Country - Region: Scotland – Islay
Distillery: Laphroaig
Type: Single Malt
Age: NAS
Barrel: Ex-Bourbon & Quarter Cask
ABV: 48%
Proof: 96
Price: $67
Nose: Quarter casks offer intense vanilla and lemon curd aromas that blends into citrus peel, peat and sea offerings like sea salt and sea weed.
Palate: Creamy and is a home to ginger. Peat and smoke settles at the back of the palate and followed by chili peppers.
Finish:Medium long and definitely very dry. Pepper notes spread to the mouth with spikes.
Opinions change in time. I found Laphroaig Quarter Cask quite lovely a couple years ago. After a perfect vertical tasting with İstanbul Whisky Club, I evaluated Quarter Cask again and found myself with a different opinion than before. Now, years later, I found it even shallower.
Laphroaig Quarter Cask is double matured in small sized quarter casks for a few months, after 5 years of resting in ex-Bourbon barrels. The youth shows itself in the profile which is peevish. Palate has a ton of ginger and pepper notes which creates a great deal of dryness. However, increased surface area in smaller casks results in an amplified vanilla character, which is followed by peat and lemon zest.
For the ones who like the balance between peat and vanilla, but a harsh palate this can be the one. I believe Laphroaig Quarter Cask is a decent young Islay whisky, however when the pricing is compared to regular Laphroaig 10 year old, it might change your mind easily.
