Laphroaig 28 Year

Continuing my series of reviews of truly amazing whiskies until I reach the number 1000, here is my whisky critic #992, about the almighty Laphroaig 28 years old. Laphroaig, that crazy single malt that if you taste it blindfolded you might think someone gave you a tennis ball to eat. This incredibly old expression, was bottled at 44.4%abv, and if I begin thinking where I was 28 years ago, I was on 6th grade in primary school, so this whisky has been waiting most of my life for this moment, where I have the pleasure of drinking it. This one has been triple matured, in quarter casks, bourbon barrels and sherry butts. On the nose, crazy stuff. It starts with old oranges, but then it gave me something called "Yapingacho" which is an Ecuadorian potato-based plate, basically it is a fried mashed potato with cheese inside. It smells like mashed potatoes. So crazy. Butter, honey. I am completely in shock, how can a whisky have an aroma of mashed potatoes, I just can get over it. After a couple of sips it became way more sherried, Sweet orange caramel. Grassy and "potatoey". So bold. On the palate it is delicious and elegant. Sherry, oranges, pepper. Quite sulphuric and sweet. Orange candy. Aftertaste is not complex but amazing. Cigarettes, ashtray. Very ashy and lovely. Overall, this is exactly what I am looking for after 992 whiskies: new experiences. I was absolutely overwhelmed by the mashed potatoes note on the nose. Then it faded to release the peatiness and sherriness that you expect. A lovely, rare and delicious whisky that I don't see where I can deduct points. It is definitively what you expect from a Laphroaig matured for 28 years, my score for it is 100 over 100.

An exceptional whiskey, perhaps among the finest I have encountered. It features a delicate peat, sea salt, and sweet vanilla. I envisioned strolling along an Islay beach, enjoying a vanilla apple pie while inhaling the salty, algae-scented air. A small peat fire burned nearby with oak wood, its faint smoke and warmth reaching us on that chilly autumn day by the ocean.

Changes rapidly. My first tasting had a more peaty aroma, while my second revealed caramel and light vanilla with less peat. It becomes more mellow with each subsequent sip. The palate is slightly musky with subtle oak notes, and a touch of sweetness. It's well-balanced and smooth. The finish is of medium length, lingers somewhat, and has a creamy texture.

A pleasant blend of earthy and sweet notes, with a hint of dankness. There's a chalky character from the sherry casks. The finish is exceptionally long. Wonderful!

The aroma is sweet caramel. The taste brings caramel, honey, almonds, and rubber, with a finish of peat, seawater, and a sea breeze.

It is magically delicious