Laphroaig

[Jay P]

Is fucking amazing, I feel ashamed looking back at the trash I was drinking before I discovered this masculine peaty beast(Glenfiddich, Glenlivet, cheap Bourbon, Rum etc. If you have even the slightest appreciation for Whisky I have to strongly recommend you pick up some Laphroaig 10 yr or 10 yr cask strength. Probably the most badass alcohol you can buy.

[neck beard]

ahhh. La Phroaig.

French for "The Frog".

Don't drink it myself.

[Jay P]

ahhh. La Phroaig.

French for "The Frog".

Don't drink it myself.

I was trying to expand my Whisky repertoire when I first tried it, now I am having a hard time appreciating anything else, even Ardbeg. I have some Highland Park 12, Bruicladdich Resurrection , Glenfiddich 12, Glenmorangie 10 and JW Black Label and none of it comes close. The only other Whisky I have that I do still truly enjoy is Ardbeg 10 yr although like I said it still pales in comparison to Laphroaig

[summit]

It is clear you like the peat of the Isle of Islay.

For Islay Scotch, I prefer Ardbeg 10 to the Laphroaig 10. If you really like the Laphroiag, then you definitely need the Lagavulin 16; most consider it far superior to Ardbeg or Laphroaig. Actually, I might prefer the Ardbeg to the Lagavulin.

The lady insists that those super peaty Islay bottles give me "campfire breath," which is apparently worse than "icky breath" from drinking Oban 14 and Glenlivet 15.

My absolute favorite bottle is my Oban Distiller's Reserve 1996. That is bottled heaven!

[Jay P]

It is clear you like the peat of the Isle of Islay.

For Islay Scotch, I prefer Ardbeg 10 to the Laphroaig 10. If you really like the Laphroiag, then you definitely need the Lagavulin 16; most consider it far superior to Ardbeg or Laphroaig. Actually, I might prefer the Ardbeg to the Lagavulin.

The lady insists that those super peaty Islay bottles give me "campfire breath," which is apparently worse than "icky breath" from drinking Oban 14 and Glenlivet 15.

My absolute favorite bottle is my Oban Distiller's Reserve 1996. That is bottled heaven!

Yeah I really want to pick up some Lagavulin. I was actually holding out trying to find the 12 yr but apparently the 12 is harder to find than the 16. Caol Ila , Bunnahabhain and Lagavulin are all Islay malts I plan on picking up in the near future.

[Tye 1on]

Was given a bottle as a gift. One sip later, regifted.

[systemoverblow'd]

ahhh. La Phroaig.

French for "The Frog".

Don't drink it myself.

La grenouille is French for The Frog.

[couloirman]

Lagavulin is way too sweet for my tastes. Great for one bottle but after that it is like eating sugar candy to me. Try Laphroaig quarter cask. Big step up from their standard offering.

[GeezerSteve]

OP, I'm with ya. After 20+ years of drinking single malts -- Speysides, Highlands, Islays and even a few Campbelltowns and Lowlands -- Islays have become my first region choice, and Laphroaig has become my clear favorite. I like the 10-year over the 18-year. For high routes, I go with the Cask Strength with a splash of glacier-fed stream water or a chuck of blue glacier ice for high routes. Quarter cask for an occasional change of pace.

But I prefer the 10-year. So did the New York Times panel, which voted Laphroaig 10-year the best Islay and (no brainer) the best value.

Lagavulin, my previous favorite, has become my second choice but way more expensive. A wee bit sweet final finish, but I certainly wouldn't call it sweet. Ardbeg is the sweetest Islay to my palette. Balvenie Double Wood, a Speyside, is the sweetest thing I'll drink.

Macallan (nice vanilla finish) is usually my choice for Speysides, although I like some of the Balvenie selections. I seldom drink Highland and haven't had a Campbelltown or Lowland for years.

Too bad most Americans got introduced to single malts via Glenfiddich or Glenlivet. Yuck

[berko]

One of the best (the best?) things about loving Laphroaig is that you dont get asked to share it too often.

[plugboots]

30 years ago on my first trip to the UK my British work associates introduced me to Laphroaig. I asked, "How should I have it?" (Thinking with spring water, or on the rocks.)
The reply:
"In a glass."

[GeezerSteve]

Good one. When I was in Scotland, the locals usually splashed a drop or two of water, claiming that it "opened up" the whiskey. Me? I prefer the 10-year neat. The 110 proof Cask Strength begs to be cut just a wee bit -- great for weight conscience alpinists.

berko, most people to whom I've introduced Laphroaig love it. It has become our tradition to have a nip just before the last run on a ski tour.

