Peaty whiskies tend to lose their peatiness during long maturations (eg 15y, 18y etc). That's why they used quarter casks. The oak interacts with the spirit in a larger scale but at the same time the spirit holds its peatiness: the best of 2 worlds!
I haven't bought it in a while, but I have several in stock. My favorite is the 10-year-old Cask Strength. I still love that peat bomb right between the eyes! Cheers!
Love this one trick pony. I've had so many, more expensive, yes more complex whiskies, but this just hits. 48% with a little fresh oak with the sweet/heavy peat. Just awesome. Cheers!
My AT favorite. In the Midwestern USA it retails for around 70 USD but I know a shop in a hood that sell them for 55 bucks. In the same shop I found a Classic Laddie with Jim McEwan name on it this year lol. The 10yr BP costs 80 retail. I thought this was an overlooked sleeper Islay whisky but I'm glad seeing people like it.
The Cask Strength 10yo Batch 15 (not chill-filtered but probably colored for some stupid reason) never flattened out in the 8-or-so months I enjoyed that bottle. I wonder if the high ABV plays any role? Last December 30, I bought an IB of a single cask Laphroaig 10yo bottled at 53.4%--no coloring or chill-filtration. As pale as any whisky you've seen. Not quite halfway through teh bottle and it's just as lovely as ever.
Great review Jeff! I really like the quarter cask. The cheapest I can get this in D.C. is $71.99. The 10yr cask strength batch 15 currently costs $84.99 at the Virginia ABC stores across the river. My choice, the 10yr cask strength. Batches vary but never disappoint. Would love to see another Laphroaig 10yr cask strength review.
Thanks for reviewing this whisky, Geoff. In fact the expression that is responsible for my nickname as it was the first Islay I've tried (and hooked I was). So blame it on Laphroaig QC. (QC not only stands for quarter cask, but also quite coloured, so now you know) Slàinte mhath
This is one of my favorite Laphroaigs. I'll take over the 10, Lore, and even the Cairdeas 2023. I get a lot of tea and hay notes that I really like. I paid US$65 online for the last bottle I bought a few months ago. Total Wine (Miami) is asking $80. Bonkers. Thanks for the review.
It's around £40 in the UK; I think that makes it decent value and I easily recommend spendinmg the extra £5-£10 on it over the 10 year. Also love the 10 cask strength and enjoyed the 10 Sherry finish I had a couple of years ago.
idk anything specific to review, but extremes are always fun, like cask strength, weird casks, the most expensive whisky you're willing to buy, or the cheapest whisky you actually enjoy
5 หลายเดือนก่อน +9
I can confirm, Laphroaig does get flat very quick! Btw, your reviews definitely always feel like a nice warm blanket, just when we need it! Keep doing a great job
Loved this whisky though not a Laphroaig fan. Never bought a second one as I thought my palate went funny. Very interested in your whisky going flat discussion. I’ve been limiting how much I have open to avoid bottles being open for too long, was working on about a year. Unaware of peated or not being relevant. Interesting!!
I’ve missed out on a fair amount bottles that I had a chance to buy and passed. Thank goodness I bought and stashed a few 18s when I did. Actually bought 4. Opened the only white tube one and still have 3 of the green tubes. Great scotch indeed. If I recall Ralfy was rather indifferent about it. At the end of the day it’s your opinion that truly matters. Cheers!
@@SaltyCuban Exactly right. I’ve got a few left too. When I open one it is impossible not to consume it rapidly. Lol. Ralfy’s opinion is irrelevant. We like it and that is ALL that matters 😉
Just tasted it during a tasting with a brand ambassador here in Spain among the 10, 10 cask strength, elements 1.0 and 25. For around 35€ I paid for a bottle it has a great price/quality ratio as you said. Cheers!!
Hi, what is your opinion about L 1.0? is it super stinky as ppl says? I know price is ridiculous but how this one stands along the CS's ones? Cheers 🥂🥂🙋♂️
The Quarter Cask is $88 before tax in my area. The 10 year CS was around the same price before so I just bought those. Good to hear this one is good. I don’t know how I feel though about the master distiller leaving.
If this were anywhere near the price of the 10 CS I'd never buy the QC. In my market the 10 CS is 2.5x the price of the QC. As for the master distiller leaving, last year's Cairdeas I felt was quite good, but I suppose we'll have to wait and see how things work out over the long term. 🥃
Not the biggest fan of the quarter cask but love the 10, 10 cs, sherry oak cask 10, every cairdeas and the lore. Never had one go flat because even with 20-30 bottles open when ever i have a laphroaig open it is all i drink.
Sounds like you're going through your bottles much faster than me! Hah. Yeah it's not a favourite of mine, but Laphroaig has a very passionate fan base and they definitely make good whisky. Love the 10 CS, 10 Sherry, and Cairdeas myself! 🥃
Very interested in how this goes (writing before finishing), never been a massive Laphroaig fan, the medicinal notes are a bit too much - I prefer Kilchoman, AD, SB / Longrow, Ledaig peat.
When I hear the prices of whiskies in Taiwan, I get absolutely mad. Here in Brazil, Laphroaig quarter cask cost almost 100 US$. And that's for the majority is the whiskies. Love your channel, good work.
