ralfy review 840 - Laphroaig 10yo @ 60%vol
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 23 ส.ค. 2020
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"You're taking a warm glowing fireplace, and you're just lifting the whole fireplace out of the hearth, and putting it into the whiskey, and getting a glass of fireside, winter, cold night comfort." Love that description. Cheers.
wclaurence - whisky.
I love the Star Wars references, Laphroaig is undoubtedly a dark side dram. Ralfy is Darth Bothy, driven by the passion for single malts and a burning hatred for caramel coloring.
I'm thinking of Ralfy more like Darth Drams...
Dark side lightning will effectuate Scottish Mist in any malt whisky instantly at will.
Laphroaig Cask Strength is a truly towering legendary dram.
The craziest thing is I paid less for this in Ohio than the regular 10. Tell me how that makes sense!
I love Laphroaig 10 year old @ 43% here in the States. One of more affordable single malts as well, surprisingly.
Great pour and review. One note: they mention on the tube that it is not chill filtered, but "barrier filtered only."
. . . I will come back to their 'misdirection' soon !
@@ralfydotcom Great! It's really sort of odd the way they do this...I wish they would just say "not chill-filtered" on the bottle, too!
@@ralfydotcom I think it's rather odd that they would chill filter this anyhow. Their presentation doesn't require it at all given the high alcoholic strength, and the green bottles. This whisky shouldn't appear cloudy on the store shelves in any climate... Strange decision on their part in my opinion.
@@Ivo-- I reckon it’s the appearance in the glass they’re still concerned about.
The drop from 43% to 40% is heart breaking. Amazing what a difference in taste 3% can make.
"They will all taste of Laphroaig." Say no more: I'm buying a cheap bottle of Grant's and starting with Laphroaig. There you go, multiple "drams of Laphroaig" on a budget!
That is funny, when I read the words "there you go", in my head it was Ralphie's voice. lol...
I love putting in just about 15 ml in a glass and taking a few small draws off of this. I agree, great tour. I got to toss some peat in the stove during my tour. Also recommend the warehouse tour. I walked out with a marvelous 250 ml bottle of Laphroaig aged in a cask of Amontillado. Amazing! Cheers.
I'm so happy to watch your reviews! Especially when you taste heavy peated whiskys like Laphroaig. My number one.
Wow, I LOVE Laphroaig, so this sounds really exciting to me, thanks for the tip Ralfy!!!
A fan from way back and have been waiting a looooong time for this one :-) Put a big smile on my face when I saw that beautiful green bottle. Oh, cask strength? Mmmm even better. My favorite dram! Thank you so much.
I don't normally drink smoky whisky, but am watching this drinking the wonderful Kilkerran Heavily Peated, no age statement. It's an explosion in the mouth.
Ralfy Wan Kenobi says, "Don't give into peat...that leads to the Dark Side (aka Islay)." XD
Interesting, informative and sensible, as usual. Some great insights and guidelines, Ralfy. Cheers.
Great suggestion, Ralfy.
Lagavroaig and Laphulin, typical cases of dual malt whiskies.
Love your channel! My buddy (mate) turned 50 this year so have been buying him a bottles of whisky (5 cuz he is 50) and have used the advice you give on your channel. I started him out with a Dalwhinnie 15 then a Monkey Shoulder (a blend) followed by a Speyburn 10, and right now handed him a Ardbeg 10! One more to go and will be checking out your recommendations! Cheers and Prost!
I get that winter picture in some of ralfy's earlier videos where the fire is going in the corner of the bothy. I found them fascinating and real. Thanks ralfy. I'm moving on from a Glenfiddich and going back to Islay with a Laphroaig.
Octomore is also quite extreme. Would love you to review that one Ralfy! Thanks for the great video!
Enjoying this fine malt. Just bought your book. Thanks for sharing!!!
Throughly enjoying Batch 14 here. Although it’s my first experience with the cask strength I can safely say it’s absolutely stunning.
Life changing drink! I love Select as well.
Don't forget the Quarter Cask with a nice ABV as well
I did not like my first glass of Laphroaig 10 (40%) about a year ago. I was in the pub with a colleage and I tasted only peat... Nevertheless I kept trying Laphroaig 10 (as I did like Talisker Skye) and now I love it. I like the 40% version (for me it is not too thin) and I love the cask strength edition; it is absolutely fantastic - especially with a drop of water now and then. This bottle beats easily my whole collection (as in earlier days (a year ago) my Glenlivet 18 did). If I would be allowed to drink one kind of whisky for the rest of my life it would be this one.
