Laphroaig 2000 17 Year (Adelphi)

Dramfest '18. I mentioned to some friends that while the festival was great, it wasn't a VIP event. But when writing reviews, I realized I tasted 16, 17, 20, and 25-year Laphroaigs, plus similar quality from other distilleries, for just over $1 per sample! I saw another Adelphi dram I missed tasting going for $40 a dram at a bar I frequent, so I definitely got my money's worth! This was a typically excellent Adelphi pour, one of 560 bottles. It wasn't in the same class as the 16 2000 Hunter Laing, however. 3.75.

This was the major letdown from my Adelphi tasting last week. A collective groan went up from the room as people recoiled from the hugely sulphuric nose. I don’t mind a bit of sulphur, but this one was close to diabolical. Hard to rate under the circumstances — I didn’t have much patience for it after so many outstanding drams throughout the evening — but I certainly would be happy to give it another go.