Laphroaig 19 years Cadenhead 175 Anniversary

This is a single cask bottling from Cadenhead’s, made from Laphroaig distilled in 1988. It aged in a bourbon hogshead for over 19 years and was bottled in 2017, yielding 168 bottles. The store I visited had three of them marked down to $169.99. I picked up two, as I always leave one when multiples are available. It’s a matter of etiquette. Typically, single cask expressions are more robust than batch releases. Batches, like the Laphroaig 18 often compared to this whisky, are blended to smooth out sharp notes and sometimes diluted to a preferred drinking strength or to boost profits. It's like dressing someone; a single cask is like a naked person, and most people look better clothed. Ninety-nine percent of single casks could likely benefit from blending. However, sometimes, you just want Laphroaig in its raw form. I do prefer the official Laphroaig 18 bottling over this; both whiskies have a similar perceived age and balance between spirit and wood influence. Yet, in a blind tasting, I can’t always identify Laphroaig 18 as a Laphroaig. This single cask, however, is unmistakably Laphroaig every time in blind tastings. It’s like sterilizing a wound infected with Pseudomonas using grapefruit, lemon, and iodine. That’s Laphroaig! This single cask requires a significant amount of water, as most single casks do. When neat, the finish is harsh and scrapes the back of the throat. With water, enjoyable dark chocolate notes emerge, and the finish becomes a long, satisfying linger of tobacco leaf and menthol. While you likely won't find this specific bottle anymore, I suggest trying some single cask releases if you haven’t. They offer imperfect but memorable experiences. Brands I trust and can find in the US include Cadenhead, Signatory, Gordon & MacPhail, North Star, Blackadder, and That Boutique-y Whisky Company. Score: ** (unimaginably good) Bottle cost: I believe retail was $230? My perceived bottle worth: $260