I own it. Bought it a while ago, in April I guess. It's great. My favourite scotch of all time. And one of my favourites alcoholic beverages of all time.
"Forget the Octomore. Laphroaig Cask Strength is the biggest peat monster on the block bar none." - Ralfy in last year's review (it was Laphroaig 10 YO - correct me if I'm wrong)
I very much enjoy all your videos. The oldest ones feature a wee lad named Ralfy! Very entertaining indeed. Love ya malt mate.
Young Kilchoman cask strength !! Is right up there ! Laphroaig distillery visit is a must for your malt bucket list ! I have been twice, and can’t wait to get back 😍
Thank you, Ralphy for these reviews! Laphroaig has converted me to the single malts. I has been offered with some blended "smooth" scotch whiskys before. They are considered suitable for newbies, but I was not impressed. I have developed some interest to bourbons and ryes though. I have jumped into a bar with a terrace once with an intention to grab some particular 'merican whiskey. They did not have one I wanted. The view was nice though, so I stayed and decided to give a try to something new. Did know nothing about Laphroaig, did not hear of it before, could not spell the name right. I did it neat and it was a rather hot day. Could not expect to be drinking anything smelling like this dark substance they treat wooden ties on railways. But the thing is, I do like that smell. This in combination with some salty, seaweed notes made me also remembering my auld days, when I spent holidays by the sea and had to walk along a railroad to the beach. Cannot remember any other drink which would affect my mood so much. I have started to wonder about other Isla whiskys specifically and Scotch single malts in general since that day.
Livin in the US, I have the 43% and love it!
I was born for this type of Peat Monster.
I love all of your reviews. Thank you!
Laphroaig's got their game dialed in! SMWS released a wicked good bottling of 8 year Laphroaig during Feis Ile this year. One of the best whiskies I've ever tasted, honestly. One might call it a... Malt Masterpiece? ;) I've been looking for one of those cask strength official bottlings in the wild, but still haven't seen one. If I do it's a no question buy. Thanks for the review, Ralfy. I appreciate you always keeping it real, brother. I'll catch you on the extras.
another great video, can't wait for the extras. :)
laphroaig is like mother's milk to me.
Recently finished a bottle of Laphroaig 10 CS Batch 12. Definitely the best Islay whisky ever!!! Soooo much flavor. Only $53 USD in Ohio. Best deal ever! I bought a second bottle immediately after the first dram from the first bottle... it’s that good!!I think I’ll buy two more asap.
Delicious, my mouth is watering. I have a bottle of this, it won't last. Love the Islay Malts, especially Laphroaig and Lagavulin.
All Ardbeg, Laphroaig and Lagavulin offerings are exceptional
It's good to see you eventually got a bottle of Wee Beastie. Hope you're considering to review it soon!
Would love to see a review on the Aerstone 10 Year Sea and the 10 Year Land Casks, also a review of Shackleton, it has great history from over 100 years ago and you're sure to love the story!
Maybe the misdirection will be covered in the extras??? Fun review Ralfy. This seems like the highest malt mark I’ve seen you give a laphroaig. I’m on the hunt! Lol.
"You're taking a warm glowing fireplace, and you're just lifting the whole fireplace out of the hearth, and putting it into the whiskey, and getting a glass of fireside, winter, cold night comfort."
Wait, hold up! Are you saying this is a new, official Laphroaig bottling, that isn't just antiseptic and depleted wood?
I. Need. This.
Been looking for a bottle of this. Settled for the Cairdeas Triple Wood Cask Strength which I am thoroughly enjoying!
10cl is 100ml I think you wanted to say 10ml when you added water haha
Burning Seaweed - great band name! I have a bottle of the 2014 version of the cask strength that I just opened last year -- as Ralfy would say "a humdinger!"
Always been my favourite since I was young. Also one of my first single malts I bought.
Great review, as always! The Cask Strength and Cairdeas are usually very good series!
Here is an idea for "Xtras" - the Loyalty programs of the big distilleries. I know Laphroaig's, Ardbeg's, maybe some other big names have such marketing programs.
