Laphroaig celebrated the 200th Anniversary of the distillery by (re-)releasing five expressions: a Laphroaig 15 Year Old, Laphroaig 21 Year Old, a special Cairdeas and Laphroaig 32 Year Old.
The last is this Laphroaig 16 Year Old, (theoretically) only available in travel retail.
Like the 21yo it is presented in half bottles. I personally like this idea for limited editions, although it tends to make it cost more than half the price.
Laphroaig 16 yo (43%, OB 2015, travel retail, 35cl.)
Laphroaig 16 yo (43%, OB 2015, travel retail, 35cl.)Nose: a very citrusy start, with lemon candy and hints of vanilla cake. Peaches and stewed apples. Some flowery hints. On the light side, quite rounded, although there are some tangy antiseptics in the background. More medicinal notes than actual peat smoke though.
Mouth: sweet and rounded. Lots of pears and apples, powder sugar. Grapefruit syrup. Light peppery notes and increasing (sweet) smoke.
Finish: not too long, dry, with some liquorice and walnut but still marked by sweet fruits as well.
Quite a sweet, fruity, simple Laphroaig. It’s an enjoyable malt but I fear true fans will stick to the core range. Around € 45 in travel retail. Up to € 80 in regular stores.
Score: 84/100