[sf]

Laphroaig is nice, try Talisker 10 or 18 though. Pretty much the only one I prefer over Laphroaig

[GeezerSteve]

Talisker is tasty. I've always got a bottle on my shelf.

[Dee Hubbs]

On my shelf I currently have a:
Laphroaig 10
Caol Ila 12
Bruichladdich Peat
Talisker 10
Glenlivet 18
Mecallan 12
Glenfiddich 12

[butterscotch]

Laphroaig is tasty for sure. I got a bottle of Macallan 12 as a gift and I'm surprised how much I enjoy it. Talisker 10 is my personal favorite.

[mobygrape]

Was given a bottle as a gift. One sip later, regifted.

It took me a 1/2 bottle to really get into it. It grows on you. Of course, if you have a full cabinet full of other liquor, maybe not worth building up the appetite for the peaty stuff. But it is really nice once you get into it.

[iceman]

How do you regift an open bottle of booze?

If you mean you just gave it away, I get that. Me, not so big on the peat. I don't know what it is exactly, but it sticks with me somehow and sorta permeates. I get that it's good, I just can't drink much of it, or often.

[Arty50]

Ahhhhhh...the Bandage. The 10 was the first Scotch I tried and it's been a favorite ever since. Scored a bottle of the 15 for super cheap a while back and love that also.

[Tippster]

Not into the peat at all. Current favorite Scotch is the Macallan Cask Strength.

[irul&ublo]

From the K&L e-mail of today:

• Bruichladdich Black Art 2nd Edition 21 Year Old Islay Single Malt Whisky 750ml ($169.99)
Always one of Bruichladdich's more esoteric offerings, yet by no means less brilliant, the Black Art series alludes to Jim McEwan's almost devilish ability to conjure up flavors never-before seen in single malt whisky. Using a combination of various wine casks, this 21 year old whisky undergoes a transformation that takes the rich, oily textures of old Bruichladdich and combines it with cherries, blackberries, currants, and a melee of other red-fruited delights. The vanilla and oak come smoothly on the finish. It's a decadent whisky and it's always quick to sell out. Grab it while it's here. (David Driscoll, K&L Spirits Buyer)

• Octomore 4.2 Comus Heavily Peated Islay Single Malt Whisky 750ml ($189.99)
Peated at 167 ppm and run at a slow drip through the still, the Octomore from Bruichladdich is the peatiest whisky in the world. At a whopping 61%, this new 4.2 Comus release has been finished in Chateau d'Yquem casks, adding richness to the bright, almost cinnamon-like peat of the Octomore whisky. Rich golden raisins with a peaty punch in the face. Tropical fruits smoked and caramelized to high heaven. This is not for the faint of heart, yet it's something everyone should try at least once (and perhaps several times for the truly hedonistic).

• Oban 18 Year Limited Edition Single Malt Whisky 750ml (Elsewhere $149.99) ($99.99)
91 points Malt Advocate: "Drier, less toffee and fruit, more dried spice and oak when compared to the standard Oban 14 year old. A beautiful combination of rich, nutty toffee balanced by polished oak, salt, pepper, seaweed, distant smoke, and dried fruit. Somewhat oily in texture. Wonderful depth, too! An improvement on what is already the biggest-selling Diageo single malt scotch in the U.S. Very exciting and dynamic. (Vol. 17, #4, by John Hansell)" K&L Notes: Always tough to find - this is a limited edition bottling for the US only. As the cannister states, "only so much can be made, it is never enough."

[ClarkleberryFinn]

If you're drinking Laphroaig it has to be the Quarter Cask. Bruichladdich Waves is also ace, but the various Balvenie whiskies are my favourite - hard to be the Doublewood for the price (it does lack a little in 'bite,' but is a great 'everyday' whisky), Roasted Malt and Golden Cask are brilliant, but the Portwood is simply the best whisky I've ever tasted. Too expensive for me to buy sadly, haven't had it since I was given a few bottles free by some ski chalet staff a few years back.

[GeezerSteve]

If you're drinking Laphroaig it has to be the Quarter Cask

Why so? I prefer the taste of the 10 year.

. . . hard to be the Doublewood. . . .

Doublewood was my go to Speyside for several years -- but I haven't drunk much of it after I learned to love the peat. Doublewood tastes great but gave me some gawd awful hangovers. My bud the winemaker/career drunk posited that port barrel aging introduced some stuff that contributed to the hangover.

[GeezerSteve]

Worst single malt I ever tasted: Sheep Dip

[flyandski365]

Worst single malt I ever tasted: Sheep Dip

Are you sure it was a single malt and not some sort of wool treatment product?