Felizmente a lamas e a union tão produzindo coisas boas por preços ótimos. Não moro mais no Brasil, mas na Europa o uísque também não ta mais barato como antes. Abraço!
@@AlmirSevero1 gosto dos produtos da Lamas. Moro em Brasília e tive a oportunidade de experimentar 5 whiskies da marca. Gostei do Nimbus. Tenho o First Ember fechado e o Nimbus robusto. Quero experimentar agora os da Union que ainda não conheço.
Here in Scotland it's £37 reduced currently, normally goes for £40. Makes me even madder that we're one of the more expensive countries for scotch in Europe... Usually one of the supermarkets here is discounting Laphroaig 10 to £31, so I normally pick up that as my budget peated.
I tried 10 and quarter cask. I loved 10, it has great flavour even though it's lower abv than QC. QC didn't wowed me. Thanks for the review. 😊 This one is 60-58€ in my market. I rather get talisker 10 or Laphroaig 10, but they cost 10-15€ less than CQ
Can’t say I’ve ever had a bottle of laphroig go flat on me - maybe I drink them too fast 😀. The quarter cask is one of my favourite entry-level isla whiskeys, and once opened it tends to be gone within 2 or 3 months. My mother introduced it to me when she was in her mid-80s! I think a score of 84 is too low. 86 works for me
My dad (who hates peated scotch) was gifted this bottle about a decade ago. I took it off his hands after getting into whisky about 2 years ago. It's been open for almost a decade. I did a blind head to head with Ardbeg Corryvreken and it actually held its own, despite being open for so long and the lower price. I was impressed. Btw if you ever want a nice peated scotch cocktail try a Cigar
Nice review. I have only tried two Lapdroaigs, the Laphroaig Càirdeas Warehouse 1 2022 (104.4 proof) and Laphroaig Càirdeas White Port & Madeira Cask 2023 (104.6 proof). While I do admit these are costly, finally cost $125 US, but so good. The proof is nice with some really nice notes.
Ah yes the Ol' Reliable QC, glad to see it still ticks the boxes. I think you were bang on about Laphroaig being on more solid ground than Ardbeg. It's core range is not as exciting maybe but at least it's consistent. Unfortunately I can't get this in my market but whenever I'm in Europe I always find it at a good price and for that price this one is hard to beat. Great review, cheers!
Here in the liquor control state of Ohio, the quarter cask is $75 and the ten year (which is 86 proof here) is $62 while the cask strength 10 year is $90. I would be beyond thrilled to get the quarter cask for that price!
Quarter Cask is usually around $60 in California. It's still cheaper than Ardbeg 10 or Kilchoman Machir Bay, but it seems like just a tad too much to pay for it.
Yeah I pay $30, which is ridiculous. Anywhere up to, say, $50 would be reasonable to me. After that I think I could find more interesting things to spend my money on. Cheers Tim! 🥃
Hey, it's a bottle I have had before! I have never felt the need to purchase it, but it is solid enough that I will order it at a bar when they only have a few single malts, as they generally will have this or the 10.
I the NY area of the US the Laphroaig 10 is 43% not 40% and between $50 to $60. The Quarter Cask was going for $90 but in the past 2 months seems to come down to $70. The Sherry Oak which is also 48% is between $65-$80. The Cask Strength is $95-$110. At 43% when I see the 10 for $50 I tend to pick up a bottle. The 43% for the 10 that the US gets makes it close enough to the Quarter Cask that value now comes into play. I'd rather have the 10 and the Cask Strength than the Quarter Cask for my Laphroaig fix. These are also still 750ml bottles which most brands have gotten away from. I've never noticed a Laphroaig going flat but they don't last much more than 2 months for me. Yes, I'm a big fan of this brand.
The prices for the range are very different here. The 10 CS and sherry are well over double the price of the 10 and QC (which are practically the same price). I do think for the bump in quality it's worth it to get the CS and Sherry 10, though. That said, I've never tried the 10 at 43%. Quite jealous of you guys in the States. Most whiskies that are at 40% internationally are 43% there. 🥃
If by certain states you mean Texas you are more than correct! $80.99 before sales tax at Total Wine is the cheapest I found with a brief online search of top liquor stores chains.
Laphroaig is my favourite distillery, the 10 CS is my favourite whisky, I like the mouthfeel of the QC but I prefer the 10's taste. It's true about the local barley stuff but I think they are the only ones with Kilchoman that still smoke part of the barley AT the distillery.
Totally agree that the 10 has better flavours. If it could match the abv of the QC it would definitely be the better of the two. Laphroaig also has their own floor maltings, I believe. However they still add colour and don't offer much transparency to the consumer. Newer brands couldn't get away with that. Cheers! 🥃
@@Gwhisky I know, color addiction bother me too, but I tried an experiment once. When Talisker changed the bottles I thought the whisky looked darker and I was sure I was able to taste the e150... I homebrew beer so I bought a little bottle of e150 (you can find it on most homebrew shops online)... Man, to taste that thing in water is one thing, but to taste e150 in a spirit it means there is a shit load in it, and I don't think is the case of 95% of whiskys. Cheers! 🥃
I really like this one, it was actually this one that did show me what single malt whisky could be...I think it was 20-25 years ago, and there's been quite a few whisky on my path. But once in a while I buy myself a Laphroaig QC, a lot of whisky at a fair price, here in Sweden it's 599skr (~$50, ~£41) in todays currency 🍷cheers
Laphroaig 10 was my introduction to Islay peated whisky. Soon after I bought the Quarter Cask. Comparing the two side by side I preferred the 10 even though it was only 40%. Here in NZ prices between retailers are all over the place but generally the QC is more expensive than the 10 by about $20 NZD. Cheers!
