Episode 02: Laphroaig Quarter Cask Scotch Review

I woke of this morning and it was cold, really cold for October. There was a dusting of snow on the ground and the wind was blowing through the trees and making the day feel almost like winter. Of course, I immediately though of pouring a wonderful glass of peated Scotch. I tend to like peated Scotches in winter and for my second episode I decided this would be a good direction to talk the show.

Laphroaig Quarter Cask is an excellent example of an Islay whisky. Traditionally these distillers heat their malted barley with fires fed by peat to stop the germination. This imparts smoke and peat smell the resulting whisky. The Quarter cask is a young whisky, I would guess between 6 and 8 years. What helps bring out the wood notes and bring it together is they finish the spirit in casks that are about 1/4 the size of regular bourbon barrels. This gives the Scotch a great exposure to the wood.

I love this Scotch. It is a bit young, and the smoke is strong up front, but give it a bit of time and it will open up. When tasting I notice the peat first giving it earth notes and maybe some spice. However, along the way it has a playful sweetness, and a nice, slightly oily feel in the mouth. The oak comes through if you are sipping into the night, and the smoke comes back in a long lingering finish. There is nothing boring about this Scotch! If you do not like peat, please do not try. Also, if you are new to whisky I would not put it high on the list. If you do want a flavorful, smoky Scotch on a cold day, this is a must try. I would give it 4 to 4.5 stars. It is a little rough and young, but there is so much to love here. Enjoy!

Rating:✮✮✮✮✰
Video Review Link: https://youtu.be/_05wgBABRws

Comments

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