons of honey, confectioners sugar, orgeat, slate and lemon curd sweetness. The peat is peppery and brine forward, much less iodine than younger Laphroaig. Complex and delicious.
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Finish:
Long finish, easily the best part of this pour. Tons of lemon curd and sweet cream, pepper, salinity and a kiss of oak. Slate and minimality pair nicely with buttery pastry, confectioners sugar. Wonderful complexity.
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Overall:
Overall, this is an excellent pour that demonstrates how great ex-bourbon Laphroaig can be. Sweet, buttery, complex and a perfect representation of an afternoon with great whiskey by the ocean.
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Score:
8
- Our in house critic rates spirits on a scale of 0-10 (10 best) and is aggregated the same as external sources