I totally understand why you prefer the 10. I actually think it's got better flavour than the QC, but sadly it's far too light for me at 40%. Shame to hear the QC is so much pricier there, they're priced identically here. Cheers Simonne! 🥃
Great whisky. Ok, not the most complex, but there are notes that you can pick out to keep you interested....mint and honey seem to blend well. One of my favourite Laphroaig bottles was one that had been open for years in a friend's cabinet. It was the sweetest Laphraoig I'd ever tasted, the soot has disappated, and all was left was honey and fruit, with a hint of smoke. You're right about the select. Utter pish.
I also think it's an ok nice thing to keep and nip into, but it's not all that cheap in my market (a little below US$70, which is about the same as Ardna AD/, and slightly more than Ardbeg 10, Laga 8 and Arran 10 -all of whom I sooner re-buy..) Too bad that the lack of chill-filtration isn't the key to avoid being prone to quickly flatten..
how do you store your whisky? flavors should be fairly stable if you store away from sunlight, fluorescent indoor light, and sources of heat. display cases aren’t doing you any favors, i mean unless you are trying to impress someone. (note- the less spouses see/know about the size of your collection, the better😅) do your corks rot out too? have you considered switching to a tighter sealing full-synthetic cork, away from the cheap composite (glued bits) cork that Laph. uses for everything. i’ve had bottles open for years, and they seem just fine (except for the fact that their cardieras releases are often too cloying & sweet) so i mostly just drink the CS 10yr.
Hello Geoff, Here in Germany the Laphi Quarter Cask is available at 38€. Thanks for sharing your Thoughts and Opinion about this One. Greets from Germany 😎🤘
This little bottle is $80+ in Colorado, even at large retailers like Total Wine. Hence why I’ll never own it since PC10 is almost $20 cheaper. Geoff, have you ever reviewed the 1992 Glendronach Single Casks? Being a GD fanboy I’m tempted to splurge on one, but would love to hear a respectable opinion on it. Thanks!
Glendronach Single Casks can be excellent. I don't know about the specific one you're referring to, but I assume I've never had it as we're in different markets. That said, I've had plenty of GD single casks from the early 90's and they're usually fantastic. Great stuff if you like big sherry! 🥃
Not that I was asked, but I'd recommend Ardbeg 10 if you haven't already tried it, over those--and I do love, or used to love, T10. A10's a bit confronting if you're unused to peat but I also don't necessarily subscribe to the "gentle introduction" theory re. peat novices. In at least *some* cases, peat at "blast (-ish)" level can be easier for novices to access/understand because it's hardly subtle. Grossly simplistic: A10 is peat + maritime + fruit, T10 is (was?) black pepper + herby peat. But everyone's palate is different/their own.
When you crack open a bottle of Laphroaig, the ol' peat clock starts ticking. This brand is by far the worst for falling apart if not finished in a timely fashion after its been opened . The worst one in recent memory was the Cairdeas PX from a couple years back; I went back for a pour after having it open for 8 months or so and it shadow of what it was. When I open any bottle of frog now, I make a conscious effort to go back to it more often than I would any other brand/bottling. However for my enjoyment, it doesn't get any better than the sensory blast you get from freshly opened bottle of Laphroaig
@@Gwhisky There would have been higher prices 3 years ago as well, but I don't recall them, only the bottom ones. I'm continually amazed at how big the gap/range is for single malt pricing. I understand about some prices being from earlier shipments/old stock but still there's just a basic opportunism/cynicism/exploitation in too many prices, here.
The Quarter Cask is my go-to Laphroaig: simple, straight, consistent, and sold at a very attractive price: around 38 euros in Germany and Austria, some euros more in Italy. I agree with you that Laphroaig gets flat very quickly, but a bottle of Quarter Cask does not last for more than fifteen days. I instead found the Laphroaig 10yo thin, watery, lacking in substance and strength, and also subject to batch variations, since many times that peaty, that smoke, and especially those strong medicinal notes seem faded in some bottlings. I never tried the Laphroaig Lore, for a similar price I will go for the 10yo Cask Strength to experience Laphroaig at its best, even if it will cost double the price...
Wait ... no funny joke in the opening ? Anyway, this is my favourite Laphroaig. Not as smoky & peaty as the 10, but very good intensity, balance and the right amount of wood influence.
I don’t like the 10 at all. Lore I find just OK but way too pricey, but Quarter Cask is a really good bottle. My favorite Laphroaig though is the PX Cask (Travel Retail).
