Slainte Mhath.... Good Health (Laphroaig 10 Year Old Whisky)

Member Name: cata

Product:	Laphroaig 10 Year Old Whisky
Date:	24/10/01 (1122 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Superb taste

Disadvantages: for a whisky lover none

Laphroig is one of the most richly flavoured whiskies found in the world, as some of you know it is not my personal favourite but it rates right up there.

The standard bottle most commonly found in the shops is the ten-year-old whisky and it retails for around the twenty-pound mark. It is fermented to 40% volume and is available in 70cl and Litre bottles. The bottles themselves are plain indeed, no fancy labels or strange shapes for this malt. No a simple green bottle with a white label that simple announces what the bottle contains. Its cardboard sleeve is similar, plain white with green bands at both the top and bottom. The name and a black and white picture of the distillery as seen from the sea.

Laphroig pronounced La-froyg, is single malt and is island malt coming from the isle of Islay. This is not a malt for the faint hearted its full flavours being very strong and to some far too over powering on the palate. Diehards will drink it neat, while some less brave souls will take their tipple with a splash of water. As a personal note I will admit I take mine with a splash finding it releases the nose of the malt and then the full taste onto the taste buds, but whatever you prefer is just fine. Laphroig is a Gaelic word and means “the beautiful hollow by the broad bay”

Its colour is full and golden, while the nose of this whisky is peaty with a hint of seaweed. It is a oily drink that clings well to the glass leaving behind tears, that helps with the long lingering taste and smell of this particular malt. Its unique flavour comes from the malted barley being slowly smoked over Islay peat fires, this smoke is what gives the whisky its taste and flavour. This along with the sea air where the whisky is stored gives this the fullness and richness of taste only obtained by Laphroig.

The distillery was established in 1815 and has been produced by local people since those days. They are the proud holders of the Prince of Wa
les Crest for being whisky producers to his highness. They like many other distilleries run a whisky club this one though is slightly different from many. Here you register claim on a plot of land on the Islay; this then entitles you to claim ground rent for the plot. The twist you have to visit the site in person to claim your rent, a dram of Laphroig. Unfortunately you cannot let your rent mount up it has to be claimed each year. So no chance to claim a full bottle after a few years. With this right to a free dram you are also supplied with a loan pair of Wellingtons, headgear against low flying geese, hip flask, life belt and an anchor. This is in case you are blown out to sea on one of the windy days. You can register your claim either by post or on-line at www.laphroig.com. The postal address is Friends of Laphroig, Laphroig, Port Ellen, Isle of Islay, Argyll, PA42 7DU, Scotland.

As I have said before the most common malt is the ten-year-old version, you can however find older bottles and the thirty-five year old malt is particularly fine. Also available is cask strength Laphroig, this is absolutely gorgeous but only for the true whisky lover. Those of you that put lemonade or coke into your whisky please refrain from trying this.

Slainte mhath, Good health.

Cata®

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