Laphroaig Live 2013

It is again that time of the year. Whisky Festivals pop like mushrooms on the wild and here it is coolest of them: Laphroaig Live.
This year Laphroaig Live will take place at New York ( C’mon man! Come back to Jerez! ) at Thursday 26th September, 8PM ( New York Time ) or Friday, 27th at 1am if you happen to live at London. A bit late for a dram but who can let our Laphroaig friends to drink alone on the city that never sleeps…

The venue for the evening is an original Hudson River Barge which, at over 99 years old, has seen cargo come and go into New York for almost a century. While the barge was taking its cargo into port, Ian Hunter – the last family owner of Laphroaig – was introducing the world to the now famous whisky. Legend has it he even introduced it to the USA during Prohibition by convincing authorities of its “medicinal” purposes! ( Amen for this man! *cought* *cought*)

As usual on every Laphroaig Live, an expert panel of guests will explore part of the history and the drams of Laphroaig and this time its links with America. ( Did you said Maker’s Mark? )

They’ll look first to the fastest growing Laphroaig expression, Quarter Cask, matured in barrels similar to those used in the early days of the distillery. To contrast this, the panellists will sample the latest expression, Laphroaig QA, which uses the American style of maturation. They will compare it to the classic American bourbon from sister distillery, Maker’s 46. The final expression will be the remarkable Cairdeas 2013, bottled for the Friends of Laphroaig. This unique expression used Port Wood for part of its maturation, resulting in an extraordinary taste and colour.

I have tasted two of them so let me give you my two cents.

Laphroaig Quarter Cask

“More sweet and less "macho" than Laphroaig 10 years old. A very good whisky nonetheless and it does a great work blended with 1/5 of Lagavulin ;)”

90

A vibrant young Laphroaig whose maturation has been speeded up by ageing in Quarter Casks. This shows soft sweetness and a velvety feel when first tasted, then the intense peatiness so unique to Laphroaig comes bursting through. A really terrific whisky and great value.

This dram has a gold-like color.

Nose (90): more than average. peat, honey, sea, citrus.

Palate (91): powerful, oily. peat, honey, seaweed, salt, pepper, citrus, earthy. Explendid!

Finish (90): longer than average. peat, honey, citrus.

So based on other whiskies I have already tasted I rate this Laphroaig Quarter Cask with 90 points over 100.

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Laphroaig QA

I have a bottle of this one but still I haven’t tasted it… let’s see if TWE Whisky Show gives me a chance.

Maker’s Mark 46

Maker’s Mark was doing quite well and so they decided to release a version of it bottled at 40% ABV and the public outrage that followed made them reconsider their decision and bottle it again at 45%. Not sure if this new Maker’s Mark 46 is the same as the old one…

Laphroaig Cairdeas 2013

“100% Laphroaig! Very sweet with lots of Christmas cake spices. Delicious”

90

This dram has a fino-like color.

Nose (90): more than average. peat, iodine, wood, spices, biscuits, fruits.

Palate (91): powerful, oily. peat, iodine, honey, citrus, spices, sweet, coffee.

Finish (90): longer than average. peat, iodine, fruits.

So based on other whiskies I have already tasted I rate this Laphroaig Feis Ile 2013 - Cairdeas Port Wood Edition with 90 points over 100.

Miguel says…

As usual you can follow the Live Show at http://laphroaig.com/live. I was at the Laphroaig Live Jerez and that was definitively what sparkle the my interest in writing about single malt whisky. If you have the chance, go! Free Whisky!

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