$30 US. Nice. Here it’s $60. That’s why I no longer get it. Plus I think it was better back when the tubes had the pictures of little quarter casks. Although I still look out for the CS. That one goes between $85-$95
I used to love this bottle, but the last batch I bought (3 months ago or so) is noticeably less peaty. Like, closer to Laphroaig Select than to Laphroaig 10. I really hope it is just a bad batch. Anyway, I prefer the 10 CS, so no reason to buy it again tbh.
great introduction to peated whisky, but perhaps not a very good representation of laphroaig character. LP10 is the definition, and it would be better at cask strength. But LP10 cask strength is insanely priced
I do prefer the flavours in the 10, but it's too light. The 10 CS is the way to go, although it's quite pricey in my market. Meanwhile it's relatively affordable in places like the US. 🥃
I wish i could send you a sample of a QC I recently bought at an auction. It’s from 2012ish and tastes quite different…. Not saying better or worse because that’s personal opinion but definitely quite different…… If you’re ever in NZ let me know and I’ll get a sample to you 😊 Cheers Geoff!
I'm sure it is different, as my comparison in the video is simply based off my memory of the stuff from over a decade ago. Appreciate the offer, I'd love to visit NZ someday! 🥃
C'mon man... if your Laphroaig "goes flat" you're clearly not drinking it fast enough. 🤣 "Export" bottles of the cheaper Laphroaigs are bottled at 43%. It's only the EU stuff that's 40%. The Quarter cask is definitely the best of the cheaper stuff. But if you love Laphroaig like I do, spring for the 10 year cask strength or - if you can find it - the 16yo. If I had to compare "resting on their laurels" with Ardbeg cranking out weird and stupidly expensive special bottlings... I'm not sure which is worse. Sometimes I take my cheap Laphroaigs and mix them with cheap unpeated whisky that I don't really like. It's surprising how often that actually works.
Yeah the 43% for the American market must be a huge bonus for a lot of the bottles that are 40% in the international markets. Genuinely jealous. Totally agree about the 10 CS being worth the extra money. That 16 was FANTASTIC! 🥃
40% is the "world-wide" setting/standard. 43% is the "rarity" for US/North America(?) and South Africa, due to laws. Similar with 700ml bottles for the world and 750ml ones for the US, although 700ml ones are now allowed there.
Peaty whiskies tend to lose their peatiness during long maturations (eg 15y, 18y etc). That's why they used quarter casks. The oak interacts with the spirit in a larger scale but at the same time the spirit holds its peatiness: the best of 2 worlds!
I haven't bought it in a while, but I have several in stock. My favorite is the 10-year-old Cask Strength. I still love that peat bomb right between the eyes! Cheers!
Love this one trick pony. I've had so many, more expensive, yes more complex whiskies, but this just hits. 48% with a little fresh oak with the sweet/heavy peat. Just awesome. Cheers!
Agree. It's a classic! Cheers! 🥃
My AT favorite. In the Midwestern USA it retails for around 70 USD but I know a shop in a hood that sell them for 55 bucks. In the same shop I found a Classic Laddie with Jim McEwan name on it this year lol. The 10yr BP costs 80 retail. I thought this was an overlooked sleeper Islay whisky but I'm glad seeing people like it.
This has always been the best cost-to-quality offering from Laphroaig imo
The Cask Strength 10yo Batch 15 (not chill-filtered but probably colored for some stupid reason) never flattened out in the 8-or-so months I enjoyed that bottle.
I wonder if the high ABV plays any role?
Last December 30, I bought an IB of a single cask Laphroaig 10yo bottled at 53.4%--no coloring or chill-filtration. As pale as any whisky you've seen. Not quite halfway through teh bottle and it's just as lovely as ever.
My bottle is opened for 4 years. Now I took it to smaller bottle (1/3 left)... but for me it is still awesome and one of the best smoky whiskies! ☺️
Great review Jeff! I really like the quarter cask. The cheapest I can get this in D.C. is $71.99. The 10yr cask strength batch 15 currently costs $84.99 at the Virginia ABC stores across the river. My choice, the 10yr cask strength. Batches vary but never disappoint. Would love to see another Laphroaig 10yr cask strength review.
Thanks for reviewing this whisky, Geoff.
In fact the expression that is responsible for my nickname as it was the first Islay I've tried (and hooked I was).
So blame it on Laphroaig QC. (QC not only stands for quarter cask, but also quite coloured, so now you know)
Slàinte mhath
I lament the demise of Laphroaig Triple Wood... Wish I could still get it.
This is one of my favorite Laphroaigs. I'll take over the 10, Lore, and even the Cairdeas 2023. I get a lot of tea and hay notes that I really like. I paid US$65 online for the last bottle I bought a few months ago. Total Wine (Miami) is asking $80. Bonkers. Thanks for the review.
It's around £40 in the UK; I think that makes it decent value and I easily recommend spendinmg the extra £5-£10 on it over the 10 year. Also love the 10 cask strength and enjoyed the 10 Sherry finish I had a couple of years ago.
Yeah I agree that the 10 CS and 10 Sherry are much better. Sadly both are 2.5x the price of the QC and regular 10 in my market. 🥃
idk anything specific to review, but extremes are always fun, like cask strength, weird casks, the most expensive whisky you're willing to buy, or the cheapest whisky you actually enjoy
I can confirm, Laphroaig does get flat very quick!
