Laphroaig 10 Review

Laphroaig is the whisky people love to hate, and love to love. It’s famous for tasting medicinal. People use words like iodine, plasters and hospital corridor, and they don’t always mean them as insults.

So you’d expect a review of it to be polarised. This one will try to be fair.

What you need to know

Laphroaig sits on the south coast of Islay and was founded in 1815. It’s owned by Beam Suntory. The 10 Year Old is the core bottle, and it’s matured in ex-bourbon casks. The strength is 40% in many markets and 43% in others, so check your bottle.

There’s a story that it was the only Scotch allowed into the United States during Prohibition because it was classed as medicine. It’s an old tale and it’s often told, but I’d treat it as a good story rather than a verified fact.

Laphroaig still malts some of its own barley on a floor and dries it over peat smoke, which is where that heavy character comes from.

Where I come from

I’m going to be honest about my bias. I like smooth, easy whisky, and heavy peat isn’t normally what I reach for. Laphroaig is about as heavy as peat gets in a standard bottle. If I don’t like it, that doesn’t make it a bad whisky. I’d rather tell you what it’s like and let you decide.

In the glass

I tried this neat, braced for the reputation. I expected medicinal and I got it. I’ll try to describe it fairly even though it isn’t to my taste.

Nose: Iodine and peat smoke immediately, with some seaweed. It smells like a sea-side clinic. There’s a hint of sweetness behind it, but you have to look for it.

Palate: The smoke and the medicinal note hit first, and they hit hard. After a moment there’s a sweet streak, a bit of vanilla, and something almost like honey. But the medicine stays in front. It’s distinctive and well made, and it isn’t for me.

Finish: Long, smoky and drying. The iodine note lingers, and so does the peat. A drop of water made it a little gentler but didn’t change the character.

The rest of the Laphroaig range

The 10 is the baseline, but Laphroaig has a long list of other bottles. The Quarter Cask is matured in small casks and is usually described as a little sweeter and creamier. Select is a blend of several cask types. The Triple Wood adds more rounding. The 18 and older bottles are much more expensive and are said to be gentler. If you find the 10 too aggressive, those are options, but they cost more.

Value

A 70 cl bottle usually costs about £38 in the UK. That’s good value for what it is. It’s distinctive for the money, and fans of this style will find it a bargain.

The 10 is one of the more affordable ways into heavily peated Islay whisky. Compared with Lagavulin 16 it’s usually cheaper, and compared with Ardbeg 10 it tends to be in the same range. If you’re after a bottle that’s distinctive for the money, it makes sense.

Who it is for

It’s for people who know they like smoke, or who are curious enough to find out. It’s not a good first whisky, and it’s not a good choice for a group with mixed tastes unless you warn them.

The sniff test with a friend

A friend who loves peat tried it with me. His face lit up at the first sip. Mine did something else. We spent a few minutes comparing notes, and it was a good reminder that the same glass can be a highlight for one person and a medical experience for another.

What I’d do differently

If I tried it again I’d add a few drops of water and take it slower, to see if the sweetness comes out more. It did, a little, but not enough to change my mind. I’d also try it in a smoky cocktail, where the iodine might sit better. For now, it stays in the “respect it, don’t drink it” category.

Laphroaig also has a long list of other bottlings, and I’m curious about the Quarter Cask, which is meant to be a bit sweeter and creamier. If any version of this distillery is going to work for me, that would be it. I’ll try a small sample before I commit to a bottle.

Verdict

No. It’s well made and I understand why people love it. But I won’t drink it, and I’d rather give the bottle to someone who will.