03/07/2023 Laphroaig

Laphroaig 10yo (55.7%, OB Original Cask Strength imported by Allied Domecq Zürich): nose: perhaps less meaty than I remembered it, the nose is clearly smoky and medicinal instead. We have the famous TCP, tincture of iodine, and linen bedsheets in a hospital. More prominent still are gauze and bandages. Underneath those, one can find a lacquered drinks cabinet, warm watercolour, and crusty bread (Schwarzbrot, to be precise). The nose shifts after ten minutes or so, and settles on sea air and mossy, sea-spray-infused earth. A rash of lichen flares up, and a drop of melted candle wax rounds it off. The second nose is more grilled, if that makes sense. Grilled puffy waffles, grilled aubergines. The waxy note comes back with a vengeance, so bold as to be minty -- it is likely lint, though. Mouth: the rather brash attack provides the same candle wax, now augmented with spent wick and torched bandages, ether, sprayed on gauze, waxy, plasticine-y clay, and Iso Betadine. The texture is chewy, and the whole is warming. The second sip has lukewarm ink blended with the Iso Betadine, which provides a mild bitterness. It is subtle, mind, and torched bandages soon reappear. There is a gentle freshness too -- lint, tar, mint. Finish: a time bomb. It goes down unnoticed, waits for five seconds, then radiates warmth for an eternity. It is in line with the above; gauze, bandages, iodine, earth. This time, we also have stagnant water, however, brackish. The second sip adds tar to that equation, never overpowering, and actually pleasantly refreshing. A dark, slightly bitter freshness lingers in the aftertaste, that emphasises said tar. I like it better than the first time, despite the seemingly-reduced fruitiness. 8/10 (Thanks for the sample, OB)