Final sample in the NAS tasting box is Laphroaig An Cuan Mor. I never thought it would take me weeks to finish a tasting box but I got sick, was away for a week, and then wanted to blog about each one so it really got spread out.
Laphroaig is one of the famous Islay distilleries known for its' peaty whisky. We've visited Islay twice and it's absolutely beautiful. Laphroaig we didn't see until our second visit in 2017. What's especially fun about Ardbeg, Lagavulin, and Laphroaig is their proximity. You can easily walk to all three in a day. No driver required!
Laphroaig is one of the few (only?) distilleries that still turn barley on their on-site malting floor. As a 'Friend of Laphroaig' you get a tiny plot of peat moss (in a field) where you can plant a little flag. You are also entitled to 'rent' which is a free dram each year if you visit.
Laphroaig's whisky is usually light and delicate yet with a strong peat flavor. They always have a variety of expressions, but most seem to be making their whisky more approachable. Both Danielle and I (her most of all) love peat, so we have always favored their most commonly found bottle, the 10 year. In fact, it's her favorite. Before trying this one, I assumed it would be another tamer or younger version, or both. It's also another travel retail bottle.
Here's Master of Malt:
Smell: Nice whiff of peat but not a ton like the 10 year, little young/unrefined?
Color: Yellowish, little darker than I would've expected
Taste: Definitely light, some peat but again weaker than I want
Finish: A bit of burn (which Danielle didn't love) but disappears pretty quickly, nothing lingers
For the third and final time, I don't love it. Is it good? Yes. But not as good as something else from the same distillery that is probably more affordable and easy to find. NAS bottles often don't have a great reputation in general but there are gems to be found (like the a'Bunadh). This isn't one of them. It still was fun to try all these.
The next #DramOfTheDay will have to be one I know I love.
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