Great review!!! So glad you’re still doing videos…. Was a bit worried since things changed a tiny little bit on your channel lately. I hope everything is good on your side! You’re my Top 1 YT review channel ❤
Another great comparison review Shane! Thankfully I have an older one tucked away for research 😅. Next week I’ll be cracking a L25 from 2017/18 to celebrate my 62nd birthyear. Cheers 🥃 Cheers
A very thoughtful, excellent review, Shane. The doubling in price for every three additional years on so many whiskies--12, 15, 18, etc.--is frankly laughable when one looks at the real costs of storage, ~2% p.a. loss, return on capital, etc. To double in price in three years requires a 26% increase p.a., compounding. Storage costs have risen a lot in recent years, because warehouses are so crammed with (mostly younger) stock, but even if doubled or tripled that's on a base figure of a very few pounds per year, according to Horst. Premiumisation or (/and?) bust?
Excellent info and analysis. I think the Diageo 'Premiumisation' tactic is catching. Really... all of these 18yo whiskies were made when grain, energy and casks were cheaper. So we should get them at a discount... right? 😳😂
Very true. It's no secret that back in the 80s and 90s even cheap blends were heavily top dressed with really good stuff. But IMO it's only relatively recently that a lot of premium expressions have come down to meet their age statements.
@@WhiskyLock Don't get me started on old blends... I went on an auction house kick a few years ago and bought several bottles from the 60s-80s. Very few of them would not put most modern 10-12yo OBs to shame!
I've been sticking with the Laphroaig 10 cask strength batch 15 as this has regularly been on sale for around £50-£55, and it's awesome and for that price it's unbeatable quality, My other favourite is the Lagavulin 8 and I only buy it on offer from tesco £48 and it's on sale now and I've got my order coming Thursday
I have a soft spot for Laphroaig. It was delicious stuff when I first got into whisky. I’ve been to visit the distillery and I have my square inch piece of turf, and I bought some merch , and just recently bought a 10y cask strength. Sadly I will give this a miss at £180 and will probably not get the chance to try it. It’s just too expensive …..at least a £100 more than the cask strength. And if you are reading this laphroaig , don’t dare increase the price of that one and take it away from us. It’s funny that Talisker almost doubled the price of their 18year old last year up to £175 - £180 . And we all jumped up and down apoplectic at the scale of the increase. Laphroaig have either not been listening or do they think there is still a market at that sort of price ? My monthly whisky budget is around £50 - £60 , and I often blow the budget……don’t tell the wife. But if this one was priced around £100, I’d maybe forego buying a bottle one month and then buy this one the following month. At £180 it’s a definite no.
I hope more people react this way... but I feel like enough will still buy it that they won't care. And the real losers are the passionate whisky enthusiasts who no longer get to experience these unique older whiskies that used to be quite accessible.
Damn this is the type of thing that kills me about getting into other whisky categories so late. Would have loved to try the old. Maybe I’ll just get nine & a half more bottles of Mellow Corn for 180$.
@ haha thank you. I’m actually following Shane’s suggested peat progression. I’m at Bowmore 12 now & loving it. Truth is I’ll be picking up a laphroig very shortly here. Probably the 10 CS or the Sherry finish.
@@b1gsteve251if I end up loving it there’s a possibility to snag this or the 16 at a better price. Big box store near me called Bevmo could drop this by ten or so dollars then I have coupons for 25$ off anything over 150$. May pull the trigger if it’s under 150$ with the offer & coupon. Kind of obsessed with peat right now so wouldn’t put it past me. Cheers my friend.
Wad up, Boss Shane ! ... I am a dinosor , still reading books from M.Jacks/J.Murray, and dram some since 1989 : I agreed with your insights , uber-thoughtful . . . and i feel sad about the quality/price ratio since 2004-2005 when thing go herperbolic. BUT 180quids for Leapfrog 18 is a hard pass.
