Отзывы Whiskybase
учтено 77 заметок · текстовых 50 · полный lossless-снимок WB (полнота подтверждена)
Суммаризация отзывов
Отзывы о Laphroaig 18-year-old расходятся: его описывают как мягкий, сбалансированный виски с дымом, йодом, солью, ванилью и цитрусом, но часть отзывов говорит о водянистости, коротком финише, горечи и деградации по сравнению с прежними версиями.
развернуть подробно
В отзывах этот виски чаще всего описывают как узнаваемый Laphroaig: дым, йод, соль, морские и минеральные ноты, фенолы, TCP, ваниль, цитрус, медовая сладость, а также банан, ананас, персик, кожа и дубовая пряность. Отмечают мягкость, маслянистость и хороший баланс, где дым и фенолы присутствуют, но не доминируют. Финиш нередко называют средне-длинным. При этом профиль оценивают по-разному: одни находят его более шероховатым и менее мягким, с более выраженными морскими, солёными и дымными нотами и меньшей цитрусовостью, другие — более фруктовым и мощным.
Однако мнения расходятся, и есть заметная доля критики. Часть отзывов указывает на водянистость, недостаток тела и слабую стойкость для 18-летнего возраста, древесный, вяжущий или горьковатый финиш, ноты жжёной резины и лака, а также на завышенную цену. Некоторые прямо говорят о деградации по сравнению с прежними версиями: не хватает фруктовости и комплексности, финиш короткий и «бессмысленный», профиль простой и плоский, с горьковатостью от пережаренных бочек и без характерных для Laphroaig нот. Есть и прямо отрицательные или противоречивые мнения: что релиз уступает старой версии 18 лет и даже новой 15-летней, что он «слабее, чем ожидалось», а также жалобы на излишнюю «пепельность», недостаточную сбалансированность и сожаление об утрате сердцевины (водоросли, йод) у более мягкого виски.
собрано 50/77 текстовых отзывов · полный lossless-снимок WB
· 2026-10-08T07:01:54Z · источник evidence
At the first tasting, the Laphi 18 had a penetrating glue note, 2 days later... Completely gone. In the absence of an intact sample of the old 18yo, it seems younger and more cask-heavy, the old one was greener, more resinous, fruitier. However, the old bottling had also been bottle-aged for at least 10 years. The finish is quite woody, even at the end of a day rich in whisky.
нос 89 · вкус 90 · финиш 89
нос 87 · вкус 87 · финиш 88
Starts good on the nose, too much burned rubber towards the finish
нос · вкус · финиш
| Нос | 86 | Vanilla, herbs, peat, smoke, almonds, marzipan, toffee, whiff of rubber, some yellow fruits, honey |
| Вкус | 84 | Oily, creamy, vanilla, honey, herbs, good sweetness, peaty, smoky, hint of burned rubber, varnish, ashes, charcoal, a tad bitter |
| Финиш | 82 | Medium long, warm, charcoal, burned rubber, smoke, herbs |
aroma Dry smoke, sweet, sherry notes The taste So much harmony, dry taste, sweet, dark chocolate, wood spice aftertaste Long, dry, smoky, sweet, astringent
A revived 18-year-old from Laphroaig, the mature release was put on hold for a while, likely due to a shortage of matured spirits. As before, the spirits were aged in ex-bourbon casks for the entire period, bottled at a generous 48%, information on colouring and chill filtration is sadly missing, which raises some questions. Nose: the aroma is most delicate, delicate, balanced. Peat no longer plays the first violin, but fades into the background. Immediately comes the most delicate vanilla, nutty tones: cashew, almond, peanut. Then you feel flower pollen, muesli with honey, ginger, tar, smoked fish, dried seaweed, bacon, sea breeze, wet wool, spices, neat tannins Palate: the taste is dense, full-bodied, deep with a wave of pepper, sweetness, smokiness. The pepper wave gives way to the sweetness of malt, vanilla, nutty tones, ash, leather, white pepper, ginger, coffee bitterness, delicate woodiness Finish: The aftertaste is bright, warming and iridescent. Cigar ash, leather, malt sweetness, smoked meats, white pepper are felt. The wood is felt in the form of a pleasant tannin binding. Balance: complex, mature, refined, monolithic whisky. There are no typical for distillery bundles and bandages, but there is depth, solidity, development. Whisky plays, lives in the glass, opens with many nuances and halftones. I have not tried the old eighteen-year-old, there are opinions that it was a cut above, but this release also caused a flurry of positive emotions in me. I take the cost of the bottle out of brackets. N23,P23,F22,B22
нос 87 · вкус 88 · финиш 88
weaker then expected
нос 88 · вкус 87 · финиш 86
нос 88 · вкус 88 · финиш 89
нос 87 · вкус 87 · финиш 86
нос 88 · вкус 88 · финиш 87
For me, a very successful, very dangerously smooth Laphroaig. Unfortunately, the price is a bit high. At least it's back.