Btw, your reviews definitely always feel like a nice warm blanket, just when we need it! Keep doing a great job
Hah very kind words, Ivan. Glad to hear you're enjoying. Cheers, buddy! 🥃
Loved this whisky though not a Laphroaig fan. Never bought a second one as I thought my palate went funny.
Very interested in your whisky going flat discussion. I’ve been limiting how much I have open to avoid bottles being open for too long, was working on about a year. Unaware of peated or not being relevant. Interesting!!
I enjoy Quarter Cask ($60 in my neck of the woods) and I’ll indulge in the Lore now and again but the old Laphroaig 18 YO is amazing!!
I’ve missed out on a fair amount bottles that I had a chance to buy and passed. Thank goodness I bought and stashed a few 18s when I did. Actually bought 4. Opened the only white tube one and still have 3 of the green tubes. Great scotch indeed. If I recall Ralfy was rather indifferent about it. At the end of the day it’s your opinion that truly matters. Cheers!
@@SaltyCuban Exactly right. I’ve got a few left too. When I open one it is impossible not to consume it rapidly. Lol. Ralfy’s opinion is irrelevant. We like it and that is ALL that matters 😉
Just tasted it during a tasting with a brand ambassador here in Spain among the 10, 10 cask strength, elements 1.0 and 25.
For around 35€ I paid for a bottle it has a great price/quality ratio as you said.
Cheers!!
Yeah that's a very fair price. Cheers! 🥃
Hi, what is your opinion about L 1.0? is it super stinky as ppl says? I know price is ridiculous but how this one stands along the CS's ones? Cheers 🥂🥂🙋♂️
The Quarter Cask is $88 before tax in my area. The 10 year CS was around the same price before so I just bought those. Good to hear this one is good. I don’t know how I feel though about the master distiller leaving.
If this were anywhere near the price of the 10 CS I'd never buy the QC. In my market the 10 CS is 2.5x the price of the QC.
As for the master distiller leaving, last year's Cairdeas I felt was quite good, but I suppose we'll have to wait and see how things work out over the long term. 🥃
Can confirm, $73 in Alaska. The 10 yr old usually runs mid 60s.
Certainly my go-to laphroaig as well! Great everyday pour Candidate.
Not the biggest fan of the quarter cask but love the 10, 10 cs, sherry oak cask 10, every cairdeas and the lore. Never had one go flat because even with 20-30 bottles open when ever i have a laphroaig open it is all i drink.
Sounds like you're going through your bottles much faster than me! Hah. Yeah it's not a favourite of mine, but Laphroaig has a very passionate fan base and they definitely make good whisky. Love the 10 CS, 10 Sherry, and Cairdeas myself! 🥃
Very interested in how this goes (writing before finishing), never been a massive Laphroaig fan, the medicinal notes are a bit too much - I prefer Kilchoman, AD, SB / Longrow, Ledaig peat.
So do I! I like it but it's far from the first peaty whisky I reach for! 🥃
When I hear the prices of whiskies in Taiwan, I get absolutely mad.
Here in Brazil, Laphroaig quarter cask cost almost 100 US$. And that's for the majority is the whiskies. Love your channel, good work.
Yeah I've heard that Brazil is quite an expensive whisky market. I'm sure that's very frustrating. Cheers, Sandro. Thanks for watching! 🥃
Felizmente a lamas e a union tão produzindo coisas boas por preços ótimos. Não moro mais no Brasil, mas na Europa o uísque também não ta mais barato como antes. Abraço!
@@AlmirSevero1 gosto dos produtos da Lamas. Moro em Brasília e tive a oportunidade de experimentar 5 whiskies da marca. Gostei do Nimbus. Tenho o First Ember fechado e o Nimbus robusto. Quero experimentar agora os da Union que ainda não conheço.
Still better than Australia..... :(
Here in Scotland it's £37 reduced currently, normally goes for £40. Makes me even madder that we're one of the more expensive countries for scotch in Europe...
Usually one of the supermarkets here is discounting Laphroaig 10 to £31, so I normally pick up that as my budget peated.
One of my favourite Laphroaig,and great to drink at a campfire 😊
I tried 10 and quarter cask. I loved 10, it has great flavour even though it's lower abv than QC. QC didn't wowed me. Thanks for the review. 😊 This one is 60-58€ in my market. I rather get talisker 10 or Laphroaig 10, but they cost 10-15€ less than CQ
I agree that the 10 has better flavour. If it could match the abv of the QC it would definitely be the better product. Cheers! 🥃
Can’t say I’ve ever had a bottle of laphroig go flat on me - maybe I drink them too fast 😀. The quarter cask is one of my favourite entry-level isla whiskeys, and once opened it tends to be gone within 2 or 3 months. My mother introduced it to me when she was in her mid-80s! I think a score of 84 is too low. 86 works for me
Fair enough! I'm just less of a Laphroaig-head than most, I think. Cheers! 🥃
Loved the Select rant. More like un-select. Right? Haha.. ha. I'll show myself out.
Terrible joke. Unsubscribing...
My dad (who hates peated scotch) was gifted this bottle about a decade ago. I took it off his hands after getting into whisky about 2 years ago.
It's been open for almost a decade. I did a blind head to head with Ardbeg Corryvreken and it actually held its own, despite being open for so long and the lower price. I was impressed.
