Best introduction to Laphroaig for beginners

by **Lugarteniente** » Sat Dec 03, 2005 8:03 pm

The best malt to be introduced into the Laphroaig Malt?

Considering that I prefer Lagavulin 16 to Ardbeg TEN

by **Tom** » Sat Dec 03, 2005 8:26 pm

Regardless of flavor preference and distillery. The standard flagship of any distillery is always best to introduce yourself in a distillery. So at least you know where you come from if you venture further exploring older/rare bottlings.

by **Jeroen Kloppenburg** » Sat Dec 03, 2005 8:27 pm

10

Not much other words necessary.

by **lambda** » Sat Dec 03, 2005 9:00 pm

I agree with Tom en Jeroen, although I can imagine you would prefer the 15, since it's a bit sweeter.

by **Deactivated Member** » Sun Dec 04, 2005 5:58 am

Agree--always best to start with the standard issue, to get a handle on what the distillery wants you to think is their basic character. If you don't like that, you likely won't like any of them. If you do, you can branch out to the others. (Besides, it's usually cheaper that way.)

by **Lawrence** » Sun Dec 04, 2005 5:46 pm

The 10 standard bottling then quickly followed with the Cask Strength, if they can't handle it too bad!

by **Deactivated Member** » Sun Dec 04, 2005 5:53 pm

I'm afraid that I've tried and tried with various "Laphroaig" expressions. But haven't liked any on them

by **Lawrence** » Sun Dec 04, 2005 5:56 pm

eelbrook said

I'm afraid that I've tried and tried with various "Laphroaig" expressions. But haven't liked any on them

by **Deactivated Member** » Sun Dec 04, 2005 6:53 pm

I actively disliked Laphroaig for a very long time, although I loved Lagavulin. Then one day I had one and liked it a lot. (Hey Mikey!) I thought, in retrospect, that it might have been around the time it supposedly "dumbed down", but I like the CS, too. A good lesson, and why I keep trying Bowmore now and then (to no avail, so far).

Don't know why you're surprised, Lawrence--everyone knows it's "love it or hate it"!

by **BruceCrichton** » Sun Dec 04, 2005 7:08 pm

eelbrook wrote:I'm afraid that I've tried and tried with various "Laphroaig" expressions. But haven't liked any on them

That's great! That leaves all the more for me!

by **bamber** » Mon Dec 05, 2005 10:51 am

The 10, but Laphroaig is my least favourite of the peated Islays (barring the 30yo), still like it though

by **patrick dicaprio** » Wed Dec 07, 2005 1:35 am

surprising that not one vote for something other than the ten! i think there is some ambiguity there in the question though. does the question mean "what is the best starting place for someone who doesnt drink Islay whiskies and wants to try laphroaig," or is it "what is the most typical of the distillery."

Pat

by **Deactivated Member** » Wed Dec 07, 2005 7:39 am

The question was "The best malt to be introduced into the Laphroaig Malt? Considering that I prefer Lagavulin 16 to Ardbeg TEN". Nothing ambiguous there in my mind, nor any surprise in the answers.

by **patrick dicaprio** » Wed Dec 07, 2005 2:02 pm

MrTattieHeid wrote:The question was "The best malt to be introduced into the Laphroaig Malt? Considering that I prefer Lagavulin 16 to Ardbeg TEN". Nothing ambiguous there in my mind, nor any surprise in the answers.

somehow i missed the part about preferrring lagavulin to ardbeg ten. oops :oops:

Pat

by **Deactivated Member** » Wed Dec 07, 2005 5:54 pm

No sweat, Pat--that's why we're here: to annoy and embarrass you.

Hey, we all misread stuff now and then.

by **GreyArea** » Wed Dec 07, 2005 6:03 pm

I've voted for the 15 because I consider it to be smoother and slightly less 'in your face' than the standard 10. the 10 can be a bit...abrupt...for a beginner.

Jim

by **Scotchio** » Wed Dec 07, 2005 6:05 pm

I'd go with the quarter cask, the best Laphroaig I've had for some time. Curiously I prefer it to the Ardbeg 10 I just opened which seems to have come over all toffeeish and is nothing like as good as I remember it.( I had a 5 year break from Scotch and previously considered the 10 to be something exceptional)

by **Nock** » Thu Dec 08, 2005 10:13 am

Lawrence wrote:The 10 standard bottling then quickly followed with the Cask Strength, if they can't handle it too bad!

SO true Lawrence.

I agree that you have to have the 10yo as a starting reference point but I think the CS is much better especially if you like Lagavulin.

Nock

by **Lugarteniente** » Thu Dec 08, 2005 4:19 pm

Finally I have tried the Laphroaig 10.

by **Deactivated Member** » Fri Dec 09, 2005 8:08 am

Lugarteniente wrote:Finally I have tried the Laphroaig 10.

...And?