нос · вкус · финиш
| Нос | 90 | A great, fruity nose for a Laphroaig. The typical Laphroaig smoke is present, but not as dominant as in the younger standards. You can find sweet pineapple, pear, citrus, and banana chips, but also some leather and mild tobacco notes. |
| Вкус | 89 | The dram's honey-sweet opening is complemented by a peppery mid-palate, before fruit and citrus notes return. A spicy smoky note accompanies the palate throughout. |
| Финиш | 87 | The finish is smooth, with no bitter or soapy notes, but unfortunately, for me, it's only medium-long. I would have preferred a bit more staying power here, considering it's 18 years old. |
нос · вкус · финиш
Tasted 10/2025
нос · вкус · финиш
| Нос | 85 | Smoke, very sweet, white gummy bears, a touch of alcohol, something herbal/mint, heather |
| Вкус | 86 | Very mineral, fermented mint, gummy bears, somewhat rye-like?, toffee, smoke |
| Финиш | 85 | Smoky, herbal, sweet, with a hint of coffee/roasty |
A gentle Laphroaig. Overall a pretty straightforward, easygoing Laphroaig—clearly phenolic, but not poking out in an aggressive way. The balance is good, though I wish it had more weight and body. There isn’t much fruit, and while the finish is long, the herbal/burnt-seaweed direction isn’t really to my taste, so it wasn’t especially enjoyable.
нос · вкус · финиш
| Нос | 87 | Toasted cereal/grain notes (like barley tea) with a medium level of phenolic peat—very Laphroaig, but surprisingly soft and tidy. Sweet red apple and herbal, grassy tones follow. With time, a lemony citrus lift appears. As the phenols fade a bit, an iodine/fishy note starts to creep in alongside processed-cereal aromas. Light smoke in the background, with a subtle hint of pineapple. |
| Вкус | 86 | Malty and grainy with gentle sweetness and a touch of acidity. Rolled around, the toasty grain character leads, with a little apple-flesh sweetness. The phenolic peat is more assertive here than on the nose. As saliva mixes in, a slight fishy/iodine note rises and the lemon note strengthens, bringing extra salivation. Some oily texture. |
| Финиш | 86 | Long. Phenolic peat and cereal notes dominate right after the swallow; a fleeting apple note disappears quickly. A drier, less-sweet lemon-citrus lingers for a while with more cereal toastiness. Then the fruit drops away and it turns more bitter, with herbal notes and a burnt-seaweed character lingering alongside faint smoke. |
watery
For me, a bit more mainstream than the earlier 18s Laphroaig, and less of a hospital character, which is a positive thing for me personally. Die-hard fans may be disappointed by this. Overall, it's quite tasty and you can tell that it's aged - even if it's not exciting or thrilling - but all in all, it's not enough for the price. A sample is enough.