In my opinion the Laphroaig FoL program is a joke for a few years onward. My first bottle (around 2009 I guess) had the small leaflet inside so I got into it and become a plot owner on islay. Nice trick! In the last couple of years I was not able to order due to the fact they are not delivering alcohol in my country anymore. I was ordering 4 years in a row since 2014 and they delivered. This year I was trying to change the delivery address to a friend's of mine from Italy. Surprise, they do not deliver in Italy, too. I've managed last month to order with delivery in UK, hence I had to pay the transport twice. It was delivered in London from an Warehouse from Germany.... So, from Germany to Italy or Romania it is not possible to delivery nowadays. So, what is the point to be a Friend of Laphroaig from other countries than UK and, maybe, few others?
"Is coming out to meet me"
Gold! Haha
10Y @ 40% - Hate it! Quarter Cask - Love it! Look forward to the cask strength 10 for perspective
Love this version of laphroaig last one I bought was batch 11 it was a mere 58.6% .I live in Pennsylvania and that bottle sells out fast in our state run stores
Just had this with a few drops of the 18yr old. Magnificent!
Times have change. I remember this great juice falling the shelves once, these days I wouldn't find it if pickpocketed a Leprechaun. This whisky reminds me of great father Jack because he ate kippers. Smells like the brine from the can
My tasting notes.
Without water.
On the nose. Very sweet black toffee and fresh coastal road tar.
Surprisingly for 60.1% abv, I did not find this at all harsh on the nose...
Coastal beach aromas.
Intense smell of fresh sweet road tar
Like paving the coastal road along the beach with that sweet powerful smell of sweet hot black tar.
Polished sweet wood. Soft Spices.
I cannot believe I'm drinking this straight at 60.1 and enjoying it!!!
With water:
Syrupy sultanas. Yellow apples.
Fried Egg Yokes and onions served on the coast.
Tasting
Wow!
. Full mouth experience.
Explodes with flavour.
Sweet rich smoke on the long finish.
I'm actually afraid to add any more water.
Smoked Viennas. Red Sausages
Heavily smoked Salami
Sweet Seaweed. Salty volcanic rock.
Brown sugar.
Charred black caramelised charcoal wood.
Smoky honey breakfast cereal.
Fried eggs and onions.
Fatty. Creamy.
Love it ! Quarter Cask is awesome too !
I'm still a whisky pleb but I've had Laphroaig 10 & Laphroaig Lore and I genuinely liked the 10 more, my favorite Islay I've tried as a matter of fact.
I picked up a bottle of batch 12 / 60.1% yesterday and had my first crack at it. I nosed it but didn’t dare taste it at full strength (and I’m no stranger to high ABV or peat). Added 2 teaspoons of water and what a difference. This is head and shoulders above the basic 10 or quarter cask that I’m familiar with. I’d polished off an older cask strength at 56% about 2 years ago but this is the ONE. So intense but also so nuanced. I agree 100% with Ralphy’s comments. I’m going to buy 2 more bottles to put away. Instant classic IMO.
Just cracked my second bottle of this after finishing my BBR Williamson and boy oh boy am I glad I got a few of these
Laphroiag 10 was what turned me on to single malt Scotch whisky. I hope this version becomes available around these parts.
Looking forward to the extras Malt Mate. I've a long and chequered history with Laphroaig. We both know that the Independent bottles of Laphroaig have been slaying distillery output in recent years and that weighs on my heart. Anything under 10 years is excellent value. They still do decent stuff but is that the vision of such an iconic distillery? I think this 10 CS is good but they need a greater output.
I laced my glass with absinthe and poured in some Laphroaig 10. Esoterically glorious.
Laphrabsinthe
Batch 12 and 13 are my favorites so far. 11 and 14 are also very good. There isn’t a whole lot of variance between batches.
Quarter Cask is my favorite Laphroaig.
I prefer the 10 to the quarter cask sometimes but not always.
Love Laphroaig Cask Strength!!! I've had batches 009, 010 and 011 and throughly enjoyed them all. Can't wait to get my hands on this new batch 12!!! Regarding anything else standing up to the intensity... how about Kilkerran Heavily Peated??? Btw, I just can't bring myself to add water... it's soooooo good neat! 3 year old Laphroaig you say....... sign me up! Cheers!!!
got kilkerran heavily peated waiting unopened in the cupboard & now the laphroaig CS on the way.. fucken yea roy
Thank you! and greetings from, the soon to be frozen, North Dakota-
Thanks for the malt mention Ralfy and I’m so happy it landed on a Laphroaig review. BTW I took your advice last time and added a good 50-80ml of cask strength 10 to the original Laph 10yr. The results were just delicious
Now you have joined the ranks of MMWHTMMM (malt mates who’ve had their malt mention mentioned) 👍
My malt mention:
“Miraculously meticulously memorably malty moody mercurial memes”
Thanks for the review. I’ll get myself a bottle of this juice soon!