I tried this, the two Elements releases and a 25 year old from SMWS a few months back, and honestly wasn’t massively impressed with any of them, especially for the money. They were all fine, but nothing mind-blowing. Thankfully 10CS, 10 sherry oak (prefer it to recent Uigeadail I’ve had), Lore, and the 16 are still decent for the time being… but it’s a worry that they appear to be trying to go in a luxury direction with pricing, and not living up to it in the bottle.
Thanks for reviewing this bottle. I was interested in it when I heard Laphroaig was releasing an 18yr again but sadly it's too expensive. I do have an older bottle of Laphroaig 18yr I bought in 2014 for $75 UDS that is a great dram. I've always wanted to compare the 16 to the 18. Cheers!
Charging £180 for an 18yo whisky does send a rude message to those who support their business... There's what you can get away with and then there's the fair price...
I haven’t tested the new 18yo yen but love the 2024 Cairdeas. I watched an interview with the master distiller in which he said that it is natural color and non-chill filtered. Interested to hear your opinion on it.
It really is. It's still available from several of my usual sources although the price has gone up a little and I can't see Laphroaig keeping it around now that they have this new 18. Hope I'm wrong!
I think they (all brands) are trying to make the 15 the new 18 because they are struggling to produce a consistent 18. That’s my perception anyway, seeing 18s pop in and out. As for the grand pricing, it’s like they’re saying “remember your old darling 18 which we haven’t made for 10 years? Well it’s back, and won’t you pay to relive that experience?” Thinking of Ardbeg 17 here
Tried this one a few weeks ago in a lineup with the quarter cask, lore and 10 cs. The 18 was a great impression on the first sniff, but sadly it lost almost all of the nose in about 5-10 minutes. Very disappointing and very sad that I actually preferred the quarter cask than this 😢 Needless to say that 10 CS is the best expression available
It still sells because of brand recognition and exclusivity, but I don’t see any reason to buy it with the price increase, and especially the lack of integrity information. I believe they used a lot of great stock in the 16yo when people were gulping it down during the pandemic. I seen it posted all over social media more than anything but the 10yr. And now I think, like you’ve said, they pulled back from adding in older stock. I will always buy the 10yr CS, but I’m out on the rest of the Laphroaig lineup. Excellent review, Shane. Sláinte 🥃
Hi Shane, do you think perhaps part of these casks have been reracked at some stage into new oak without them disclosing that? That might explain the oakiness? Cheers, Wouter
I don't understand why distilleries do this; it seems like a huge risk that could hurt not only the sales of the high-priced whisky but sales overall. Releasing an 18-year-old at 180 pounds is asking a lot of the whisky. If it doesn't live up to expectations, no one will buy a second bottle, and reviews saying it isn't worth the price will put off those yet to purchase a bottle. Others will try it first and decide against buying a bottle. Those who are disappointed may not buy anything else from the distillery and discourage others from buying from that distillery. To me, if they chose to release it for even 50 pounds less, that would be less of a risk. As it is, nearly all 18-year-old whisky is beyond my budget. Those that are within my budget tend to be lower ABV, coloured, and chill filtered, and I prefer to buy a younger whisky with better specs. Cheers!
I never buy Laphroaig as it is not worth the money. Laphroaig is best served young and it is a shame the specs are disappointing but not a surprise.. the ledaig 18 is considerably cheaper at about half the price.
Great review!!!
So glad you’re still doing videos…. Was a bit worried since things changed a tiny little bit on your channel lately.
I hope everything is good on your side!
You’re my Top 1 YT review channel ❤
Another great comparison review Shane!
Thankfully I have an older one tucked away for research 😅.
Next week I’ll be cracking a L25 from 2017/18 to celebrate my 62nd birthyear.
Cheers 🥃
Cheers
siddhartha finch ere, Happy 62nd Birthday.
@ greetings Sid… Thanks 🙏 so much
Cheers 🥃
@@justwhisky apologies for my disappearance but geopolitics have made whisky irrelevant
@ it’s “Just Whisky “
@@justwhisky just whisky indeed brother
Great notes! Cheers, Shane!
Thanks for reviewing Shane.
Excellent review as usual. Unfortunately over budget...