нос 86 · вкус 86 · финиш 85
Nase: Süß, Vanille, Zitrone, Organe, mineralisch, maritim, Rauch, Mango, etwas Marzipan, Malz, Eiche ••• Geschmack: Süß, mineralischer Rauch, Vanille, Eiche, Mango, etwas Marzipan, Malz ••• Abgang: Mittellang, süßes Malz und leicht mineralischer Rauch, etwas Vanille, Eiche und ein Hauch Mango bleiben. ••• Fazit: In der Nase geht es süß mit Vanille los. Etwas Zitrone und eine saftige reife Orange kommen dann. Mineralische und maritime Noten mit Rauch kommen nun. Nach einer Weile kommt Mango und Marzipan zum Vorschein. Malz und Eiche kommen am Ende. Eine tolle Nase. Im Geschmack geht es süß mit kräftig mineralischem Rauch los. Würzige Eiche und Vanille sind am Anfang ebenfalls dabei. Dann kommen Mango, etwas Marzipan und Malz. Ein guter Whisky. Tolle süße Noten, Rauch und helle Früchte gepaart mit mineralischen Noten. Die Nase gefällt mir etwas besser als der Geschmack. Insgesamt ein schöner gediegener Whisky der gut ausbalanciert ist. Fehlnoten habe ich keine. ••• 87-88
нос 89 · вкус 87 · финиш 88
tar, band aids, citrus, iodine, kippers, white pepper, quite rubbery indeed but I quite like it
The nose has typical Laphroaig smoke. The peat seems heavy at first, but then becomes more pleasant. A little vanilla and nuts, as well as ginger and salty bacon are added. The peat smoke is also present in the taste. Ashy and burnt rubber, with acidity and floral notes. The finish is medium. There is still smoke and sweet notes. A great Laphroaig that I really like and that goes down easily. I don't really notice the 48% ABV, as it is well integrated. Delicious.
The colour is bright gold/yellow. The whisky hangs on the glass quite well. Nice balanced Laphroaig that is quite subtle. The finish is quite peppery. If you like a popping Islay then you can skip this one.
нос · вкус · финиш
| Нос | 87 | Medicinal, slightly bitter, earthy, marzipan, tree bark, apple, turmeric, grain, creamy, peach, mango, |
| Вкус | 86 | Nice full mouthfeel, peppery, medicinal, earthy, tree bark, citrus, slightly creamy, |
| Финиш | 87 | Nice solid finish that lasts quite a while. Earthy, medicinal, plasters, peat, citrus, orange, tree bark, peppery, |
5cl Sample: A typical Laphroaig nose. The smoke is still dominant, even though it's already showing some more complex notes. Iodine, medicinal, damp, smoldering wood with white smoke. Behind that, the citrus note, also typical of Laphroaig for me, in the form of a yellow Nimm2 candy. On the palate, the smoke is initially present, still very strong, but then good oak and the citrus fruit note come in, which here seems a bit "riper" and leans towards orange. The finish is medium-long and accompanied by oak, smoke, and a touch of fruit. The lingering aftertaste is, of course, mainly smoke and oak. A very nice whisky, but it doesn't exactly blow me away, especially not at this price. I wouldn't necessarily need a whole bottle. I liked it even more on the second tasting, 87-88 points; the base score is a good match.
нос 89 · вкус 90 · финиш 88
compared to the 2nd release 16yo quite similar, but less rounded, more woody (virgin oak?) i prefer the 16yo so far
нос 89 · вкус 88 · финиш 88
нос · вкус · финиш
| Нос | 87 | Leather - Smoke - Iodine - Citrus |
| Вкус | 88 | slightly sweet - pleasant spiciness - smoke - roasted aromas - salt |
| Финиш | 87 | Long - Smoke |
For me, one of the highlights of this year. What an incredibly successful bourbon maturation! You rarely get something of such excellence these days. Add to that the price of around €180 and I'm blown away (in the current price structure). If you like Laphi, you should at least get a sample. The complexity and the juicy softness. Unbelievable. Notes are available once I have had it in the blender glass.
