The Archives series welcomes a new Laphroaig 1998 (there was another one earlier this year). I thought it would be thirteen in a dozen, there are so many Laphroaig releases you know. Mind the cask number by the way, I’ve never seen a cask from that range before.
Laphroaig 14yo 1998 (53,8%, Archives 2012, bourbon hogshead #5619, 156 btl.)
Laphroaig 14yo 1998 (53,8%, Archives 2012, bourbon hogshead #5619, 156 btl.)Nose: this one surprised me right away. It has strong hints of car workshops, with clean tyres. A lot of freshly laid tarmac as well. Over time this impression fades away, and secondary notes start to show: antiseptic, hay, dark espresso, and some sweet lemon juice. Marzipan. But the initial feeling of deep, phenolic peat was quite unique.
Mouth: there it is again, this unique rubberiness (in a good way). Have you ever been in a pit stop during a race? Nice. Very peaty, very tarry, quite dark, really beautiful and focused. Ashes, some liquorice, sugared lapsang tea, coffee roast. Marzipan and candy sugar. Hints of pencil shavings too.
Finish: long, peaty, and slightly kippery.
A concept dram, maybe, but a nice one and not just an experiment in peatiness, if you know what I mean. It shows some unique notes and above average complexity. Nice to be surprised by a seemingly standard young Laphroaig. Around € 80, found here.
Score: 90/100