This is a REAL pleasure. My first Laphroaig in a while, and it's a nicely aged one - the same age as Lagavulin, the magisterial standard for all Islay. Can Laphroaig 16 measure up to that lofty standard? Aged in ex-bourbon barrels, and bottled at a nice 48% ABV.
Nose: The traditional Laphroaig experience: smoke, peat, prominent vanilla, cereal grain, a wash of iodine, and tons and tons of sea salt and brine. Here are there are hints of fruit (lemon, banana), but they only waft in and out.
Mouthfeel: Surprisingly thin-bodied.
Palate: Wow! Bright lemon candy pops immediately, followed by a taste of pepper, then a cool wave of delicious honey. Then smoked caramel comes in along with a ghostly return of the lemon note. Some coal dust. Absolutely delicious - the thickest honey flavor I can remember in any dram. But very very soft as well - this is not a hard or harsh dram. Six extra years really mellows Laphroaig.
Finish: Shorter and softer than most Laphroaig ... the smoke, peat, chocolate, and wood notes (oak, pine) evaporate pretty rapidly.
Verdict: I didn't even know Laphroaig HAD a 16 year expression until I went searching on drizly.com ... but boy, I'm glad I looked. This doesn't have the magisterial nobleness of Lagavulin, despite coming in at a higher cost point, but it does have a marvelous richness and freshness and a wonderful palate experience with a core of thickspun honey. Again, quite soft. But worth the $100 I paid.
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