Laphroaig 10 Year Cask Strength

Short introduction to this review: my wife poured a dram of this Laphroaig Cask Strength, and I poured the remainder of the Ardbeg Corryvreckan bottle. We accidentally placed them side-by-side and turned our attention away... when we turned back we couldn't tell the different, by sight. 

So we sniffed - still, they were very close! It was only when tasting them that they betrayed their natures
- my wife said that Corryvreckan had a "higher tone" to it, in a musical sense. Which is true - it's sweeter and fruitier, although also just below 60% ABV and also very heavily smoked. The Cask Strength was much deeper in the peat and the seaweed, with less sweetness, and overall much drier at the close. Let's check the full story... 

Nose: This is delicious on the nose. Smoke, of course, rich peaty smoke and rich medicinal iodine. Sea spray. But what a subtle, enigmatic sweetness! Like an iron fist in a satin glove. Very intense, but with soft edges. Me likey. 

Mouthfeel: Thick and full. 

Palate: Wow, what a burn - and yet the smoke covers it up almost entirely, as with the stiffer Ardbeg offerings. End result is curiously smooth - the alcohol burn is disguised under the smoke and peat. Vanilla is here, exploding into ash and oak bark and the deep fleshy part of an oak tree. Also cane sugar burned into molasses. I like the marriage of the charred wood to the heavily peated malt to the very high alcohol content. Shock and awe. 

Finish: Long, long, longggggggg. Smoke and oak. Smoak. 

Verdict: Highly recommended, even above and beyond the regular Laphroaig 10 Year. This is some real stuff. Ashy and sweet. This is one of the most intense Islay expressions south of Ardbeg Supernova. This is not for the feint of heart, but it is rewarding. You will get drunk on this: be forewarned. 

Link to Laphroaig Cask Strength: http://www.laphroaig.com/whiskies/cask-strength.aspx