We couldn’t find much information about this tour online, so we thought we’d share our thoughts for anyone considering attending but looking for more details. Before we dive into our experience, here’s the official description from the distillery about the tour:
“Explore the process of Laphroaig from Barley to Bottle. Along the way you will discover how we use traditional methods to malt and smoke barley onsite. We will guide you through the process culminating in an exclusive tasting of three Whiskies straight from the cask. These casks will highlight the effect different woods, cask sizes etc have on the flavour and style our spirit. At the end of your experience, you will be presented with an exclusive gift that will include a 350ml single cask bottle, hand filled for you at the Distillery.”
So, what does that mean in practice? Essentially, you get a fairly in-depth tour of the distillery lasting around 90 minutes, although ours ended up closer to two hours by the time we finished the tour and everyone’s questions were answered. This has its pros and cons. It’s a solid tour, and we’d rank it above most distillery tours, only really falling short of the more comprehensive and pricier all-day tours or tastings, like Springbank’s Barley to Bottle experience.
The main downside, however, is that there’s no option to skip the tour and go straight to the whisky tasting on future visits. While it’s great for first-timers, returning visitors might find a mixed group—with varying levels of whisky knowledge—less appealing. Everyone needs to learn at some point, but those of you who are more knowledgeable about the processes might find some of the questions asked a bit tedious. There’s only so many times you can hear the basics of whisky-making before it becomes repetitive.
But what about the tasting? The tasting session takes place in the distillery’s warehouse, although, somewhat oddly, most of the warehouse is gated off, and the tasting is held in a small room separate from the main cask area. While the casks available for tasting may vary, we were told to expect an American Oak Bourbon cask, a European Oak Sherry cask, and a Specialty cask.
So, what did we get? Three samples from casks under ten years old: a first-fill bourbon, a first-fill sherry, and a virgin oak cask. We were also given some new make spirit, but instead of a small pour like some other Islay distilleries offer, it was disappointingly sprayed onto our hands from a spray bottle. Additionally, there’s the option to valinch some whisky directly from the cask if you’re interested.
The samples themselves were interesting, but they might be underwhelming for those expecting older whisky, especially compared to what some other Islay distilleries offer. As for the bottle you’re given, it seems that the system has changed. Previously, you could choose your favourite from the casks you sampled and take home a half bottle. Now, the distillery provides you with a different cask sample that wasn’t part of the tasting lineup.
We received a sample from cask #4851, a bourbon cask filled in 2016, making the whisky around 7 to 8 years old when we got the bottle. It wouldn’t feel like a proper blog post without a whisky review, so read on for our thoughts on the liquid…
Laphroaig Wood Exploration Experience 2016 Cask #4851
Region: Islay
ABV: 57.7%
Price: £100.00 (35cl included in the experience price)
Nose
The nose initially greets us with notes of chlorine, burnt smoky bacon crisps, limoncello, crème brûlée, and ash. On revisiting and diving deeper into the glass, additional layers of barley sugars, TCP, hibiscus scrub, Arbroath smokies, kelp, and wet pebbles emerge. While the whisky still shows its youth, there’s a pleasant level of sweetness and a solid amount of peat, giving it an impression of greater maturity than its age might suggest.
Palate
On the palate, notes of aniseed, musk, lavender, cloves, and salted caramel come through, followed by a hefty wallop of peat that feels like being transported next to a burning peat bog. There’s a touch of alcohol spice, but it’s surprisingly easy to drink. The mouthfeel is good, with moments resembling saline solution. The finish is medium in length, leaving a lingering ashtray-like taste.
Nose (with water)
With a splash of water, the nose loses some of its smoke, with the peat transforming into a more earthy character. Additional notes of raspberry jam, warehouse funk, and toasted marshmallows emerge.
Palate (with water)
The reduced palate retains most of its peat and sweetness, while gaining a hint of spice and a slight bitterness that isn’t off-putting. The mouthfeel and finish remain largely unchanged. It holds up well to water.
Conclusion
This is a bit of a monster, with a good amount of sweetness, but it’s definitely a dram for those who enjoy spirit-forward whisky. Fortunately for us, we fall into that category.
Score: 8.5/10
Value
The tour, tasting, and bottle cost £100. We personally thought this was reasonable and would definitely consider doing it again when we revisit the island later this year.
- 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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