WHISKY CLUB
THE CONNOISSEUR Euan Finlayson
For a Laphroaig, it’s not as smoky as I thought it would be. It’s also more medicinal than I was ex- pecting. Laphroaig has that TCP/iodine tinge to it but this one, especially in the nosing, doesn’t have that and on the palette you get more vanilla and liquorice tastings. It is almost like a more modern, engineered style and you can tell it’s been through a few process- es, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. It’s not like a typical Laphroaig, like the cask strength 10-year-old, so I’m not sure if I like a famous malt like that being toned down. It’s great value at £55 and very modern and very pleasant, al- though I prefer the quarter cask as it is, without the sherry fi nish. Saying that, this dram has put me in the mood for the forthcoming Feis Ile whisky festival on Islay.
Rating: 8/10
THE HEAVYWEIGHT Craig Nicholson
I can’t help but compare with the Laphroaig 10-year-old, which I rarely drink, and the aftertaste of the Triple Wood is not bad at all. It stays in the mouth for that bit longer - it’s lovely and absolutely something I would drink. You can tell it has elements of a Laphroaig but it is not what I expected at all. You think you’re going to get a rough, peaty dram and I was pleasantly surprised. I wouldn’t have gone for a Lap- hroaig before now. I remember drinking it in the Oban Inn and this Swedish girl who was in Oban with a choir drank me under the table! I knew Laphroaig wasn’t for me after that but this dram has changed my mind. It’s more enjoyable as you get into it, so I’ve avoided putting in water in case it gets drowned. For £55 you get real value for money with this whisky, which you can enjoy all night.
Rating: 8/10
THE JOURNALIST Euan Paterson
This can’t be a Laphroaig! When I heard our fi rst tasting was to be from the famous Islay distillery I had a fl eeting consideration of dissent. I love Islay drams but I have an uneasy relationship with the La- phroaig, which I fi nd too fi erce in comparison with other peaty malts like the Lagavulin 16-year-old. On sampling this Triple Wood, however, I was surprised and im- pressed in equal measure. It has the typical strength of an Islay malt but the sweet fi nish belies the La- phroaig labelling and it is not long before that warm, enveloping feel- ing you get from Islay whiskies be- comes obvious. The group challenged me on my apathy towards the Laphroaig 10- year-old and I qualifi ed my opinion by how I might see an expensive piece of art: I can appreciate the effort and inspiration behind it, but I won’t necessarily enjoy it. That’s the difference with this sherry-fi n- ished Triple Wood, I enjoyed it im- mensely.
Rating: 9/10
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