Btw if you ever want a nice peated scotch cocktail try a Cigar
Nice review. I have only tried two Lapdroaigs, the Laphroaig Càirdeas Warehouse 1 2022 (104.4 proof) and Laphroaig Càirdeas White Port & Madeira Cask 2023 (104.6 proof). While I do admit these are costly, finally cost $125 US, but so good. The proof is nice with some really nice notes.
Really enjoying the 2023 Càirdeas. 🥃
Ah yes the Ol' Reliable QC, glad to see it still ticks the boxes. I think you were bang on about Laphroaig being on more solid ground than Ardbeg. It's core range is not as exciting maybe but at least it's consistent. Unfortunately I can't get this in my market but whenever I'm in Europe I always find it at a good price and for that price this one is hard to beat. Great review, cheers!
Thanks man. Yeah it's a beauty for the price. Strange to hear it's not available in Turkey. I thought this was sold pretty much everywhere. Cheers! 🥃
Here in the liquor control state of Ohio, the quarter cask is $75 and the ten year (which is 86 proof here) is $62 while the cask strength 10 year is $90. I would be beyond thrilled to get the quarter cask for that price!
Love this one! It was my favourite but ever since I was lucky enough to get the 16, it’s firmly second place now
Oh man that 16 was something special... 🥃
Quarter Cask is usually around $60 in California. It's still cheaper than Ardbeg 10 or Kilchoman Machir Bay, but it seems like just a tad too much to pay for it.
Yeah I pay $30, which is ridiculous. Anywhere up to, say, $50 would be reasonable to me. After that I think I could find more interesting things to spend my money on. Cheers Tim! 🥃
@@GwhiskyI pay about $100 USD in Australia. But over half that would be excise tax.
Excellent review as usual. Accurate, entertaining and fair … 5⭐️.
Thanks Richard. Appreciate the kind words! 🥃
Hey, it's a bottle I have had before!
I have never felt the need to purchase it, but it is solid enough that I will order it at a bar when they only have a few single malts, as they generally will have this or the 10.
Agree. Not an essential whisky but a good casual sipper! 🥃
I the NY area of the US the Laphroaig 10 is 43% not 40% and between $50 to $60. The Quarter Cask was going for $90 but in the past 2 months seems to come down to $70. The Sherry Oak which is also 48% is between $65-$80. The Cask Strength is $95-$110. At 43% when I see the 10 for $50 I tend to pick up a bottle. The 43% for the 10 that the US gets makes it close enough to the Quarter Cask that value now comes into play. I'd rather have the 10 and the Cask Strength than the Quarter Cask for my Laphroaig fix. These are also still 750ml bottles which most brands have gotten away from. I've never noticed a Laphroaig going flat but they don't last much more than 2 months for me. Yes, I'm a big fan of this brand.
The prices for the range are very different here. The 10 CS and sherry are well over double the price of the 10 and QC (which are practically the same price). I do think for the bump in quality it's worth it to get the CS and Sherry 10, though. That said, I've never tried the 10 at 43%. Quite jealous of you guys in the States. Most whiskies that are at 40% internationally are 43% there. 🥃
If by certain states you mean Texas you are more than correct! $80.99 before sales tax at Total Wine is the cheapest I found with a brief online search of top liquor stores chains.
Laphroaig is my favourite distillery, the 10 CS is my favourite whisky, I like the mouthfeel of the QC but I prefer the 10's taste.
It's true about the local barley stuff but I think they are the only ones with Kilchoman that still smoke part of the barley AT the distillery.
Totally agree that the 10 has better flavours. If it could match the abv of the QC it would definitely be the better of the two. Laphroaig also has their own floor maltings, I believe. However they still add colour and don't offer much transparency to the consumer. Newer brands couldn't get away with that. Cheers! 🥃
@@Gwhisky I know, color addiction bother me too, but I tried an experiment once. When Talisker changed the bottles I thought the whisky looked darker and I was sure I was able to taste the e150... I homebrew beer so I bought a little bottle of e150 (you can find it on most homebrew shops online)... Man, to taste that thing in water is one thing, but to taste e150 in a spirit it means there is a shit load in it, and I don't think is the case of 95% of whiskys. Cheers! 🥃
The fact that the sub-40€ Triple Wood is no longer with us is criminal
I like the triple wood..peat. Sweet...and oak❤❤❤
I preferred the 3wood to the ¼ cask. Sad they nixed it.
Wow ,my favorite whisky )))). 10yo Sherry Oak and 10yo CS most favorite releases .Geoff Cheers !
Yes the Sherry Oak and CS are fantastic! Cheers Light! 🥃
@@Gwhisky Gaumarjos !
I really like this one, it was actually this one that did show me what single malt whisky could be...I think it was 20-25 years ago, and there's been quite a few whisky on my path. But once in a while I buy myself a Laphroaig QC, a lot of whisky at a fair price, here in Sweden it's 599skr (~$50, ~£41) in todays currency 🍷cheers
Same with me Geoff.
It is a decent whisky, but I did prefer the Triple cask way more.
Sold here about 45 euro from a big web retailer.
If there’s got to be a Laphroaig on my perma shelf then it’s the QC. Still at a decent price as well, around €38. Slàinte Geoff.
