Laphroaig Single Cask Selection: 2014 Virgin French Oak, Cask #6054

Nose: - at c/s: a powerful, pungent peat, a surprisingly strong floral heather, a sharp spice, clove and anise with a touch of cinnamon. A gentle sea breeze, a hint of caramel/vanilla. - a few drops of water: sweeter elements present themselves here. lemon vanilla creme brulee, almost an orchard fruit note, poached pear. Palate: - at c/s: huge, oily, aggressive. Strong peat initially gives way to a deep spice laden mid palate. A touch of that heathery note remains here along with possibly candied lemon peel? Bitter Cocoa powder. Tannic oak. Impressively strong maritime salinity as it transitions to finish. Baking spice and vanilla are present throughout. - a few drops of water: backs the heat off noticably. Reduces the thick, oily mouthfeel substantially. Fresh baked pastry and vanilla cream are appearing now. A more noticeable lemon peel. Gentle baking spice throughout, a hint of white pepper. Finish: At c/s: Strongly warm and numbing. Long. Roaring peat fire on retrohale. With water, less warm/numbing a bit more oak. Still a prominent phenolic peat.

Nose: an initial classic pungent Laphroaig peat, medicinal, rubber, burning wet coastal vegetation. A prominent salinity. Opens up to a nice strong spicy character with a bit of charred oak. Vanilla, black pepper, cinnamon, clove. Some drops of water bring out the warm baking spice to the forefront with a creamy vanilla and charred oak, gets almost a bourbon-y note on the nose here. Peat influence, while present, is reduced a bit. Palate: rich, oily, and full bodied at c/s. Strongly phenolic peat, a bit of iodine/rubber, Mexican hot chocolate/dark chocolate with cinnamon and cayenne. Vanilla, Caramel, chewy malt. Clove, a touch of anise. Robust spiciness, a bit of chili as it transitions to the finish. There's something green here too... 🤔 With a few drops of water, vanilla becomes more prominent, and you get a significantly more noticeable white pepper along with more pronounced salinity. Finish: smoky wet burned peat, creosote, tannic oak, very drying. A bit of green bell pepper. Maritime air.

Nose: At c/s: pungent Laphroaig peat is initially front and center. Strong salinity, smoldering wet leaves, transports me to a foggy wooded coastline. This follows with a deep vanilla bean, prominent spicy oak, a touch of worn leather and just a hint of lemon peel. A few drops of water: sweet and warm baking spice comes out here, the peat while still present plays a lesser role. Sweet vanilla cream, and caramel appear Palate: At c/s: sharp and prominent oak influence here. The only other Laphroaig that I have had which was close to this level of oakiness was the quarter cask. Strongly phenolic and medicinal peat. Hints of Vanilla and citrus zest A few drops of water: peat remains dominant, but the sweeter sides of the whisky come out. There's almost a sweet bread/pastry note. The sweeter aspects of the French Oak really shine here with some water Finish: long and warm. creosote, medicinal, biting and drying tannic oak.

Nose: sweet vanilla cream, gentle caramel, a bit of baking spice. Sweet oak, a distant sea spray, more muted peat influence here than I remember. Palate: oily, sweet, rich and full bodied. Pungent peat comes into play here more. Again, a solid vanilla influence here, caramelized oak sweetness. A bit of chili oil as it transitions to the finish. A bit of milk chocolate and candied orange peel can be seen here as it coats the palate. Finish: drying oak tannin, phenolic maritime peat. Strong salinity, ashy.