Scotch

Scotch Whisky Review: Laphroaig Elements L1.0

The first release in the Laphroaig Elements Series, a selection of whiskies that will put a focus on the mashing and fermentation elements of Laphroaig's whisky production.

OVERALL RATING

8
Like Conversation

Tasting Notes

About:

The first release in the Laphroaig Elements Series, a selection of whiskies that will put a focus on the mashing and fermentation elements of Laphroaig’s whisky production. This first release is made up of two different mashes from different sizes tuns and from two different wort styles, one cloudy and one semi-cloudy.
Appearance:
Amontillado Sherry
Nose:
Heavy peat and mint toffee! A quite striking combination of flavour profiles. Lots of wonderful sweet and savoury notes split throughout this.

Lapsang souchong tea, peppermint tea, candied bacon, strawberry, balsamic vinegar, toffee, barley grist and caramelised white chocolate.
Palate:
Instant spiciness and much more of that barley grist and honey cereal notes. The peatiness is classic Laphroaig with its dry and medicinal notes.

However, the smoky bacon character, the mint, toffee and some of the caramel notes are really mixing in well with this. There’s even something that could be miso and white chocolate, but it could also just be classic salty Laphroaig with hazelnuts, white chocolate and olive oil.
Finish:
Beer driven! It has a very yeasty/brioche finish to it. This mixes in with some nice green, herbaceous notes of thyme, sage, and rosemary. As the smoke backdrafts up your palate you get more of this caramelised white chocolate, olive oil and salt. It’s quite a wonderful combination of flavours that in my head would work really well on ice cream. That beer style yeasty flavour still lingers throughout the end and does offer something quite different to the regular Laphroaig finish.
Comments:
This is a fun expression of Laphroaig that explores parts of the whisky making process that we can often forget. When it comes to mashing and fermentation they get a lot more analysis now than ever before, especially at tasting events and PR launches. They can still be processes that we often overlook when it comes to think about the core flavour of an expensive release from a well known brand.

This bottle does come with quite a hefty price tag, but if you’re a Laphroaig fan then this is something you no doubt want to taste and explore for all of the right reasons when it comes to experimental releases.

The finish is pretty infinite on this and it doesn’t want to stop giving you this slightly different Islay flavours. If you’re an Islay fan then I can see why this would appeal, taste wise it is like Laphroaig in a classic way, but pushed with some turbo driven style.

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.

Phil Dwyer

Phil Dwyer is a freelance whisky writer and consultant. With a decade of experience in whisky retail and nearly as long running Whisky Wednesday on YouTube, Phil is dedicated to sharing his knowledge and enthusiasm with fellow whisky lovers. His goal is to make whisky accessible and enjoyable, dispelling the jargon and complexity that can sometimes surround the spirit. In addition to his online presence, Phil managed The Whisky Shop Manchester, where he curated an impressive selection of some of the finest drams available.

All Posts

Latest On The Whiskey Wash

Tamnavulin Sherry Cask Edition Review

Can an affordable, no-age-statement Scotch really deliver complexity and depth? Tamnavulin’s Sherry Cask Edition surprised us – here’s why it exceeded expectations.