Tasting Notes

Producing WhiskyCast has given me the opportunity to taste some really amazing whiskies, and I’m pleased to share my tasting notes with you here. You can search my entire database of tasting notes from this page, and I hope you’ll find it useful.

Laphroaig 18

Country: Scotland

Region: Islay

Type: Single Malt

Bottler: Distiller

ABV: 48%

Score: 92 Points

Laphroaig 18 Single Malt Scotch Whisky. Image courtesy Beam Suntory.This replaced the 15-year-old Laphroaig in 2009, and the extra three years have rounded off some of the rougher edges. The nose has a slightly milder peat influence than other Laphroaigs, and there’s a toffee-like sweetness to balance out seaweed and brine notes, along with a subtle touch of almonds and hazelnut. The taste is thick and sweet at first, with the peat taking a few seconds to develop to an intense spiciness that fades to reveal notes of dried apricots, pears, and a bit of apple. The finish is smoky on the back of the throat and sweet on the tongue.