Laphroaig Tastings (Part I)

With a little help from my dutch friend, it was possible for me to partake in a whisky tasting event that took place in Belgium on 10 and 11 November. This festival was called 'Spirits in the Sky'. There were several masterclasses. But "The Laphroaig Experience" by Marcel van Gils has to be the key highlight, for me at least.

My Laphroaig samples were couriered from the Netherlands and arrived on 1 December. In the line-up, there were six drams distilled from different times at the distillery. There is a huge backlog in my whisky tastings. Now is the time for these liquid gold...

Laphroaig Cairdeas Feis Ile 2009 (12 years old, 57.5%)
Colour: Straw colour. Aroma: Immediately I recognise the modern-day Laphroaig profile. Lots of medicinal smoke. Lemony. Taste: Fisherman's Friend lozenges, cherry flavour. Citrus fruits. Olive oil. Peat. Pencil shavings. Chilli powder. Medium and bitter finish. Rating: 85/100

Laphroaig Feis Ile 2007 (distilled 1989, 17 years old, 50.3%)
Colour: Gold.
Aroma: This one is less smoky. Still lemony but very briny. Much better. There are honey notes, actually some maple syrup too. Very good and balanced on the nose. Also many more things going on here.
Taste: I get some salted almond nuts. Cherry flavour fisherman's friend again. You get some of those tequila with salt and a slice of lemon. WHAM! It reminds me of the SMWS #29.66, 'Maritime and sweet' Laphroaig. Wait a second, wasn't that distilled in 1989 too and bottled at 18 years old?? I feel that there are some clear similarities between them. Rating: 90/100

Laphroiag bottled by Sestante "Ship Label" (distilled 1969, 19years old, 40%)
Colour: Yellow gold.
Aroma: Diesel fuel. Grapefruit. It has a resemblance to the fantastic Bonfanti imports. Not too medicinal or peaty at all. So different from modern Laphroaigs. Then it goes like motor oil from a small boat out at sea. Some pink guava now. Very complex on the nose. So much better.
Taste: White pepper. Olive oil. Medium and subtle finish. Not as great as the experience with the nose. Wait... after a few minutes, the next few sips starts to improve a bit. Lemon drops with a white wine sensation. It does taste quite like a Caol Ila 18 years old. Rating: 90/100 (Mind you, the nose was a fabulous 92 points)