Typical Laphroaig. Citrus drops, light wood, peat smoke and hospital vibes. Still quite smoky and astringent for 18 years. I wasn't that impressed with the old 18 either. So the 15 remains my personal favorite Laphie with only 43%. Compared to the two 16s
нос · вкус · финиш
| Нос | 89 | At first cool and a little shy, but immediately somehow pleasant. The Laphi is recognizable. With a little time and air, two aroma profiles alternate. One consists of cold smoke, sea air, wound ointment and disinfectant. The other consists of warm tree bark, honey, freshly malted barley and lemon drops. No off notes and the smoke is still subtle in the smell. |
| Вкус | 86 | Nice start. Very voluminous and mouth-filling. Citrus drops, spruce wood, honey-salt-almonds and later a good spiciness of ginger. The wood already sparkles well. |
| Финиш | 86 | Strong smoke on the finish. The peat fire is still glowing and the citrus dop bites into the cheeks. Honey and salt alternate. Long, clean finish. Not warm, not broad. |
нос 90 · вкус 89 · финиш 89
this is just Laphroaig to the max!
A dram that makes you pay attention with all the changes and a real mixture of notes - I suspect the CS original would have had a lovely, oily texture the absence of which lets this down slightly. Well worth trying.
нос · вкус · финиш
| Нос | 85 | Sweet, earthy smoke, some hints of lemongrass. |
| Вкус | 87 | A pleasant mouthfeel with just enough body to it - the start is caramel apple, but then soon moves into a mossy type of peat - more earthy then smokey, some sweetness before the alcohol provides a balance gin. Proper journey in a glass. |
| Финиш | 86 | Medium - transforms from being quite sweet into a having a pleasant herbal note - a decent dram. |
It doesn't come close to the old 18-inch model! I actually think the new 15-inch one is better!
[July 2024] Together with seven good friends (and long-time whisky connoisseurs) we opened a bottle right upon arrival, and given our experience with the constant decline of Laphroaig's quality over the past years our expectations were low... ...but this release did not match even these lowered ones. We compared this new release to pre-Beam Laphroaig drams from our sample libraries, and nobody of us found any aroma or flavour that could be associated with the once distinctive Laphroaig profile. Both the profile's complexity and the spirit's quality in terms of mouthfeel and finish are underwhelming, so no one did ask for a second dram. Do not get me wrong: If you like a very simple malt profile consisting just of sweet barley sugars, non-Islay (non-maritime) peat notes and bitter virgin oak flavours you might love this - but still you can buy better quality for a fraction of this price from other distilleries (not necessarily Islay distilleries, because there are no Islay characteristics in this Laphroaig at all), e.g. go for Ardmore instead.
нос · вкус · финиш
| Нос | 83 | Absolutely no aroma which is (better: was) distinctive to Laphroaig - there are no fruits at all, no medicinal impressions, no maritime notes neither from the spirit nor from the peat... I just smell barley sugars, probably Russian peat (not kidding: they source almost all peat from Russia these days), and bitter wooden notes from virgin oak. It is no pleasure to sniff this dram, sorry folks. |
| Вкус | 83 | Absolutely no flavour which is (better: was) distinctive to Laphroaig - there are no fruits at all, no medicinal impressions, no maritime notes neither from the spirit nor from the peat... I just taste barley sugars, probably Russian peat, and bitter wooden notes from virgin oak. It is no pleasure to drink this dram, sorry folks. |
| Финиш | 81 | The mouthfeel is rather thin with significant bitter-astringent moments from virgin oak. The finish is medium to short with no new impressions beside the bitter wooden notes which seem to increase here. Congratulations to the Beam management! You successfully killed one of the most distinctive (and in that way beloved) whisky profiles of the world in favour of a very simple, thin and underwhelming spirit. I am out, finally - I will not buy any bottle of "Beam-Laphroaig" again (but I will savour the pre-Beam stuff which was one of the best spirits in the world). |
Only 48%, but it’s packing a lovely punch. By far not too much, but considering the age, still nice. Very typical laphi taste. Nice peat. Medium long finish. Worth the price? No. Good? Definitely
нос 87 · вкус 88 · финиш 87
нос 88 · вкус 88 · финиш 87
The aroma greets you with the recognizable profile of the plant: iodine, salt, minerals, tart herbs, bundles, peaty rubber smoke. Then the tones of burnt sugar, orange peel, herbal balm, fir oil, sour apples and some tablet-like taste (like paracetamol) open up. The taste, in addition to iodine and medicine, opens with caramel, sweet apples, peaches and white pepper. At the same time, it is difficult to call these notes bright, although they are there. The aftertaste is medium in length, with notes of iodine, orange peel, tannins and herbal bitterness. Of course, the sample differs in profile from the basic 10, however, it was not possible to discern a noticeable step forward (perhaps with the exception of the aroma).
