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| Hi, this is one of our (almost) daily tastings. Santé! |
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March 23, 2020 |
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The Confined Sessions
Little Pairs of Laphroaig
Pair One |
A bit busy these (confined) days, I think I’ll have to cut into my little sessions for a few days and rather focus on duos. No, no refunds planned, but nice try. |
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Laphroaig 15 yo 2004/2019 (51.6%, Or Sileis, Taiwan, cask #50088, 240 bottles) 
Don’t our friends over there love their dragons? But OMG, the 2004 vintage is already 15. Time flies as fast as… dragons, does it not. Colour: gold. Nose: immediate, almost instantaneous raw mineral peat (vs. medicinal) plus lime juice and light custard. It's rather raw, pretty simple, not too far from some recent OBs (can’t remember the names, ages are easy to remember, Gaelic not so…) Then rather bell pepper and juniper, seashells, and a very grassy smoke. With water: some oak spices for sure, but balance has been kept. Modern Laphroaig as the distillery themselves are proposing these days. Mouth (neat): very punchy, and all in keeping with the nose, full of a grassy smokiness, citrus peel, Thai basil, green pepper, and ‘licking pebbles’. Are there good pebbles on the Islay beaches? Machir? Really sharp. With water: same feelings, plus touches of salt and green pepper. More oak spices in the aftertaste (some curry?) Finish: long, saltier indeed, spicier. Comments: I find this very very good, it’s just that it does not do things by half. And it would spare no one. Ah, yes, that’s Cairdeas…
SGP:377 - 87 points. |
So another one… and why change bottler? |
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Laphroaig 19 yo 1999/2018 (56.1%, Or Sileis, Arthurian Tales series, sherry hogshead, cask #1688, 295 bottles) 
Colour: pale gold. Nose: less wood influence, a fresher, somewhat lighter profile, and a wonderful coastal zestiness that will clear your airways, from nostrils to bronchi. Oh and a whole plate of Gruinart oysters sprinkled with Vicks’ Vaporub. Will have to try that one day! With water: pretty much on the same wavelength. Some cough syrup and embrocations rubbed between your hands. Mouth (neat): luminous, sharp, extremely smoky, with a lot of lemon, seawater, and mercurochrome. Pristine. With water: bit old-school Laphroaig, which is a compliment, obviously. Finish: this is where it tends to converge with the 2004, with a few greenish oak spices showing up. Comments: top contemporary Laphroaig. We’ll see what we’ll fin tomorrow… In the meantime, stay safe.
SGP:467 - 89 points. |
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