LAPHROAIG It's Been A Long Way 15 Year Old 2006

Next in my Laphroaig series is a sample of a 15-year single cask from The Whisky Barrel’s space collection. It was bottled at 53.9% ABV and was kindly provided by a friend. The nose is robust and somewhat assertive, beginning with a combination of smoked brisket, grilled lemon and lime, and mushrooms, followed by cocoa-dusted almonds, moderate sea saltiness, and burning hay bales. Then come sautéed apples, nectarines, and gooseberries, transitioning to mild baking spices, asphalt, and rubber mulch with a strong ethanol sting. The taste has a medium mouthfeel, starting with an effervescent, mildly sour citrus before a moderate peppery spice that quickly subsides into smoked brisket, grilled portobellos, and charred limes. This is followed by spicy mocha, honeysuckle, and almond croissants, then mango, papaya, and pineapple, which transition to mild baking spices and slightly bitter black tea, all with a strong ethanol sting. The finish is medium in length, beginning with sweet, effervescent citrus that fades into slightly soured tropical fruits, mild tangy smoked meats, burnt hay bales, mild sea saltiness, asphalt, and mildly bitter black tea. The nose is rather harsh, with mildly astringent fruits competing for dominance with smoky meats, which seems unusual and slightly off-putting, not boding well for the palate. Fortunately, the palate is not nearly as jarring as the nose suggested, offering a delightful and refreshing mix of citrus, rich smoky meats, mild florals, and slightly soured tropical fruits. It is slightly marred by a moderate spice and mildly bitter oaky notes before a mild finish with those refreshing citrus notes leading, followed by a blend of tropical fruits, tangy meats, and light bitterness. Overall, this is a challenging one to rate, as it strikes me as a pungent cheese-like dram whose nose I would prefer to avoid. However, I find the flavors on the palate and finish quite pleasant, despite some minor flaws. I'll assign a rating of 3.25 for now, but I can easily see others rating this higher, especially those less sensitive to sour notes than I am. These appear to still be available from The Whisky Barrel’s website for approximately $150. So, if the tasting notes above appeal to your preferences or you particularly desire a whisky with an Apollo 14-inspired label, I would recommend it. Ratings for the series so far: 10-year cask strength batch 11- 3.75 10-year sherry oak finish- 4.0 Lore- 4.0 2019 Caidreas Triple Wood- 3.75 2020 Caidreas Port and Wine - 3.75 2021 Caidreas PX - 4.0 15-year 200 Anniversary- 4.5 16-year- 4.0 TWB “It’s been a long way” 15-year IB- 3.25