Laphroaig Quarter Cask Islay Whisky

It is one of the bottles that have been in my collection for ages. I keep on drinking it but never writing about it. So, with the Laphroaig Distillery 200th anniversary during 2015 and before I finish this bottle, I decided that it is time to write down my tasting notes for the Laphroaig Quarter Cask Islay single malt Scotch whisky.

Laphroaig is named after Loch Laphroaig on the south coast of Islay. Donald and Alexander Johnston established the distillery in 1815. Members of the Johnston family mainly ran the distillery.

There was a short spell where Donald Johnston died after falling into a scalding kettle and for a period the manager of Lagavulin, Walter Graham, ran Laphroaig. Lagavulin is only a short distance from Laphroaig.

Laphroaig returned to Johnston’s hands again in 1857. In 1954, Ian Hunter, a nephew of Sandy Johnston died and left the distillery to one of his managers. After this, the distillery changed hands a few times and ended up as part of the Beam Suntory brands in 2014.

The Laphroaig flavour is recognised worldwide and comes in part from its vicinity to the coast and the high moss content of its peat, which is processed on the distillery’s maltings floor.

Laphroaig is celebrating 200 years of making whisky on Islay in 2015. They released the very entertaining #OpinionsWelcome campaign. You can also go to their website and add your Laphroaig opinion.

The Laphroaig Quarter Cask was released in 2004. This expression is first aged in the standard oak casks and then transferred to smaller quarter casks for a further period. Due to the smaller barrels used, the oak surface whisky contact is more significant than with standard barrels.

Also Read: My Top 5 Whisky Food Pairings

Laphroaig Quarter Cask Islay Single Malt Whisky Review

REGION: Islay

ABV: 48%

COLOUR: A beautiful gold

NOSE: This is a classic Islay malt and epitomizes the Laphroaig style. Burnt peat, seaweed and iodine come to the front. Mild smoke and a surprising hint of spicy sweetness. The typical medicinal notes are floating in the background. A bold, rich, and complex aroma.

PALATE: It’s a perfect dram at the end of a long and hard week. There are notes of peat, smoke and some seaweed floating about. Hints of iodine, citrus and honey. In the background lurks some oak, liquorice and fruity notes. The palate feels rich and thick, befitting a proper Islay whisky.

The addition of water makes the Quarter Cask smoother and softens the medicinal notes. Water brings out more of the ashy notes; however, the dram remains big and bold.

FINISH: It’s long, and it’s lingering, and it’s complex. It changes from peat to sweet to spicy. Nevertheless, it leaves you with a warm feeling in your stomach. Long after you’ve swallowed, the Laphroaig Quarter Cask is still serenading you with its brilliance.

RATING: EXCELLENT

When you had a long hard week, and you want to sit back and relax with a complex dram that will take your mind off the drama, this Laphroaig Quarter Cask Islay whisky is the perfect dram. It is the embodiment of the Islay style. Rich, big, bold, peaty in your face wonderful.

I have tried various Laphroaig’s and captured tasting notes as follows:

I have done a side by side comparison between the Laphroaig 10 year old and the Quarter cask whisky to see how they differ.

Here is my Laphroaig Quarter Cask #OpinionsWelcome version; What is yours?