нос 87 · вкус 88 · финиш 89
нос 88 · вкус 87 · финиш 89
нос 90 · вкус 90 · финиш 88
Unfortunately, for me, it can't keep up with the previous versions. It lacks the fruit that I used to have. It also doesn't seem as complex and old in general. It's just a bit simpler. So it's definitely not a bad malt, but I won't buy it for the price it's asking for.
The degradation of aged Laphroaig is obvious: rather flat and nondescript, the taste has a slight bitterness, which is present in releases aged in over-charred barrels. Overall, the impressions are rather negative, which is very disappointing.
нос 87 · вкус 84 · финиш 86
Heavy peat nose, fruity, spicy. Liquorice sticks, block malt. No smoke, no campfire. It smells subtle and balanced. The taste is a little softer. A lot of harmony here too. I associate flowers, meadow, chamomile. Fresh wood, fresh peat! The older a Laphroaig, the more pleasant it becomes. This one is very successful!
нос 88 · вкус 89 · финиш 87
нос · вкус · финиш
| Нос | 88 | Peat smoke, old leather, iodine, vanilla, citrus notes, a little toffee and apple pie |
| Вкус | 88 | Oily, creamy and sweet on the palate, fruity aromas of orange and lemon, peaty iodine notes, salty, roasted aromas, spicy and a little ginger |
| Финиш | 87 | Medium to long finish, fruity-sweet, smoky and spicy |
This whisky is nice, sweet, fruity, with smoke and campfire accents. Pleasantly warming, slightly spicy.
нос · вкус · финиш
| Нос | 89 | delicate, charcoal, campfire ash, sweet, grilled pineapples, melon, yellow apples, pears, lemon peel, peach |
| Вкус | 88 | sweet, honey, with campfire smoke, sole of sports shoes, slightly burnt plum jam, grapefruit peel, honey-oak bitterness, rose water, peach, honeydew apples, a pinch of pepper |
| Финиш | 89 | long, pleasant, quite sweet with honey, young oak, yellow fruits, warming, with a bitter aftertaste on the tongue |
Non chill filtered, natural color, according to the destillery
Laphroaig 18 yro ABV: 48% Nose/Palate: Smooth smoked bacon. Not as good as the old 18. But clearly better than the newer younger Laphroaig releases. Score: 86 [Recommend to try]
It has an oily viscosity and its bouquet is of high intensity. I have aromas of intense maritime peat smoke, oak, citrus, vanilla, caramel, eucalyptus, shortbread, hay, honey sweetness and liquorice. Relatively complex. A good balance between sweetness and dryness in terms of taste. The alcohol is well integrated and it has a heavy body.
нос 87 · вкус 87 · финиш 86
нос 87 · вкус 86 · финиш 87
A thoroughly delicious dram. The nose gives hope for great things. The taste with surprisingly mild Laphia aromas and lovely wood notes is also pleasing. But the finish is very short and meaningless. A shame. Overall, the price-performance ratio is inappropriate.
нос 88 · вкус 88 · финиш 87
Gone the days when this bottle was available for 90€. So I've not had it in a while, let's wake up some memories. Cold, salty sea breeze through a fire. Oysters with lemon juice. Honey sprinkled with white pepper. A bit of lemon zest followed by floral notes. All the way accompanied by the trademark smoke. Beauty.
нос 88 · вкус 88 · финиш 87
нос · вкус · финиш
| Нос | 87 | The nose is fairly simple, fresh and cool, with phenol, old medical cabinet notes, menthol and honeyed pastry. |
| Вкус | 88 | The taste is bold and prickly, feeling stronger than it is, with phenolic bananas, hay, smoked honey and medicinal herbs. |
| Финиш | 85 | The finish is tingling and slowly fading, rather simple for the age and price, with medicinal balms, honey and light smoke. |
Got this bottle at the Laphroaig Distillery for 90 pounds. A very gentle and easy-to-drink Laphroaig. The colour is light gold.
