Laphroaig 25 Years Old Cask Strength Edition 2009 51% 2009

Professional reviews

Serge Valentin (84)

This one was matured in ‘a combination of the finest oloroso sherry and American oak casks’. I think this ‘American oak’ mention can be misleading as most sherry casks are made out of American oak anyway if I’m not mistaken. Colour: gold. Nose: this is rather strange. Curiously herbal and vegetal (beans, cabbage), very farmy, with whiffs of wet animals (dogs, sheep – sorry both) and then big, bold notes of antiseptic, bandages and embrocations. The most medicinal Laphroaigs I ever nosed. With water: really toned down but even earthier (old pu-erh tea). Touches of ink, old papers and mud. Mouth (neat): rawer than expected from a 25yo, almost as rooty and earthy as the 10 but also more medicinal again. Cough medicine, heavy liquorice lozenges and lime. Aloe vera juice. With water: it got cardboardy and dry, water works much worse than with the 10, which is a little strange. Muddy waters! Finish: long, rather bitter, herbal and a little acrid. A little grapefruit in the aftertaste.