Laphroaig 14yo Willem Dafoe Edition

Laphroaig 14yo Willem Dafoe Edition 

Region: Islay

ABV: 53.7%

Price: £138.00

Created in collaboration with Willem Dafoe, this 14 year old Laphroaig was matured in American oak before being finished in Oloroso sherry casks. Bottled non chill filtered. No official outturn has been stated.

Nose

Palate

There is so much iodine and just peat on the palate, with notes of ash and a log burning fire. The mouthfeel is a touch thin. We also find flat lemonade, dried roasted peanuts, fresh pineapple, and tonic water. The finish is a good length, though a little too much pepper spice joins the other notes.

Nose (with water)

Water brings out honey-glazed ham, menthol, beef gravy, and reduced prunes and raisins. The smoke is slightly dimmed, though most of the pre-dilution notes are still present. The alcohol spice remains in good balance. Overall, it feels more cask forward now.

Palate (with water)

Water has reduced the spice on the finish and improved the mouthfeel. Those sherry notes, prunes, raisins, and cranberries, are now brought to the forefront. They are joined by an ashy peat on the still good length finish. Like the nose, it becomes less spirit driven and more cask forward with water.

Conclusion

This is a tricky one. We prefer the balance between spirit and cask before dilution, though we do have a few nitpicks, particularly with the mouthfeel. A few drops of water fix many of those issues, but in doing so the dram becomes a little too cask-forward for our tastes. Still, there is plenty to enjoy here.

Score: 7/10

Value

Better value than the recent Elements series, though it still feels a little too expensive to us.

• 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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