нос · вкус · финиш
| Нос | 90 | Fresh and light sweet come first, some lemon and herbal smell. A very typical Laphroaig salty and peaty are lingering behind. Also a smell of light cheddar cheese and malty. |
| Вкус | 91 | Fruity and lemonade come first. sweet vanilla and creamy. Not strong Laphroaig, all Laphroaig DNA hide behind. |
| Финиш | 89 | Smokiness stays there for quite a long time. Some honey and vanilla can be found there. Also, a hint of mint. Not so complex. |
Yellow. Nose: Bonfire smoke. Taste: Sweetness, slightly sharp bonfire smoke, acidity, sweetness, vanilla, a little sharper impression, it has a little edge. Vault.
From a sample. I had high expectations for this as I often criticize Laphroaig 10 as being a consistently disappointing whisky in my experience. Certainly, the 18 redeems the brand, somewhat. I can appreciate the funky, dry profile with a measured amount of Islay peat smoke. To me, the nose is most intriguing. However, when a whisky's nose is the highest scoring category, it's hard for me to give too much respect to the bottle, because the rest of the journey seems to disappoint. But I really continue to enjoy smelling this glass!
нос · вкус · финиш
| Нос | 89 | Initially, funky, sweaty socks, then glue. This eventually blew off and more citric notes of orange appeared aside classic Islay peat smoke. A bit of dried ginger and the petrol/grassy smell of a recently used lawnmower. If this were an SMWS bottling, I'd label it something like "Dad Mowing the Lawn at the Shore in his Old Sneakers". Overall, this is a fun nose that seems to evolve in the glass and offer something from lots of scent categories. Last sniff brought out some incense and sandalwood that reminded me of an old asian import shop. |
| Вкус | 85 | Medium mouthfeel, and on the drier side with heat from the alcohol pairing against gingery notes that remind me of spicy pickled sushi ginger and wasabi. I do find the dryness surprising, as I expected a sweeter profile on the gums. Some rubbery bitterness seems to dominate the mid palate. The sweetness here is quite subtle and definitely an afterthought. The smoke is restrained, which I find amusing considering how Laphroaig pits themselves against their Islay compatriots ('the most intense!'). |
| Финиш | 83 | Considering the age and price, short. I may be biased as I tend to prefer longer finishes and associate them with quality, but I suppose that's not the case. A different whisky for a different occasion. What persists is a dry, mineral, and faintly smoky characteristic. |
нос 85 · вкус 84 · финиш 82
I compared this 2024 bottling with the 18-year-old predecessor bottle (WB42886), which I had in the glass at the same time.
нос · вкус · финиш
| Нос | 90 | A really great maritime-looking nose, and in my opinion, a typical Laphroaig one. Compared to the previous 18, it is less soft and tame, which makes it a little more exciting for me in direct comparison, even if it does make it seem a little younger. I also find significantly more mineral-salty notes, the citrus notes are a little less pronounced. Overall, I really like the nose. In addition to the smoke, there is a lot of vanilla, very fine citrus notes, lemon balm, toffee, light leather and delicate oak spice. |
| Вкус | 89 | Very nice sparkling start, nice and creamy in the mouth. The smoke is also really powerful, brings no ash, and is again accompanied by maritime-salty and phenolic notes. Also vanilla, lemon zest, passion fruit, caramel, a hint of pineapple, oak spice. The old 18 has slightly more pronounced citrus fruits and seems a little softer overall, but has more ash in the mouth, a little less smoke, but actually has similar phenolic notes in the mouth. |
| Финиш | 89 | Medium to long finish. Clear smoke (campfire by the sea), salt flowers, burnt caramel, pineapple and passion fruit in the fire, leather, a hint of tobacco, oak spice. I have to admit that I was initially skeptical as to whether the new bottle could keep up, but in direct comparison I now have to admit that the new bottling is on par, at least as far as my taste and perception are concerned. In comparison, the new bottling has slightly less pronounced citrus fruit notes and seems a little less polished, as the focus here is more on the maritime notes (surprising that some connoisseurs do not perceive this maritimeness in this bottling). It also has more smoke, although this could be because it has not been allowed to rest in the bottle for 10 years. But it is precisely because it appears a little less smooth that I particularly appreciate the new bottling, as these rough edges that are revealed here are exactly the ones I love about Laphroaig and that, for me, are part of it. I would be hard-pressed to accuse the new bottling of being watered down or adapted to the "modern whisky drinker". This Laphroaig has what I was looking for - because you can tell that it has been aged for a longer period and at the same time I still find in it what I appreciate about the young Laphroaigs, what many of the over-20 Laphroaigs, however elegant they may be, have sometimes lost. The new bottling is of course not a complexity monster - but the old one wasn't either... In conclusion, I'm already very happy that I don't have to look for the old bottles of the 18 at auctions, which is something I was actually afraid of at first. A nice new edition. I like it! |
Strong malty character, feeling like a completely different whisky compare to previous version(green tube, white tube).
