Laphroaig 2015 Old Islay 10 yo

 

 

 

52°

Distillery : Laphroaig - Islay

1st Fill Bourbon Barrel

Independent Bottling 

By Decadent Drinks 

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2026

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Peated around 43 ppm 

 

 

 

Angus MacRaild and Iain MacClune, who founded Decadent Drinks in 2020, have launched a new range called the Islands Hopping Series. The concept involves travelling from one island to another across the British archipelagos and experiencing their most iconic whiskies. The first was a 21-year-old Bowmore released in February, the second a 20-year-old Ledaig (Old Mull), the third a 21-year-old Bunnahabhain, and this is the fourth, a 10-year-old Laphroaig aged in a single first-fill bourbon cask, slightly diluted to 52% ABV. Angus told me that at cask strength it was around 57–58% ABV. In the tradition of the Old Orkney range, these bottlings are called Old Islay. The aim is no doubt to revive old-style whiskies. For this one, 301 bottles are being released.  

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Right from the start, a gritty smokiness, a very pronounced coastal character, iodine, sea spray, seawater, seaweed, the tide, kelp, and a huge medicinal note, bandages, disinfectant, Betadine, melted plastic. There is indeed a whisper of vanilla and some yellow fruit in the background, but it’s subtle. The whole is very well crafted and very balanced, a bit austere, mineral. On the palate, it goes even further, the medicinal intensity is still there, peat, salinity, oysters and limestone, perhaps a hint of lychee and coconut, not overly strong spices, clove, grey pepper. A very long and explosive finish, gravel, soot, liquorice, a few dried fruits steeped in medicine, burnt rubber, roots. 

 

In Short, 

It’s so quintessentially Laphroaig, so typical of the distillery that there’s nothing else to say, except that despite its divisive flavours and aromas, it seems very well-balanced, easy to drink and almost self-evident. Yes, there is something old-fashioned about this whisky despite its boldness, or at least reminiscent of the old whiskies as we imagine them today. As for the price, it is high for a 10-year-old, but the quality is there, it tastes significantly older. I didn’t hesitate for long before picking up a bottle. 

Score : 90

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                           Jon Henrik Fjällgren - Old Paths