Dràm Mòr Laphroaig Cask #26976 & SMWS 29.266 (Laphroaig)

Dràm Mòr Laphroaig cask #26976 

Region: Islay

ABV: 53.8%

Price: £169.95

Dràm Mòr celebrated its fifth anniversary in 2024 with a series of special releases, including this 11-year-old Laphroaig. Distilled in 2013, it was matured for 11 years in a single refill barrel before being bottled in 2024. The outturn was limited to 300 bottles. 

Nose

The nose opens with notes of seaweed, sardines, brine, and the aroma of Arbroath smokies and barbecue, alongside vanilla ice cream and a little sea salt spray. The ABV is noticeable, bringing a fair amount of peppery spice to the nose. Going back, we pick up dry wood, chlorine, burnt twigs, iodine, and toasted bread. There’s a pleasant balance of sweetness and peat, though the peat here is more coastal and subdued compared to what we typically expect. 

Palate

The palate delivers plenty of dry wood smoke and iodine, balanced by sweetness from lemon, lime, and sugar syrup. A distinct brininess and salinity emerge on the mid-palate. Unfortunately, the mouthfeel is slightly on the thin side, almost as if it had been reduced to 46%. The finish is of medium length, with lingering smoke and sweetness, accompanied by a touch of cardamom spice. 

Nose (with water)

With water, the coastal and briny notes are less pronounced, allowing more citrus—particularly lime—and caramel to emerge in the background. A brief sulphur-like note appears but fortunately fades quickly. The smoke is also reduced, as is the vanilla, which is now replaced by a petrol-like note reminiscent of a Riesling. 

Palate (with water)

Unfortunately, water has done nothing to help the mouthfeel, it has however brought out some clove and aniseed notes, alongside more citrus, and iodine. Outwith that the dram is relatively unchanged.  

Conclusion

While not the boldest Laphroaig, there’s plenty of peat and enough sweetness to make this enjoyable. It drinks and noses a little older than its 11 years, and is good dram overall, though we would have enjoyed it more with more with just a little texture to the mouthfeel. 

Score: 7.5/10

Value

It’s definitely on the pricier side, which is unusual for Dràm Mòr, known for their typically competitive pricing. Perhaps the higher cost is due to this being bottled as Laphroaig rather than under the Williamson name. 

SMWS 29.266 (Laphroaig)

Region: Islay

ABV: 60.9%

Price: £106.00 (Auction)

29.266, titled “Converting Vegetarians,” is an 8-year-old Laphroaig distilled in April 2011 and bottled in 2019. It was matured in a second-fill ex-bourbon cask and released with an outturn of 249 bottles. 

Nose

The nose opens with a whole host of aromas, we're getting sandpaper, industrial paint remover, burnt caramel, fresh gaia melon, playdough, lemon verbena, along with a fizzy peach drink and toasted coconut shavings. The alcohol is in good balance, there's a tinge of white pepper spice but it's not too noticeable. After some time and air, we're finding vanilla, brown sugar, a little apple, and Jamaican ginger beer. 

Palate

 The nose from the neck pour was fairly subdued, but on returning for a second dram, it had opened up nicely. There are notes of sardine brine, dry earth, and a touch of cloves, along with cold butter, burnt wood chips, tar, Limoncello, and ginger spice. Despite being over 60% ABV, it noses surprisingly easily. 

Nose (with water)

The palate opens with a slight bitterness from orange rind and grapefruit juice, followed by dry smoke balanced with a touch of sweetness from lemonade. As we sit with it notes of vanilla pods, cough sweets, iodine, maple syrup, and a hint of meatiness emerge alongside a fair amount of clove spice. The finish carries a good balance of sweetness and peat, but our main criticism is that the mouthfeel is a little too thin for our tastes.

Palate (with water)

The reduced palate remains too thin, though the peat now dominates over the sweeter notes. The finish retains its length but has gained more cracked black pepper spice and a touch of dark chocolate bitterness. That hit of peat outlasts all other flavours on the finish. If you’re a peat enthusiast, we’d recommend adding a few drops of water, as it really brings out the smoky flavours and aromas. That said, there’s plenty to enjoy in the undiluted dram as well.   

Conclusion

We wanted to love this one, but the thin mouthfeel holds it back for us. Still, considering it’s only eight years old, it’s an impressive whisky. 

Score: 7.5/10

Value

While not cheap for an 8-year-old, we’re pleased to see auction prices trending downward.

• 10 - Perfection. One in a million
• 9 - Outstanding. Exceptional whisky.
• 8 - Great. Would seek this out.
• 7 - Good. Quality whisky.
• 6 - Above average. Happy to have a dram.
• 5 - Average. Drinkable whisky.
• 4 - Below average. Passable.
• 3 - Flawed. Noticeable negatives.
• 2 - Defective. Significant faults.
• 1 - Offensive. Pour it out.

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