Tasted from a Glencairn glass. Tasted neat, without water! This new release of the 2018 Laphroaig is truly excellent. Personally, I like it better than the older one I just had for direct comparison. It's fruitier and has a bit more power, in my opinion.
нос · вкус · финиш
| Нос | 88 | The nose is subtly restrained with the smoke; instead, I get banana, pineapple, peach, honey, vanilla, tobacco, leather, milk chocolate, a touch of menthol, but it could also be anise. On the finish, I get something like cherry juice. A salty sea breeze. The alcohol is very well integrated. |
| Вкус | 87 | On the palate, it is very oily, and the smoke is quite subtle for a Laphroaig. The salty sea breeze is also present, followed by pineapple, honey, banana, vanilla, milk chocolate, grilled peach, and a slightly mentholated note. The alcohol is well integrated. |
| Финиш | 85 | The finish is medium-long. A hint of ash and pineapple with honey lingers at the end. |
нос 88 · вкус 87 · финиш 87
нос 86 · вкус 85 · финиш 86
нос 89 · вкус 89 · финиш 90
нос 89 · вкус 88 · финиш 88
нос · вкус · финиш
| Нос | 88 | Lemon cream, vanilla, a very delicate hint of iodine, light peach, mirabelle plum, shells, lime, later a light apple blossom... very light and balanced. |
| Вкус | 87 | Distinctly Laphroaig-like, vanilla, smoke, phenols, lemon, creamy and pleasing. |
| Финиш | 86 | Long but somewhat monotonous |
I'm a huge Laphroaig fan, and I mean a huge fan :-) My whisky adventure started with Laphroaig and it will probably end there. The 18 year old distillery bottling was a legend for me. Since before COVID times it was rather hard to come by in Belgium. So I have never ever tasted the old editions. I was very happy to learn that there were new editions out there. Bought and opened this flask during summer 2025. First sniff and sip were rather disappointing- I mean... Was it all about this? I found the nose rather mineral and harsh. The taste was almost aggressive; had a few drams over the past months and now it's time to fully taste and enjoy the whisky. The oxidation helped and the whisky is now more mature, complex and balanced. In my opinion the harsh nose is gone and it transformed into a more elegant and sweet nose. Something that I really like :-) The taste is also a lot better then before, way less aggressive. But I'm still missing something. I mean, the mineral components are still there and the strong smoky campfire vibes are here to be enjoyed- but it all seems a bit too ashy in my opinion and not balanced enough. Don't get me wrong- this is a beautiful whisky, really beautiful. But I really had hoped more- a little bit less ash, a more clever build-up and a better integration of all the different tastes. Anyway, I'll keep on drinking my bottle and I can only hope that time and air will keep on working on the liquid...
