Laphroaig Quarter Cask Review
Today I’m taking a look at one of my favorites, Laphroaig Quarter Cask. If you’re a lover of single malt scotch whisky, then Laphroaig needs no introduction. One of the most popular—and polarizing—Scottish distilleries in the world, Laphroaig is known for their heavily peated, medicinal flavors, and the Quarter Cask is no exception to this flavor profile.
Laphroaig was my introduction into the world of heavily peated whiskies. It was hardly love at first sip. In fact, I despised it the first time I was gifted a bottle of their 10 year old expression. I had such a hard time even drinking the bottle, that I actually poured the last few ounces down the drain (an act I am deeply ashamed of now).
After that unpleasant initial encounter, I avoided Islay whiskies for a while, but eventually gave them another chance. First a friend shared some Ardbeg 10 year with me—I found it intriguing enough to buy a bottle for myself. Although I was still skeptical, I found myself slowly starting to enjoy peat.
Then I was again gifted a bottle of Laphroaig 10 year. Even though I had grown to enjoy Ardbeg’s heavily peated whisky, I was not so sure I wanted to try another bottle of Laphroaig. But as soon as I opened the bottle and poured a dram, things were different. I had grown accustomed to the taste of peat smoke, and even began to enjoy the medicinal “band-aid” flavors typical of Laphroaig. Soon thereafter, I tried my first bottle of Quarter Cask, and this time there was no looking back—I was in love.
I’ve since gone through many different expressions of Laphroaig in addition to the 10 year and Quarter Cask—the 10 year cask strength version, 15 year, 18 year, and a couple of their annual Cairdeas releases. I love many of them (the 18 and the Cairdeas in particular), but it’s the Quarter Cask that I always keep in my house (in large part due to the price/value).
So after that lengthy introduction, here are my tasting notes on Laphroaig Quarter Cask.
