Today Laphroaig twice crazy


August 7, 2025

Today Laphroaig twice crazy

I know, we knocked back litres of Laphroaig in July, but the Element 3.0 has just arrived, so let’s have it. We’ll also have a ‘Secret Islay’ of around thirty years of age; unfortunately, we know the quality of those batches, and it’s doubtful that the new official release, good as it may be, stands much chance in this fratricidal duel...

Laphroaig ‘Elements L 3.0’ (55.3%, OB, 2025)

Laphroaig remains one of the rare distilleries still managing to flog NAS whiskies at lofty prices, let’s be honest. But there’s a tale here, as this one is apparently ‘the result of a fire in our kiln that burned peat for longer and at higher temperatures than usual’ Now isn’t that awfully credible? Colour: gold. Nose: it’s mostly pronounced woodiness we’re getting here, fir sawdust, green tea, and a peat that, at this stage, prefers to whisper rather than shout. The whole remains bone-dry nonetheless. With water: still bone-dry, now leaning into soaked cask wood, fig leaves, and green tomato vines. Mouth (neat): not unpleasant on the palate, somewhat oily and cask-driven, though a few exotic fruit notes do peek through, the sort that once built Laphroaig’s reputation, beyond the love it or hate it USP. On the other hand, those green tannins and that oddly artificial smoke become increasingly grating and assertive. With water: a sliver of gentleness emerges, circling around lemon marmalade, but let’s not kid ourselves, it’s the bare minimum. Finish: long but rather simplistic, with an astringency that overstays its welcome. Comments: really not great, in all honesty. L 1.0 and L 2.0 were considerably better in my humble opinion, and at €175.00, this is frightfully not very good value, we must humbly add.
SGP:476 – 80 points.

Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky 30 yo 1993/2024 (48.2%, Casky Finest Selection & Revel Hibiki, refill barrel)

We’re back in Hong Kong this time. As they say, these ‘secret’ independent Laphroaigs from the late 1980s to early 1990s generally range from the superb to the utterly sublime. Colour: straw. Nose: magnificent soft camphory and briny sweetness, rather in the style of that other Islay distillery now under the same ownership (right, Bowmore), plus wet campfire ashes suddenly doused by a cloudburst. Could one get more poetic? The usual tiny oysters are in place, almond oil as well, and a bit of soot. However, it isn’t medicinal in the slightest. Mouth: thirty years is indeed the perfect age for peated Islays, and here comes further proof. The bitterness is exquisite, should you share my fondness for it, with salinity cranked up to eleven, flashes of green pepper, then heaps of ashes, with that peculiar impression of having popped a cigar in backwards. An extinguished one, naturally. Finish: rather long and very dry, pushing even further into the ashes, which may be a tad drying but who cares in this setting. A whisper of lemon on the aftertaste, and even a wee dash of cough syrup. All in all, textbook Laphroaigness. Comments: only drawback, there are no surprises. Well played once again, Hong Kong whisky people.
SGP:367 - 91 points.

Check the index of all Laphroaig we've tasted so far