нос · вкус · финиш
| Нос | 90 | Sweet and smoky. More sweet then smoky actually. Campfire smoke, salted caramel, seaside breeze, hemp ropes, concentrated vanilla powder, hint of banana, seaweed. Hint of menthol towards the end. Elegant. Smooth. Complex. Wauwi! |
| Вкус | 86 | Mineral. Dry. Bit bitter. Solvents. Brackish water too. There is also a distinct sweetness in the taste, think of the chewy 'Haribo' gummy (a type of candy). It's a fun taste- fruity and mineral but also a bit chemical. I mean, it's nice. But it's not 100% natural. Salty. Fish oil. Fresh too. Hint of mint. Iodine. More campfire, more smoke, burned oak. And then... canned pineapple! A huge surprise!!! Oak. Tannins. Woody bitters. Ash. |
| Финиш | 84 | Medium long finish with some burned coffee, more burend oak, less ash (luckily), menthol drops and... something metallic- like aluminum. Leathery. Dries out the mouth. Hint of honey. Hint of salt. And a touch of canned pineapple (yes, specifically canned pineapple). |
No matter how much we love Laphroaig, this bottling is not even close to the predecessor to say the least. One more thing. Taking current Beam price policy into consideration, please… get this thing out of here… moreover, I think I will never come here anymore. Chao.
нос 85 · вкус 85 · финиш 86
Well, quite good. Compared to the 16 (2022)... Quite similar. Peat, and a little licorice. A little fruit underneath. 81-85 – Wow, really good one
нос 84 · вкус 83 · финиш 85
нос 88 · вкус 87 · финиш 87
нос · вкус · финиш
| Нос | 88 | Sweet and creamy vanilla, sweet and juicy citrus, restrained phenolic and medicinal peat, iodine, TCP, sea shells, kippers, black pepper |
| Вкус | 89 | Medicinal, TCP, iodine, sweet vanilla, grilled lemon, sea shells, kippers with peppered skin |
| Финиш | 88 | Medium to long - TCP, iodine, creamy vanilla, sea salt, sea breeze, black pepper |
нос 89 · вкус 89 · финиш 90
Well aged, but rather mild compared to the younger Laphroaigs. I miss the heart (seaweed, iodine etc.).
нос · вкус · финиш
| Нос | 87 | Salty smoke, fruits (apples), sea breeze, malt, citrus, campfire |
| Вкус | 91 | Smoke, fruits, spices (pepper), some ash |
| Финиш | 87 | medium-long finish |
нос 87 · вкус 88 · финиш 88
нос · вкус · финиш
| Нос | 87 | Bandages, camphor, iodine tinctures, and fresh plaster lead the charge, unmistakably Laphroaig. Behind the medicinal wall, lemon and smoked oysters emerge, alongside vanilla, toffee, and light leather. |
| Вкус | 88 | Powerful, sharp, saline, and intensely smoky. The arrival is "sparkling" and "creamy," with the smoke "really powerful, brings no ash," accompanied by maritime-salty and phenolic notes. Vanilla, lemon zest, passion fruit, caramel, and a hint of pineapple weave through the mid-palate, with oak spice building steadily. |
| Финиш | 88 | Long, with a "lovely bitterness that's ever so slightly syrupy." Citrus pushes through in the aftertaste, joined by fresh bitter almonds. |
DocF
Mortar1703
dram-drinker
Sporx
Ippon84
TechnOBY
fewDramsIn
d1scostu
Igitor
DramSlayer
RJKrueger
Dris
EmilianAmodeo
DrPepper_Addict
Whisnyx
Kitto
LeChiffre
Erik1702
SC3
Baanaanaabob
Alex_Whisky_Corner
TKoolhaas
Fdu17
Sweetspot
Jamie McDubh
Kishmet
g00se
Whisky-Fancier
dramadram
holborndrinker
rueckenschwimmzipper
hs305
Immerenga
besar
Gous
RichardPsmith
pianoman
Boro
Hsyong
gallfux
mihatozzz
maltaholic
Sirralf
MaroFF
pvl7206953
drink_tony
gossm01
whisky666
eddi14
Spoerkel
Fundramental
dissonance
Isilhelwa
Stouby
Bosconius
Saftkenner
Sapfiwhisky
KIMCHIBaby
MichaelS.
Kapkan
WiltChamberlain
Ficelli
Nomorewh
manspear
Klexx
Falang
SingleHandedSailor
ThorstenH
MaltsofIslay
LakatosKE
Whiskyslam
Ringstone
Ghoustbuster
