Laphroaig The 1815 Legacy Edition

I sampled this exclusive Laphroaig, the 1815 Legacy Edition, acquired at a slight reduction from a friend who is downsizing his extensive collection. This bottle normally costs over $85 and is apparently unavailable in the USA. In the glass, it presented a beautiful, aged gold hue and formed small, watery rings on the edge when swirled. It has a very oily texture, and it took a considerable amount of time for sparse legs to develop. The aroma was intensely and richly smoky at first. After a while, a strong wave of menthol and mint emerged, accompanied by subtle hints of berries and freshly cut oak. An earthy foundation underlies the entire olfactory experience. A decent beginning... The palate, however, is where it faltered. The rich smoke and menthol from the nose gave way to a flavor reminiscent of a dirty ashtray on the tongue, which was quite potent. If you could move past that sensation, which became increasingly difficult with each sip, you encountered an earthy mushroom taste with black pepper and damp oak. The elements didn't blend harmoniously, leaving me unconsciously licking and smacking my lips as if trying to clear my palate faster. The finish is of moderate length, once again smoky with some lingering peppery heat. The alcohol's warmth is absent, but the ashtray note seemed to persist, prompting me to quickly reach for water to hasten the experience. Despite these criticisms, I consumed the entire bottle and never considered it undrinkable, but I wouldn't seek it out again. When asked if it was inferior to the Select, my initial thought was yes. While I wasn't as bothered by the Select as many others were, I can confidently state this is the least impressive Laphroaig I've tried to date. It requires a substantial amount of rich smoke on the palate to redeem it and mask that dirty ashtray flavor. At nearly $100, it's a definite pass. Explore other options, my friends. A rating of 2 to 2.5 stars. Enjoy.

Color was added, shockingly, to achieve a very pleasing amber look. A travesty. The aroma hits you with full, rounded peat, more oceanic than medicinal. It soon gives way to a pleasant sweetness: raisins, ripe apples, marzipan, and a hint of chocolate. A faint layer of ash and cloves lies underneath. The palate is quite viscous, with smokiness immediately coating the tongue with barbecue notes, complemented by grilled ripe fruit (like fried food, grilling makes everything better). The peat is clearly dominant, salty and burnt, flipping the aromatic balance and to my personal dismay: all the sweet, fruity scents seem to have faded, flattened into a rather dull, one-dimensional profile. A subtle spice returns with wood, which ultimately becomes the most prominent element, as if it were the sole concrete contribution from the European Hogshead. The finish is medium in length, featuring wood, ash, and fruit, feeling very dry.

This whisky presents itself in two distinct phases: the Lore on the initial taste and the Quarter Cask in the aftertaste. It begins with pleasant scents of shellac and cooked fruits, continuing into the same rich, fruity flavors found in the Lore. However, instead of the Lore's extended finish of dates and figs, you experience the brief, drying tannins characteristic of small quarter casks. Coincidentally, I tasted a sample of the Quarter Cask for the first time the day after opening the 1815, allowing me to immediately recognize the connection. My initial impression was that it shared a similar composition to the Lore, but with younger Quarter Cask spirit substituting some of the former's mature stock, though the marketing doesn't mention the smaller barrels. The flavor profile also feels less cohesive than the Lore, and while adding a little water significantly sharpens the taste, it's still the first Laphroaig bottle I've purchased that I wouldn't repurchase. It's not a bad whisky, just entirely redundant given the availability of Lore at the same price.

This is a respectable Laphroaig with a remarkable aftertaste. That's the best way to describe it. I don't consider it the top Laphroaig available, not by a long shot, but the finish is truly exceptional. Its name, Legacy, truly honors the distillery workers who strive to produce fine whiskies for us. Bottled at 48% ABV Nose: Raisins. The peat is powerful yet pleasing. Acetone. Vanilla dry cake and some red fruits. Nice. Palate: Peat. But the artificial, sulphuric, plastic kind of peat from Laphroaig. Aftertaste is simply wonderful: A spice explosion. Wasabi, Pepper, A faint dried fruit like raisins; very Astringent. There's definitely some sherry influence present; I believe it's a good dram, but given that Laphroaig consistently produces good products, I suspect superior expressions exist. 90/100.

I was eager to sample this. Could it compete with the Lore? In short, no, not even close. I had previously enjoyed CB King St, thinking it would prepare me for the main event. That was incorrect. I should have heeded the distiller's 3.6 average rating. I agree with PBM and Ric M. It appears impressive and initially promises much, but the first taste doesn't lead to the burst experienced with the Lore. There's no satisfying aftertaste, in fact, it's somewhat strange. It's subdued, watered down, a product for airport shops. I saw PBM/Ric M mentioned quarter cask influence. I've yet to find a good quarter cask spirit. While not awful, for $100 USD, it ought to be outstanding, and it is not. 3.5.

This felt very similar to a less intense version of Laphroaig's Quarter Cask, perhaps with some Lore and 10 mixed in. I didn't care for the QC because it was too woody for my taste, but this has a similar foundation with elements of the 10 and Lore. It's a travel exclusive, and fans of the QC might really enjoy this. However, I would choose the Lore, 10, 18, or Cairdeas series over this. If I had to pick between the QC and this, I'd select this one. I'm very thankful for the sample from a friend; it's not sold in the US or at airports, so I truly appreciate the chance to try it.