Laphroaig 10 Cask Strength series is a Laphroaig series dearly loved by me, Laphroaig fans and peat lovers generally. I had the honor to taste and review all the batches out there with a review of batch 013 published just a few months ago.

In that review I mentioned my surprise on the release of batch 014 since up to this batch we were getting them once a year like a clock and suddenly there’s 014 a mere few months after the release of batch 013. It may be related to John Campbell leaving the distillery after serving as the distillery manager for 16 years but we don’t know for sure the reasons behind this release. Maybe there was higher than expected demand for CS Laphroaig?

In addition there was a US label for batch 015, but I strongly suspect it’s the same as batch 014 with the same ABV and bottling month but it can be a different beast so we’ll have to taste and verify it if and when it’s out 😉

So back to batch 014 which sticks to the same ol’ successful formula of previous versions: matured in ex-Bourbon barrels for 10 years and then bottled at cask strength of 58.6%.

Laphroaig 10 Year Old Cask Strength Batch 014 (58.6%, £71.95)

Photo: thewhiskyexchange.com

Nose: Sweet, getting sweeter and in fact it’s the sweetest peat smoke I ever had in this series. No dry ashes (and that’s a big advantage for those like me who love the older profile of Laphroaig), medicinal, bandages and plasters, sweet oak wood extracts (just like in rums), so  there’s active casks influence here, smoked meat, pears and apricots, wet ashes and eventually, finally, after a while some dry stringent ashes. Continue reading →

Since we’re on a Laphroaig reviews roll let’s review the (almost) latest Laphroaig 10 Cask Strength batch – Batch 013 which was bottled in January 2021 but was released in the summer, later than expected as previous editions were released during Spring.

Batch 013 was the latest batch available when I tasted it at the distillery a few weeks ago. This was used to be a yearly release that comes out around Spring each year but earlier this month, out of nowhere, we greeted a new batch (014).

Anyway, until I get a bottle of the 014 batch (one is already en route), let’s check out this 013 batch (shall we call it the Bar-Mitzva edition?) and see how it compares to the previous batches (see the 010/011/012 batches review for a quick refresher course).

Laphroaig 10 Year Old Cask Strength Batch 013 (57.9%, £69.95)

Photo: thewhiskyexchange.com

Nose: Honeyed peat smoke, vanilla, a very creamy nose and no dry smoke bomb here. Hint of fruitiness, smoked Mulard. seaweed, bandages – very classic characteristics. After a few minutes we do get that dry peat smoke but thankfully it’s not overpowering along with tar and ashy smoke. Continue reading →

After publishing my review on Laphroaig 10 Year Old Sherry Oak Finish I was asked how does is stand up to Laphroaig PX Cask and the answer was cut and clear that the Sherry Oak Finish is better.

But then someone asked: “And how does it compare to the Cairdeas 2021 Pedro Ximenez?”. Now, those whiskies aren’t exactly competing one with the other – the better question (and competition) would ask how does it compare to the Laphroaig PX Cask. But nevertheless, it’s an interesting comparison between two recent official Laphroaig releases both finished in sherry casks.

The Cairdeas PX started its life in ex-Bourbon barrels, followed by quarter casks before a finish in European oak PX hogsheads. So it’s sherry finished but it’s a different kind of sherry (PX Vs. Oloroso).

As I couldn’t answer the question immediately, although I did tast the Cairdeas at the distillery last month I didn’t analyze it or tried to compare it to the Sherry Oak finish, meaning I had to sit down and taste it again properly with this comparison in mind.

Laphroaig Cairdeas 2021 Pedro Ximenez Casks (58.9%)

Nose: Sweet peat smoke, sticky toffee, sultanas and dates, cinnamon and milk chocolate. The dry smoke is there but held in check, smoked meat, iodine and seaweed. After a few minutes in the glass there is more dry smoke and also of the burning wood smoke, pine needles, getting jammy with sweet blackberries and blueberries, TCP and disinfectant, dark chocolate, more toffee and raisins. Continue reading →