Yeah I think much of my enthusiasm stems from the extremely reasonable price. A solid peaty daily sipper. Cheers David! 🥃
Here in Brazil this cost aroud 450 reais (almost 90 US$ converted). Absurd! Single malts here are crimenaly expensive. Good video, man. Keep up
Still not a bad whisky, although the PX cask Laphroaig is even better!
Laphroaig 10 was my introduction to Islay peated whisky. Soon after I bought the Quarter Cask. Comparing the two side by side I preferred the 10 even though it was only 40%. Here in NZ prices between retailers are all over the place but generally the QC is more expensive than the 10 by about $20 NZD. Cheers!
I totally understand why you prefer the 10. I actually think it's got better flavour than the QC, but sadly it's far too light for me at 40%. Shame to hear the QC is so much pricier there, they're priced identically here. Cheers Simonne! 🥃
Great whisky. Ok, not the most complex, but there are notes that you can pick out to keep you interested....mint and honey seem to blend well. One of my favourite Laphroaig bottles was one that had been open for years in a friend's cabinet. It was the sweetest Laphraoig I'd ever tasted, the soot has disappated, and all was left was honey and fruit, with a hint of smoke. You're right about the select. Utter pish.
My official peated easy sipper.
I appreciate the advise on "opened shelf life"....maybe include that for any whiskey you've had open for a while, I have a lot of opened bottles!
Would love to hear your thoughts on the Laphaoig Elements, all local barley. Had a chance to try some In Massachusetts and really enjoyed it. Cheers!
Thanks!
No, thank YOU, Eric. Very kind of you! 🙏🥃
Cool review of a cool whisky!
But... I'd give it an 86 for the VfM ratio ☝🏻
I also think it's an ok nice thing to keep and nip into, but it's not all that cheap in my market (a little below US$70, which is about the same as Ardna AD/, and slightly more than Ardbeg 10, Laga 8 and Arran 10 -all of whom I sooner re-buy..)
Too bad that the lack of chill-filtration isn't the key to avoid being prone to quickly flatten..
how do you store your whisky? flavors should be fairly stable if you store away from sunlight, fluorescent indoor light, and sources of heat. display cases aren’t doing you any favors, i mean unless you are trying to impress someone. (note- the less spouses see/know about the size of your collection, the better😅) do your corks rot out too? have you considered switching to a tighter sealing full-synthetic cork, away from the cheap composite (glued bits) cork that Laph. uses for everything. i’ve had bottles open for years, and they seem just fine (except for the fact that their cardieras releases are often too cloying & sweet) so i mostly just drink the CS 10yr.
Hello Geoff,
Here in Germany the Laphi Quarter Cask is available at 38€.
Thanks for sharing your Thoughts and Opinion about this One. Greets from Germany 😎🤘
That's a very good price for it! Cheers buddy! 🥃
I'm not sure about the "whisky becoming flat" thing.
I had a L10 opened for years and slowly finished it and i never became dull or flat.
Hi, nice video. When you compare it to the Ardbeg Wee Beastie, which one would you go for? Thank you.
At the end of the day I still prefer the Ardbeg. Cheers! 🥃
Two fun facts. 1, when it does spoil, it tastes like BBQ sausage water. 2, a friend of mine mixed this with coke once. We are still friends.
This little bottle is $80+ in Colorado, even at large retailers like Total Wine. Hence why I’ll never own it since PC10 is almost $20 cheaper.
Geoff, have you ever reviewed the 1992 Glendronach Single Casks? Being a GD fanboy I’m tempted to splurge on one, but would love to hear a respectable opinion on it. Thanks!
Glendronach Single Casks can be excellent. I don't know about the specific one you're referring to, but I assume I've never had it as we're in different markets. That said, I've had plenty of GD single casks from the early 90's and they're usually fantastic. Great stuff if you like big sherry! 🥃
I am considering this one or talisker 10 (the new one) for my next purchase. Which one would you recommend?
If you are new to peat I would defo try Talisker first, QC is not for the faint of heart and even peat lovers might find this a bit too much.
@@TH3HY3N4 thanks!
Not that I was asked, but I'd recommend Ardbeg 10 if you haven't already tried it, over those--and I do love, or used to love, T10. A10's a bit confronting if you're unused to peat but I also don't necessarily subscribe to the "gentle introduction" theory re. peat novices. In at least *some* cases, peat at "blast (-ish)" level can be easier for novices to access/understand because it's hardly subtle. Grossly simplistic: A10 is peat + maritime + fruit, T10 is (was?) black pepper + herby peat. But everyone's palate is different/their own.
Thanks for the recommendation OG. I've just picked up a bottle (£37 from OJ Bezos in the UK right now)
Great price! 🥃
When you crack open a bottle of Laphroaig, the ol' peat clock starts ticking.
This brand is by far the worst for falling apart if not finished in a timely fashion after its been opened . The worst one in recent memory was the Cairdeas PX from a couple years back; I went back for a pour after having it open for 8 months or so and it shadow of what it was. When I open any bottle of frog now, I make a conscious effort to go back to it more often than I would any other brand/bottling. However for my enjoyment, it doesn't get any better than the sensory blast you get from freshly opened bottle of Laphroaig
I've never seen the 10-year at 40%. Mine have all been 43%, at least in the US
Yes you'll find that's the case for a lot of whiskies that are sold at 40% internationally. You guys are lucky! 🥃
Today's nz prices, USD equiv.:
L10: 51 - 72
LQC: 60 - 101
About 3 years ago here the L10 was ~US$38 and the LQC ~US$50.
