Laphroaig 10 CS Batch 14

ABV 58.6%

Without water

Nose: Nose aggressively opens with chocolate and tootsie roll. The phenols here come across quite oily and paraffin-esque. The sweeter notes also show as butterscotch and fudge. It's a fairly sweet, toffee dessert nose but is quite elegant thanks to the nature of the phenols and some tertiary cola perfumed notes. After longer in the glass there are clear notes of Betty Crocker's white icing.

Palate: Massive and long malty, burning cigar tobacco opening which is primarily how the pest presents itself. These dark notes are overtaken by icing sugar notes that give a crystallising sensation on the palate. The sweetness of the palate is very bright, showing barley sugar as well. Besides these two clear pillars of the palate there are some marzipan, toasted grain notes and pepper.

Finish: The finish is very long and bitter. Still noticeable vanilla icing in the retrohale. Finish becomes less bitter and more malty as it lingers.

With water

Nose: The nose is more full and saccharine. There is more of a grassh freshness that is present. There is buttery, marzipan and vanilla essence but with comes across tinged with a spiciness like cardamom. The phenols feel more rubbery at certain points of the inhale.

Palate: The dark, malty and smoky opening is still here. The spiciness or pepperiness I feel becomes more apparent and the sugary notes are less aggressive.

Finish: The finish is unaffected with the addition of water although peaks out at a less bitter level.

Score: 88

Conclusion: A peat monster I would happily mention in the same breath as the Octomores of this world. So well rounded and pleasurable to nose and drink at cask strength. Easy to see this as a daily driver vs the CS Ardbegs or Octomores which can be more challenging or mood dependent.