The Laphroaig Triple Wood is basically the Laphroaig Quarter Cask that’s been finished in Oloroso sherry butts. Which means they take their traditional Laphroaig juice and then first age it in ex-bourbon barrels (wood 1), then they take some of that bourbon barrel juice and put it into their specially made quarter casks to age for a bit (wood 2) before finally dumping it all into some sherry butts for the last bit of aging (wood 3).
Originally slated to be an European Travel Retail exclusive bottling, it’s now much more widely available and that’s definitely a good thing because it is some decidedly tasty juice. For my own personal tastes I do like the Quarter Cask a bit more, but I enjoy having this to change things up and give my senses a different take on an already delicious dram.
Laphroaig Triple Wood Review
Non-Chill Filtered
ABV: 48%
Age: NAS
Price: $65
Distiller: D. Johnston & Co. (Laphroaig)
EYE
Light caramel
NOSE
Caramel, butterscotch and a punchy peat walk hand-in-hand out of the glass while honey, baklava and a tarry molasses like sweetness pal around with a nutty character deep in the aroma. Overripe orchard fruit and a slight pop of citrus move about adding to the dimensions of this whisky.
TASTE
Peat, caramel and dark fruit move about strangely on the palate. They’re a little out of synch which gives notes of dark fruit, nuts, wood, sherry sweetness and a candied smoked meat opportunities to come and go at intervals that continually jostle the dominant flavors. Seaweed, iodine and citrus peel provide a savory backdrop.
BALANCE, BODY & FEEL
A decent balance of flavors and aromas with a full body, smooth texture and a bit of heat on it’s way down.
FINISH
Peat, ash, caramel, honey, an ambiguous rich sweetness, wood and a hint of flaky pastry all ride out on a nice long finish.
OVERALL
I like the Laphroaig Triple Wood, but I don’t love it. Those wonderful medicinal Novocain notes I’ve come to associate with the name seem to have been covered up with some sweeter dessert notes. I don’t mind that with the 2013 Cairdeas because of the balance of port and peat work together to create an entirely new experience. Here it feels like something is missing. Like it’s just 2 degrees off, but that 2 degrees isn’t enough to get me riled up because at the end of the day it does come together as an overall flavorful dram that passes the all important porch test. Which is a rigorous process of pouring some neat, sitting on my porch and enjoying a warm SoCal afternoon.
SCORE: 89/100