Ouch. At the extreme end the QC had doubled in 3 years!
I'm lucky to have both identically priced in Taiwan at around $30 USD. 🥃
@@Gwhisky There would have been higher prices 3 years ago as well, but I don't recall them, only the bottom ones. I'm continually amazed at how big the gap/range is for single malt pricing. I understand about some prices being from earlier shipments/old stock but still there's just a basic opportunism/cynicism/exploitation in too many prices, here.
The Quarter Cask is my go-to Laphroaig: simple, straight, consistent, and sold at a very attractive price: around 38 euros in Germany and Austria, some euros more in Italy.
I agree with you that Laphroaig gets flat very quickly, but a bottle of Quarter Cask does not last for more than fifteen days.
I instead found the Laphroaig 10yo thin, watery, lacking in substance and strength, and also subject to batch variations, since many times that peaty, that smoke, and especially those strong medicinal notes seem faded in some bottlings.
I never tried the Laphroaig Lore, for a similar price I will go for the 10yo Cask Strength to experience Laphroaig at its best, even if it will cost double the price...
Wait ... no funny joke in the opening ?
Anyway, this is my favourite Laphroaig. Not as smoky & peaty as the 10, but very good intensity, balance and the right amount of wood influence.
I'm just excited that you used the word "funny" at all before describing any of my jokes. I'll take that as a win. 🥃
$102.50 CAN in Québec
Classic SAQ. 🥃
I don’t like the 10 at all. Lore I find just OK but way too pricey, but Quarter Cask is a really good bottle. My favorite Laphroaig though is the PX Cask (Travel Retail).
$30 US. Nice. Here it’s $60. That’s why I no longer get it. Plus I think it was better back when the tubes had the pictures of little quarter casks. Although I still look out for the CS. That one goes between $85-$95
For $30 more you're getting a much better whisky with the 10 CS, I think. Cheers Salty. 🥃
Does anyone have experiences for Laphroaig Single Casks?
lol, $102.50 at the SAQ
$74.95 in Oregon. The 10 is $61.95
Hey, I know it's boring to re-review well known whiskies, but it's important, someone has to do it! Thanks a lot :)
Thanks for watching! 🥃
I used to love this bottle, but the last batch I bought (3 months ago or so) is noticeably less peaty. Like, closer to Laphroaig Select than to Laphroaig 10. I really hope it is just a bad batch. Anyway, I prefer the 10 CS, so no reason to buy it again tbh.
About an $80 bottle in my market
great introduction to peated whisky, but perhaps not a very good representation of laphroaig character. LP10 is the definition, and it would be better at cask strength. But LP10 cask strength is insanely priced
I do prefer the flavours in the 10, but it's too light. The 10 CS is the way to go, although it's quite pricey in my market. Meanwhile it's relatively affordable in places like the US. 🥃
75 usd in Ohio, USA
Jealous of Taiwan prices. $87.99 at total wine in Houston 🥵
Yes we're very lucky. Houston has a problem.
I apologize for that.
@@Gwhisky😅😅😅 its most expensive 3% 😎🥂🙋♂️
I wish i could send you a sample of a QC I recently bought at an auction. It’s from 2012ish and tastes quite different…. Not saying better or worse because that’s personal opinion but definitely quite different……
If you’re ever in NZ let me know and I’ll get a sample to you 😊
Cheers Geoff!
I'm sure it is different, as my comparison in the video is simply based off my memory of the stuff from over a decade ago. Appreciate the offer, I'd love to visit NZ someday! 🥃
$74.99 in Ohio. Really not that much less than the 10 CS.
This should be nowhere near the price of the 10 CS! 🥃
Ha - “whisky journey”!
*dies of cringe
No such think as a cheap scotch in my area. Even the low end ones are becoming to expensive period
C'mon man... if your Laphroaig "goes flat" you're clearly not drinking it fast enough. 🤣
"Export" bottles of the cheaper Laphroaigs are bottled at 43%. It's only the EU stuff that's 40%. The Quarter cask is definitely the best of the cheaper stuff. But if you love Laphroaig like I do, spring for the 10 year cask strength or - if you can find it - the 16yo.
If I had to compare "resting on their laurels" with Ardbeg cranking out weird and stupidly expensive special bottlings... I'm not sure which is worse.
Sometimes I take my cheap Laphroaigs and mix them with cheap unpeated whisky that I don't really like. It's surprising how often that actually works.
Yeah the 43% for the American market must be a huge bonus for a lot of the bottles that are 40% in the international markets. Genuinely jealous.
Totally agree about the 10 CS being worth the extra money. That 16 was FANTASTIC! 🥃
40% is the "world-wide" setting/standard. 43% is the "rarity" for US/North America(?) and South Africa, due to laws. Similar with 700ml bottles for the world and 750ml ones for the US, although 700ml ones are now allowed there.
Really enjoy this whenever I have it, which is rare because of the nearly 70€ price tag in our local monopoly
Ouch! Too high! 🥃