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Laphroaig Elements 2.0 Review

Can Laphroaig taste tropical and restrained at 59.6% ABV? This review explores Elements 2.0’s long fermentation experiment resulting in fruit, vanilla and peat.

OVERALL RATING

8
$150
  • Mark Bostock, a whisky enthusiast specializing in independent bottlings.
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Tasting Notes

About:

The second edition of Laphroaig Elements, a limited-edition series exploring the different aspects of production which make the Islay distillery’s whisky unique. When crafting Laphroaig Elements 2.0 the distillery team explored unusual ways to experiment with Laphroaig’s traditional fermentation process. Distilled during a frosty January, Elements 2.0 uses fermentation beyond Laphroaig’s standard of 55 hours, instead using a number of longer fermentations up to 115 hours. Matured exclusively in first-fill ex-bourbon casks, Elements 2.0 was bottled at natural cask strength of 59.6% ABV.
Appearance:
Pale White Wine
Nose:
A surprisingly fresh nose combining a maritime edge with a mixture of citrus and tropical fruits including, lemon and orange, pineapple, mango and plums, before stewed baked apples and vanilla sweetness develop. There is peat smoke, but its subtle gentle medicinal peat.
Palate:
A gentle start on the palate, beginning with citrus fruits leading into slightly sour green apple. Sweetness follows with soft fruits including peach and plums alongside honey and vanilla custard with a slightly creamy mouthfeel developing. The fruits and sweetness fade giving way to gentle peat and bonfire smoke embers, accompanied by touches of salty brine, seaweed, and smoked mackerel.
Finish:
Medium length, as residual vanilla sweetness fades into a warming, dry peppery smokiness.
Comments:
Laphroaig Elements 2.0 offers a distinctive experience of tropical fruits and creamy vanilla sweetness combined with gentle medicinal peat and smoke. It feels quite restrained and lightly delicate for a Laphroaig, possibly at times slightly uneven between the different layers. Given the relatively high cask strength 59.6% ABV, surprisingly at times I found it a little thin on the mouthfeel.

Overall, I’d probably score the Laphroaig Elements 2.0 at 7.5 based on my own subjective experience, but let’s be generous and score 8 out of 10. I feel at the price point it doesn’t stand up against a number of other Laphroaig expressions I’ve sampled recently. That said, as an experiment Laphroaig Elements 2.0 offers an interesting perspective on Laphroaig’s spirit character which may appeal to distillery and Islay whisky enthusiasts.

Editor’s Note: This whiskey was either bought as a sample by The Whiskey Wash or provided to us as a review sample by the party behind it. Per our editorial policies, this in no way influenced the outcome of this review.

Mark Bostock

Mark Bostock, an integral part of the Mark Littler LTD UK content writing team since 2019, brings a genuine passion for whisky, especially independent bottlings, to his work. His commitment to expanding his knowledge through attending tasting events and building his own collection enriches his contributions, blending expertise with enthusiasm.

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