. . . now on the M-mention List, thanks.
I’m watching this review for the second time and love it as much as I did the first time....you people out there! SUBSCRIBE!!!!!
I hope that version is available in the USA. Love Laphroaig!
In California we can smell the smoke, believe me~!!!
Thanks, Ralfy.
Thanks, Ralfy!!
found and ordered a batch 12 and looking forward to it.
I'm sure I said this here years ago but if there's one whisky you can add ice to and not lose out on the experience it's Laphroaig. Love adding a couple spoonfuls of Drambuie to my glasses too.
Laphroaig has a warm fireside comfort that nothing else can deliver the same way.
Hah my thought the telly had a shortcircuit last time I poured one😜
Absinthe makes the heart grow fonder.
My Laphroaigs are almost empty then will finish the Talisker as the weather cools. Will keep you posted Ralphy.
Chin chin.
Damn, I felt the pain of that neat sip, and I'm 4,000 miles away. :D
Greetings from Scotland
I was given a bottle a few years ago and thought it tasted like sweaty socks, so I gave it to a friend who didn't seem to mind. Last year I was given another bottle, and found I really liked it, with no hint of sock
For some reason, being a Rum guy, i’ve had a bottle laphroaig lying around for about a year now along with a few other bottles of differing brands which I do not like at all- however upon trying them all again last night, I bloody love them! The 10 after the first sip is incredibly moreish, no Idea what has happened to my tastebuds
. . . we all need time to make discoveries ;)
Hi Ralfy, they state that it is barrier filtered and not chill filtered on the website.
If you're interested in something stronger than this, you could do worse than joining the Scotch malt whisky society. They do some life-changing whiskies.
I gave them a look. Thanks. Interesting methods. I assume members have figured out some of the distillery codes? How good are the malts in the $95-$120 range?
"Smoked fish... without the fishiness". I know just what you mean, Ralfy.
I've only got into whisky last few years and Islay is my apsolute favourite I'm not really drinking anything else,
I was drinking Speyside whiskeys and adding px and oloroso as I didn't really enjoy the whisky but now I apsolutly love cask strength Islay and just a tad of water to bring out the tcp and chough medicine which i now adore,
I tried the other whisky I was drinking and am sure that Islay is for me particularly Laphroaig Ardbeg Lagavulin,
I found this one to be sweeter and much smokier than standard Laphroaig 10 YO.
Laphroaig 10 YO, Cask Strength is coming to Sweden through are state monopoly. 999 SEK, which is about 91-92 Euros.
Will probably to try catch a bottle!
When u r a metal head, sit down, play Volcanic Birth by Dragged into Sunlight and enjoy Laphroaig.
I would also add a young Octomore I had a few years back rivaled casked strength Laphroaig
I love Laphroaig unfortunately my wife won't sit next to me whilst enjoying a dram such is the large 'welcome' from the glass.
Same problem I have with my wife (with Ardbeg)
Dear Ralfy,
Please note that according to whiskybase, batch 012 of Laphroaig 10 Cask Strength is natural colour + non-chillfiltered.
Therefore, this malt should be getting an integrity malt mark :D
I own a bottle of this peat monster myself. However, for me it is not only about the peat. It is more about the sweatness, complexity and engagement that you are getting with this one.
Closely watching and appreciating your dedicated reviews.
. . . as you can see, the malt is still clear having water. It has been 'barrier' filtered as they call it. Same difference.
