Review #127 - Laphroaig 30 Year
'Old' Whisky Series: Part 2 of 4
This tasting was a milestone birthday treat, and it came at no small expense - this is very hard to find, especially in our area. It's Laphroaig 30 Year, a distillery bottling, coming in at 43% ABV. We were able to try it at a local whisky bar, where it had been sitting for a couple of years, rather untouched.
The smokiness or peat in a whisky will generally decline with more time spent aging in a cask. Because of this, we're expecting this Laphroaig to be much less smoky when compared to more available versions like the 10 year or Quarter Cask. How much peat will there still be? That's what we're most curious about.
Laphroaig 30 Year
Scotland/Islay - Single Malt
Current Locally Available Price: USD 1,100 (2023)
Age Statement: 30 Years
Strength: 43% ABV
Tasting Methodology: Reviewed 1 time; bottle 80% fill level at time of review. Tasted in a Glencairn glass, rested 10-15 minutes
Nose: Tar and rubber to start, and it's slightly metallic, a bit like copper. The smoke is mellow, but the experience is rich overall, with a strong old oak influence, like polished furniture wood. There is a mild savory barbecue note, some charred orange rind, and just a hint of dark red fruit like a raspberry preserve. With more time, the rubbery note grows stronger; there's creosote, as well as more grilled fruit.
Palate: The mouthfeel is medium and the smoke is mild, maybe pushing toward a medium influence. Rich and mellow wood smoke, more rubber, and some barbecue return; there are charred berries and orange rind as well, with sweeter orange slices and sherbet undertones later. We get old leather and polished oak, and it ends with some soot.
Finish: Medium-long, with a cooling feeling and a tickle of tannins around the gums. The mellow peat smoke lingers but does fall away, leaving more rubber and wood smoke. In the background, there are subtle fruits like sugary orange.
Final Note: An interesting one, and probably the most rubbery Laphroaig we've tasted, despite the reduction in the peat influence. There are those nice old oak flavors you expect with a whisky this old, and the sherbety and citrusy fruits add a nice dimension. This definitely is not a flavor bomb - it's very subtle, quite restrained, so it's not going to punch you in the face like a lot of single malts from this distillery. If you take your time with it, though, there is a lot to enjoy. No comments for value, really - nothing at this sort of price point is a good value.
Our Average Rating: 8.5 / 10
In the current whisky landscape of increasing prices and variable quality, we've added a value rating to our reviews that relates to the score and the available pricing of each whisky. This roughly equates to a 0-10 scale; no reviews so far have exceeded a score of 10, although it is technically possible for the formula to produce a value rating higher than 10 with a high enough score and low enough price.
Value Rating: 3.13