Slàinte mhath
A very thoughtful, excellent review, Shane.
The doubling in price for every three additional years on so many whiskies--12, 15, 18, etc.--is frankly laughable when one looks at the real costs of storage, ~2% p.a. loss, return on capital, etc. To double in price in three years requires a 26% increase p.a., compounding. Storage costs have risen a lot in recent years, because warehouses are so crammed with (mostly younger) stock, but even if doubled or tripled that's on a base figure of a very few pounds per year, according to Horst. Premiumisation or (/and?) bust?
Excellent info and analysis. I think the Diageo 'Premiumisation' tactic is catching.
Really... all of these 18yo whiskies were made when grain, energy and casks were cheaper. So we should get them at a discount... right? 😳😂
One thing we never really consider as whisky fans is that the glorious 18yos (et al) of old were likely top-dressed with a lot of older stock.
Very true. It's no secret that back in the 80s and 90s even cheap blends were heavily top dressed with really good stuff. But IMO it's only relatively recently that a lot of premium expressions have come down to meet their age statements.
@@WhiskyLock Don't get me started on old blends... I went on an auction house kick a few years ago and bought several bottles from the 60s-80s. Very few of them would not put most modern 10-12yo OBs to shame!
This bottle will also probably taste better in 10 years. Old bottles somehow always do.
I've been sticking with the Laphroaig 10 cask strength batch 15 as this has regularly been on sale for around £50-£55, and it's awesome and for that price it's unbeatable quality,
My other favourite is the Lagavulin 8 and I only buy it on offer from tesco £48 and it's on sale now and I've got my order coming Thursday
I have a soft spot for Laphroaig. It was delicious stuff when I first got into whisky. I’ve been to visit the distillery and I have my square inch piece of turf, and I bought some merch , and just recently bought a 10y cask strength. Sadly I will give this a miss at £180 and will probably not get the chance to try it. It’s just too expensive …..at least a £100 more than the cask strength. And if you are reading this laphroaig , don’t dare increase the price of that one and take it away from us.
It’s funny that Talisker almost doubled the price of their 18year old last year up to £175 - £180 . And we all jumped up and down apoplectic at the scale of the increase.
Laphroaig have either not been listening or do they think there is still a market at that sort of price ?
My monthly whisky budget is around £50 - £60 , and I often blow the budget……don’t tell the wife. But if this one was priced around £100, I’d maybe forego buying a bottle one month and then buy this one the following month. At £180 it’s a definite no.
£180? No way, Jose.
I hope more people react this way... but I feel like enough will still buy it that they won't care.
And the real losers are the passionate whisky enthusiasts who no longer get to experience these unique older whiskies that used to be quite accessible.
Damn this is the type of thing that kills me about getting into other whisky categories so late. Would have loved to try the old. Maybe I’ll just get nine & a half more bottles of Mellow Corn for 180$.
Don’t do it! Get a bottle of Port Charlotte 10 and Laphroaig 10CS. And save the Mellow Corn purchase till next summer. Sláinte 🥃
@ haha thank you. I’m actually following Shane’s suggested peat progression. I’m at Bowmore 12 now & loving it. Truth is I’ll be picking up a laphroig very shortly here. Probably the 10 CS or the Sherry finish.
@@b1gsteve251if I end up loving it there’s a possibility to snag this or the 16 at a better price. Big box store near me called Bevmo could drop this by ten or so dollars then I have coupons for 25$ off anything over 150$. May pull the trigger if it’s under 150$ with the offer & coupon. Kind of obsessed with peat right now so wouldn’t put it past me. Cheers my friend.
@ also have the Kilchoman Machir Bay on my soon to get list as well as the PC 10 you suggested.
Wad up, Boss Shane ! ... I am a dinosor , still reading books from M.Jacks/J.Murray, and dram some since 1989 : I agreed with your insights , uber-thoughtful . . . and i feel sad about the quality/price ratio since 2004-2005 when thing go herperbolic. BUT 180quids for Leapfrog 18 is a hard pass.
