Laphroaig 32 Year

I'm proud to announce I've sampled a glass of the esteemed Laphroaig 32yo. I intentionally avoided reading reviews beforehand; I visited a whisky bar, found it, and requested a neat pour of this beauty. My initial reaction upon nosing it was: "this doesn't smell like Laphroaig." Lol. This bottle is one of only 5,880 produced for Laphroaig's 200th anniversary in 2015. This implies the youngest drop of whisky was distilled in 1983, the year I was born. Bottled at 46.6%, with a tawny color. On the nose... is this truly a Laphroaig? It was exceptionally sweet at first, then I noticed the bottle: matured in First Fill Oloroso Sherry Casks. The experience was poised to improve further. Caramelized oranges, cherry syrup, green apples with a hint of cigarette. Herbal notes emerged, grass with caramel. After the first sip, I detected an aroma of socks and oranges. It's like toffee caramel in a pond. On the palate, it's an elegant Laphroaig, without question. The initial tasting note is that signature Laphroaig moss. The sherry influence explodes three seconds later: red fruits with medicinal notes. A second sip revealed orange peel and a mild, elegant spiciness. You can hold it on your palate indefinitely. Subsequent sips released a maritime sensation. This is where the aftertaste proclaimed: "here comes the Laphroaig perfection." Medicinal notes, plastic, a fresh can of tennis balls. Super dry and very elegant. There's a sophisticated spiciness. Detergent, pond. Amazing stuff. I even detected cigarettes and a maritime note. It's a very well-rounded peaty finish. Long-lasting. Overall, this whisky is a gem. I wouldn't call it perfect, but it comes very close to my all-time favorites. The aftertaste was sublime, earning all the points, and it's definitely something worth trying. The price tag is quite high (around 1,100), and since I'm not wealthy, I'll always maintain that no whisky is worth that much, but it's not a waste of money if you've paid for the entire bottle, given how good it is. My score for it is a solid 95 out of 100. Sláinte!

Received a sample and will begin my assessment here, though I may not fully explore it. Nose: What the heck? An overpowering blast of alcohol, red wine, medicinal notes, a funky aroma...like decaying fruit? What is going on? As it settles, distinct oloroso emerges, but this medicinal funk and smoke still permeate the glass. It's as aromatic as any whisky I've encountered. This nose is SHOCKINGLY bold. There's barely 1/4 oz of whisky in this glass. A few minutes later, smoked vanilla, ash, and freshly charred light oak appear. Classic Laphroaig, influenced by these extraordinary sherry casks, has emerged from the craziness. Taste: Mineral lemon/lime, heavily smoked in the glass. It transitions to the most perfect smoked lime funk. This is like the 25-year expression amplified in its lingering taste and smoke, and just richer. Now, where's the sherry? Ah, yes, it's upfront. More red fruit forward, perhaps a barely perceptible hint of chocolate, but it's present. Oh my...intense mint. I require more time with this, but for now, a rating of 4.25. An amazing, well-aged Laphroaig with a mouthfeel and body that rivals any spirit. The standout feature is that mineral Laphroaig lemon-lime characteristic. It's much more chalky and mineral than most. An unbelievable intensity of flavor.

Fantastic. It leads with sherry and has a crispness, with a subtle smokiness unlike the overwhelming smoke found in Laphroaig 10. Available at fine and Rare for $44/oz. Nose: Raisins, Smoke, Chocolate, Toffee, Dates, Plums, Berries, Prunes, Red Apples, Sea Salt, Oranges, Cherries, Sultanas, Pineapples, Kiwis, Hazelnuts, Almonds, Mangoes, Vanilla, Green Apples, Pears, Apricots, Figs, Flowers Palate: Smoke, Dark Chocolate, Toffee, Flowers, Raisins, Figs, Dates, Hazelnuts, Iodine, Peat, Beef, Grass, Burnt Oranges, Red Apples, Ham, Papayas, Mangoes, Pineapples, Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Licorice, Brine, Salted Cod Finish: Raisins, Toffee, Chocolate, Salt, Peat, Smoke, Oranges, Pineapples, Prunes, Cloves, Cinnamon, Cod, Brine, Dates, Red Apples

Extremely long-lasting and pronounced smoky and sherry ash flavor complemented by subtle dark cocoa notes and an exceptionally velvety, rich mouthfeel. Each sip beckons for another.

The finest Scotch I've ever encountered. Intricate, with no harshness, and a flawless harmony of smoke and peat.

The year it was distilled