Laphroaig Quarter Cask

Score: 69

Laphroaig Quarter Cask brought its signature Islay fire to the tasting table, and while it didn’t place in the top tier, it certainly made its presence known. This NAS (No Age Statement) expression is matured first in ex-bourbon barrels and then finished in smaller quarter casks, 125-liter barrels that accelerate maturation and intensify wood contact. Bottled at 48% ABV and non-chill filtered, it’s a dram that wears its peat proudly but adds layers of complexity that go beyond brute smoke. On the nose, it opens with a classic Laphroaig blast: peat, brine, and toasted oak. But then it softens into caramel sweetness, cinnamon spice, and a touch of mint and chocolate. There’s a floral lift too, like wild herbs growing along a windswept coast. The palate is briny and bold, with waves of smoke, caramel, and vanilla, followed by candied apricot, apple, and oaky spice. It’s rich, oily, and full-bodied—thanks to the non-chill filtration, and finishes with a balanced mix of peat, oak, and lingering sweetness. In the tasting, Laphroaig Quarter Cask was the dram that split the room. For peat lovers, it was a familiar comfort, intense, smoky, and unapologetically Islay. For others, it was a bit much, especially compared to more rounded or fruit-forward expressions. Still, it earned respect for its clarity of purpose and its ability to deliver a full sensory experience. It may not have climbed the rankings, but it held its ground with smoky pride, reminding the club that some whiskies aren’t here to please everyone, they’re here to be themselves.