If you can't get any whiskies that are stronger in flavour than this. Where does the Octomore sit in comparison? I would love to compare this with one of the higher ppm Octomores. It would be a great tasting on a cold winters evening by the fire 😁
Laphroaig 10CS has been on my pick list for quite a while. Unfortunately here in Australia it is not released officially and imports directly from the Laphroaig website quickly become exorbitant when factoring in shipping and duty etc. At the moment Quarter Cask is the closest we have to 10CS
I've encountered a few whisky drinkers who feel that adding water is somehow a waste or ruination of a good dram, even if cask strength. Some of them I count among my friends. I think this opinion comes from the perception that this is mere dilution. And while I defend anyone's choice to do whatever they want with their dram, with all due respect, they are completely wrong :) A good high-strength spirit that can take water is like a wound-up spring with potential energy. You don't water it "down", you water it "up" - you release the "energy", you unlock flavors. Not every whisky/spirit does this, but the good ones do, they become far more than their concentrated bottled self. I also think that another group of enthusiasts enjoy the high strength "nip" and I suspect people even get addicted to it like people get addicted to spicy curry. It's a sensation of its own, but they are still missing out on flavor masked by the nip (and sure, it's their choice). To those who try adding water, please make sure it's clean and SOFT water. Hard water and mineral water can be good for you to drink, but it will absolutely ruin the flavor of tea, coffee and whisky. Some of the hardness ions actually bind with flavor compounds and you get leftovers. Thanks, Ralfy.
I'll describe trying Laphroaig and strong Islay Whisky is like trying a chunk of parmigiano regiano cheese for the first time "not grated a decent size lump" that cheese is gritty and has a weird texture but you find yourself thinking about it at some random point and then trying it again and start liking it,
Same with this type of whisky you might say that you don't like it but you'll start thinking about it and end having to take it another sip,
Now Islay is all i drink it's amazing and the more medicine iodine tcp and hospital the better
Thoroughly enjoyed the review! Hoping to be able to get my hands on a bottle in Canada at some point. Wondering if you'd be willing to dip your toe in some more Octomores again down the road?
Malty! Hello malty!
Just had one of these last night (batch 009) after a Talisker 57 North. Showed its superiority on first sip. A shame about pricing these days, think I got mine for £45ish.
Hi Ralfy. You said cask 10yr Laphroig is about as phenolic as it gets. What do you think of the super peated Octomore range. Is that an oversight or would you not count it as phenolic?
Hi Ralfy, nice watching - as always! - this review. One thing I do find interesting in terms of the use of water: why would anyone put anything out at cask strength with the knowledge that you would have to add water to it in order to make the experience of the whisky the best possible? In other words, I would be advocate of tasting any whisky at the strength it is being offered by the producer rather than diluting it beforehand. I think that slowly warming the glass and liquid by leaving the glass in your hands and spending time with it makes things work as well to experience the changes in the glass over time.
. . . because the results in taste are a lot better and more complex when you add your own water, just before drinking.
It gives us, the drinkers, flexibility to adjust to personal taste. I might prefer my Laphroaig cask strength cut to 50% abv, while Ralphie might prefer 43%. Very noticeable difference. My friend drinks Corryvreckan neat at 57%!
I always also smell and taste honey with the 10y Laphroaig, and the same goes for QC.
Laphroaig, Absinthe, sweet vermouth or something similar and orange bitters. 😎
I never used to understand adding water to whisky until adding it to Islay Whisky which for me now is mandatory as the effects are dramatic,
Water with Islay really brings out the core aromas I love medicine tcp peat smoke
I've been enjoying the channel for a month or so and learned a lot about the topic, appreciate Ralfy's independence, and love the setting. I've been fortunate to have been to Isle of Man and enjoyed it. I had a nagging question hopefully someone could help me with. I'm a casual scotch drinker at best. I have 3 nice bottles in crystal decanters in my fireplace room and it's something I might enjoy on a rare occasion. It's not a frequent thing. However, I'm a prolific wine drinker (maybe too often! ;) and that's where my question comes in. The 100 point scale. This was a glowing review for the most part. The scotch scored 90. In wine there's plenty of scores 90+ that probably don't deserve it which renders the scale useless to me. But, here it looks impossible to get say 95-100. Is that typical in Scotch? Is Ralfy extra demanding in his Malt Marks? Is 90 really the new 100? What would it even take to get close to a perfect score? I'm trying to get a frame of reference. Right now, it seems like 85 would be solid. In wine, I'm not sure anyone would buy an 85 pointer (hence the overuse of 90+ ratings is more a marketing than quality thing). Again, love the channel and all the best!
. . . I was generous with 90/100. But I have marked a malt 95/100 once.
‘A taste of smoked fish without the fishiness’ ... indeed
G&M used to bottle a Caol Ila which was pure smoked kippers.
Hello malty mate, chilling with a dram in the brothy tbh.
I have always wondered if their floor maltings are what gives it such a different peaty medicinal flavor compared to others. The 2015 Cairdeas which was all their floor maltings was great. Still shape could be the reason as well. Cheers!