Colour: Gold.
Aroma: First impression is ashy. Some grapefruits in the background. Sea salt. Then some peat and lemons. Cigarette ash returning. A lit kerosene lamp now. This is really smoke on the water! Really good on the nose.
Taste: Fisherman's friend, lemon flavour. Salted nuts. And peaty. Then bitter with a dry finish. Quite excellent in fact but isn't near to the ones bottled in the 1970s like the famous Bonfanti imports. Rating: 89/100
Laphroaig bottled by Berry Brothers (1964-1981, 43%)Colour: Dark copper.
Aroma: Burnt palm sugar aka 'gula melaka'. Extra rich and buttery. Barnyard notes like a burgundy wine. Not excessive but just the right balance. This is how it is like when you combine laphroaig distillate with sherry and peat perfectly. Then mushrooms and red fruits like durian. Tobacco - I swear there is even a Partagas Serie D No. 4!
Taste: Demerara rum. Whole raw spring onions, both the whites and the greens. Cherries. Some sweetness and spiciness. Then a bit of pineapple jam. Medium finish with a seafood soy sauce aftertaste. Great whisky! Rating: 94/100
Laphroaig bottled by Glenscoma (1979-1996, 53.5%)
Colour: Straw.
Aroma: Every tropical fruits you can imagine - grapefruit, pink guava, passionfruit and pomelo! Now there is even some fresh strawberries. Then bubblegum and unripe pineapple too. This is simply superb! In fact, it reminds me very much of the Bowmore "Deluxe" brown dumpy bottle from the 1970s. Taste: Pink guava again. Ashy and tarry also. Some peat. This is really really good with tropical fruits character and so beautifully balanced at cask strength. It is one of the few malt whiskies that I have had which actually tastes just like it smells. No multiple personality disorder at all! Rating: 95/100
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