The old 18yo is one of the Best whiskies of my life 💯🥃🥃
I tried this, the two Elements releases and a 25 year old from SMWS a few months back, and honestly wasn’t massively impressed with any of them, especially for the money. They were all fine, but nothing mind-blowing. Thankfully 10CS, 10 sherry oak (prefer it to recent Uigeadail I’ve had), Lore, and the 16 are still decent for the time being… but it’s a worry that they appear to be trying to go in a luxury direction with pricing, and not living up to it in the bottle.
Thanks for reviewing this bottle. I was interested in it when I heard Laphroaig was releasing an 18yr again but sadly it's too expensive. I do have an older bottle of Laphroaig 18yr I bought in 2014 for $75 UDS that is a great dram. I've always wanted to compare the 16 to the 18. Cheers!
Agree. I dont want to pay this kind of money, when I know and feel that the destillery owners give a shit about their customers.
Charging £180 for an 18yo whisky does send a rude message to those who support their business...
There's what you can get away with and then there's the fair price...
I haven’t tested the new 18yo yen but love the 2024 Cairdeas. I watched an interview with the master distiller in which he said that it is natural color and non-chill filtered. Interested to hear your opinion on it.
The 16 is looking alot more attractive right now. Have they actually discontinued the 16 in favour of this new 18?
It really is. It's still available from several of my usual sources although the price has gone up a little and I can't see Laphroaig keeping it around now that they have this new 18. Hope I'm wrong!
I think they (all brands) are trying to make the 15 the new 18 because they are struggling to produce a consistent 18. That’s my perception anyway, seeing 18s pop in and out. As for the grand pricing, it’s like they’re saying “remember your old darling 18 which we haven’t made for 10 years? Well it’s back, and won’t you pay to relive that experience?” Thinking of Ardbeg 17 here
Tried this one a few weeks ago in a lineup with the quarter cask, lore and 10 cs. The 18 was a great impression on the first sniff, but sadly it lost almost all of the nose in about 5-10 minutes. Very disappointing and very sad that I actually preferred the quarter cask than this 😢
Needless to say that 10 CS is the best expression available
Are you going to review the Laphroaig 2024 cairdeas cask favorites? An excellent Laphroaig!
It still sells because of brand recognition and exclusivity, but I don’t see any reason to buy it with the price increase, and especially the lack of integrity information.
I believe they used a lot of great stock in the 16yo when people were gulping it down during the pandemic. I seen it posted all over social media more than anything but the 10yr. And now I think, like you’ve said, they pulled back from adding in older stock.
I will always buy the 10yr CS, but I’m out on the rest of the Laphroaig lineup.
Excellent review, Shane. Sláinte 🥃
I'd love a IB
Hi Shane, do you think perhaps part of these casks have been reracked at some stage into new oak without them disclosing that? That might explain the oakiness? Cheers, Wouter
🥃👍😊
I don't understand why distilleries do this; it seems like a huge risk that could hurt not only the sales of the high-priced whisky but sales overall. Releasing an 18-year-old at 180 pounds is asking a lot of the whisky. If it doesn't live up to expectations, no one will buy a second bottle, and reviews saying it isn't worth the price will put off those yet to purchase a bottle. Others will try it first and decide against buying a bottle. Those who are disappointed may not buy anything else from the distillery and discourage others from buying from that distillery. To me, if they chose to release it for even 50 pounds less, that would be less of a risk. As it is, nearly all 18-year-old whisky is beyond my budget. Those that are within my budget tend to be lower ABV, coloured, and chill filtered, and I prefer to buy a younger whisky with better specs. Cheers!
10 years ago you could get the 18 year old for under 60 Euros 🥴
I never buy Laphroaig as it is not worth the money. Laphroaig is best served young and it is a shame the specs are disappointing but not a surprise.. the ledaig 18 is considerably cheaper at about half the price.
like this comment if you think whisky lock should be totally in charge of the whisky industry
🤣
@@WhiskyLock you are magnitudes above the current whisky intelligentsia, thats a fact.