Laphroaig 16 (2021)

Whisky: Laphroaig 16 (2021)

Region: Islay

ABV: 48.0%

Price: £90

Laphroaig originally released a small number of bottles of Laphroaig 16 in 2015 to celebrate their 200 year anniversary. Since then they have released batches of the 16 periodically. This is the 2021 edition. This has been matured in first fill bourbon barrels.

Nose

Costal sea air, Some vanilla custard, grass and milk chocolate. There’s a hint of peat in the background. Another Laphroaig that we could nose all day.

Palate

Initially surprisingly bitter and malty for having matured in first fill bourbon casks. There’s more peat here than expected from something this old. Some black pepper and seaweed. Mouthfeel is very creamy. Long warming finish.

Nose (with water)

Opens up and gains some notes of orange peel and honey.

Palate (with water)

Now this is better, the water has open this up and the whisky has become less bitter with sweeter notes such as toffee moving to the forefront.

Conclusion

Given this was bottled at 48% to begin with, we wouldn’t have expected this needed water but a few drops benefits this significantly. This isn’t terrible and with water very drinkable, but it’s one dimensional compared to other releases, and having tasted this along with Laphroaig Lore which is £30 cheaper this is hard to recommend. We'd suggest buying Lore instead.

This whisky was sampled at Amber Restaurant in Edinburgh. Read our full review here.

Score: 7/10

• 10 - Perfection. A whisky that we’ll remember forever.
• 9 - Amazing. We’d pay through the nose for a bottle.
• 8 - Great. Pick this up at RRP.
• 7 - Good. Happy to have a dram or two but wouldn’t buy a bottle.
• 6 - Passable. Would accept a dram, but wouldn’t seek it out.
• 5 - Poor. Would drink if it was the only option.
• 4 - Bad. Maybe it can be saved by ginger beer?
• 3 - Awful. It can't be saved by ginger beer.
• 2 - Pour it out
• 1 - We’ve never tried a whisky rated this low and hopefully never will.

Have you tried Laphroaig 16 (2021)? Let us know what you think in the comments section below.

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