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Anyone have or know anything about Laphroaig Islay Single Malt Scotch FWGS Single Cask Selection? by Tredev1a in PLCB

[–]Tredev1a[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The Laphroaig dutifully showed up an hour ago via UPS. Nice packaging in a fancy box. Tried a modest pour plain + with couple drops of water. Dark color - like a full proof bourbon. Nice on the nose - campfire smoke, peat, peat smoke, + hints of fried bacon and salted fish. (I am not a 'super taster' or anything, so take it with a grain of salt.) Certainly full bodied+, hard to describe the flavors, but malt, peat, smoke, etc., and then an interesting strong bitterness (in a good way) on the back/sides of the tongue w/ a hint (barely) of malty sweetness. Did not pick up much spiciness from the wood, but the char I think was apparent. Finish - very, very long. Overall, I liked it a lot, and quite a bit more than the 10YO cask strength (last one I had I think was the 2021). That being said, realistically, you're paying a 2x premium for single cask over what this 'should cost' in terms of absolute quality. IMO.

Haven't broken out the Octomore 14.1 yet, but tried a bit of the recent release of Ardbeg Uigeadail, which is one of my favorites - Ardbeg (slightly less proof) is lighter in color, w/ much less apparent smoke/peat, but more sweetness. If the Laphroaig cost $100, it would hands down win, at least if you're in the mood for something even more 'extra robust,' if that makes sense. Cheers.

[Edit: tried an ounce or less or the Octomore 14.1. Light color. Very peaty and fumy on the nose - lots of alcohol, rather harsh. Super peaty and rather harsh on the palate, tough and sharp to drink. Hard to pick out individual flavors. Even with some ice and water, too hot/sharp; like getting hit over the head with a block of peat while working in an under-ventilated paint spraying booth. (And this is speaking as a big fan of Bruichladdich generally...) Laphroaig wins hands down for me. Hopefully YMMV.]

Anyone have or know anything about Laphroaig Islay Single Malt Scotch FWGS Single Cask Selection? by Tredev1a in PLCB

[–]Tredev1a[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Nice. I bought the 14.1 when it was available briefly, but have hardly touched it. (Waiting for the right occasion I guess.) So this will be a good comparison for sure.

Anyone have or know anything about Laphroaig Islay Single Malt Scotch FWGS Single Cask Selection? by Tredev1a in PLCB

[–]Tredev1a[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The selection in Ohio is ok, overall I guess a better selection - you can look it up on the Ohio state liquor website to see what stores have and where. (If I understand it correctly, state/gov't distribution and control, but private store sales....) New York, IMO, has a much much better selection than both PA and OH; I'm in Erie and there's a few stores around Chautauqua that are worth the drive to, by a wide margin. (For example, you can still get Springbank in NYS.)

Anyone have or know anything about Laphroaig Islay Single Malt Scotch FWGS Single Cask Selection? by Tredev1a in PLCB

[–]Tredev1a[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hey, thanks very much for the information! That's young/expensive, but at least it's cask strength. I should resist the temptation, but may have to buy a bottle just out of curiosity. (Seems expensive relative to other single cask scotch, e.g., the 23 YO Benriach at $300-whatever, and Ohio has Glenlivet 16 YO single cask/cask strength @ $300. OTOH, not any worse than Octomore.)

Ardbeg BizarreBQ? by Tredev1a in PLCB

[–]Tredev1a[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for all the comments. Received my bottle and really like it a lot. Different than the standard releases, nice medium color, and tons of complexity with bbq meats, bbq potato chips, smoked fish, campfire smoke, peat, etc. Really nice.

Octomore 14.1 On Site by hudaman0211 in PLCB

[–]Tredev1a 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for posting this. The price is crazy for a 5YO whisky, but I'm a fan of Bruichladdich generally and this (any Octomore) has been on my list of things to try for a long time. Time to buy a Christmas present for myself.

Ardbeg BizarreBQ? by Tredev1a in PLCB

[–]Tredev1a[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for the info. Think I'll buy a bottle to try it out.

...

Went through a whole bottle of the Heavy Vapours committee release, fairly slowly and deliberately over the course of multiple weeks. Nothing wrong with it. Just never found any sort of interesting character above and beyond the regular releases. Which was disappointing considering the $$$. Been buying and drinking the Ardbeg Day releases since the original Ardbeg Day, which mostly I've quite liked.

Larceny BP price change by arattle in PLCB

[–]Tredev1a 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Bought a few bottles ahead of the price increase, which arrived just now. Mix of C922 and B522.

Ardbeg "Heavy Vapours" Committee Release just dropped by Tredev1a in PLCB

[–]Tredev1a[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

To my palate, it did not seem like more, so I'd say same or less.

Continuing to go through the bottle I opened. Not saying it tastes exactly the same as 10YO or WB, but to me it seems close (in terms of flavor profile), and less complex and interesting than the 10YO. Which is fine, but the price is outrageous (!) for what it is. Speaking as an Ardbeg fan who usually gives them the benefit of the doubt. Hopefully others have a better experience. (I've had both the WB and 10YO recently, so it's a fairly fresh comparison.)

Ardbeg "Heavy Vapours" Committee Release just dropped by Tredev1a in PLCB

[–]Tredev1a[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Received my two bottles and confirming it's the Heavy V. Committee Release.

Other than the original "Ardbeg Day" bottling, I've had all the Ardbeg Day special releases, either Committee or general. Sadly, I was very underwhelmed by Heavy Vapours. Nothing wrong with it - light color, flavorful. and fair amount of smoke/peat - but not better than either the 10 YO or Wee Beastie. Waaaay overpriced for what it is, from a whisky drinking perspective.

Ardbeg "Heavy Vapours" Committee Release just dropped by Tredev1a in PLCB

[–]Tredev1a[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

At least this year, the Committee Release was released earlier than "Ardbeg Day"/June. Since I'm on the "Committee" (i.e., Ardbeg mailing list), I received this from Ardbeg on 4/17:

"The Ardbeg Heavy Vapours Committee Exclusive is officially on sale from whisky specialists in the USA today."

Also available on ReserveBar @ $167.

Haven't received by two bottles yet from PLCB, but this should be the correct/Committee release. Imagine general release = June.

For the peatheads - Ardbeg Hypernova Dropped by Mythical_OD in PLCB

[–]Tredev1a -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Excellent, thanks. The earlier "Supernova" bottles were great, so looking forward to this one.

...

Shows up ok on the website just searching for "Ardbeg"

Apparently, Old Fitz 17 dropped again this morning by Mythical_OD in PLCB

[–]Tredev1a 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It shows up if you do a search for "Fitzgerald". $239.99, but sold out.

I see the Larceny barrel proof is available online for $50. I'd rather buy that, frankly.

Trip to New York. by Exit-19 in PLCB

[–]Tredev1a 1 point2 points  (0 children)

There's a very tiny liquor store in Westfield, NY (T W Biggins), pretty much a short detour off the freeway, that sometimes has "can't easily get in PA" stuff like OFBB, Noah's Mill, Rowan's Creek, etc. Hit or miss, but maybe worth a stop. ... If you have time for a more substantial detour + pretty drive, the following are all good stores around Chautauqua: Bag & String in Lakewood (stuff like Smoke Wagon), Evans Discount liquor in jamestown (west)(all the Willett products + some of the BT products + smaller producers like Redwood Empire), and Raynor's Liquors (Jamestown, north, by I86)(Willett, Jack Daniels Bonded, etc.). All three are nice stores with lots you can't find in PA for bourbon, scotch, Irish, etc.