After tasting three new Islay whiskies at the previous tasting, it was time for the Cask Strength work. The first of the cask-strength whiskies was Laphroaig Cask Strength Batch 2. Since early last year, Laphroaig no longer bottles their Cask Strength as a standard 10-year-old release; instead, it comes in batches. These batches are still 10 years old, but each year there are noticeable flavor differences from one batch to the next.

Because there was still plenty left of Batch 1 in stock, Batch 2 became available in the Netherlands only recently. I’ve actually opened Batch 2 once before in Scotland, but since I’m trying to work through my backlog of bottles first, that one is still unopened.

Nose

Spicy, sweet, and salty all at once. Not overwhelmingly smoky, but just enough peat to make it very enjoyable! Tobacco and cigar boxes — that sawn plywood aroma. Citrus and anise. Liquorice. These are all familiar flavors you also encounter in sherry-influenced Laphroaigs.

Palate

Viscous and nicely sweet. Lots of fruit. Quite sharp — which makes sense at 58.3 % ABV. With a little water, the flavour becomes fresher. Instead of peaches and plums, you pick up more grapes and melon.

Finish

A pleasantly long afterburner — spicy, with the flavour seemingly never ending. The smokiness here is even more prominent than I expected.

I left just a tiny amount in the glass to see how it would develop after a few minutes. After about a quarter of an hour it suddenly developed a very nice strawberry aroma in the glass — like Bon Maman jam! Hmm!

Overall Impression

What a fantastic whisky this is! I’ve never been that crazy about Laphroaig, except for the regular 10 and the earlier Cask Strength releases (and of course various pricey independent bottles :S), but this one puts Laphroaig right back on the map for me. It’s definitely one of the more enjoyable whiskies I’ve tasted recently.

Details & Score

• Laphroaig 10 Cask Strength Batch 2

• Bottled: January 2010

• Strength: 58.3 %

• Approx. price: €51

Scores:

• Nose: 10

• Palate: 9

• Finish: 9

• Experience: 10

• Price/Quality: 10

Total: 48 points