Laphroaig Quarter Cask Review

Laphroaig Quarter Cask is quite famous single malt from the region of Islay. It was first introduced in 2004 and it has ever since made quite a reputation for itself.

The whisky used is only around five years old when it’s being transferred to quarter casks for finish. The finishing stage takes 7 months but we are still talking about young whisky here, it is said to be around six years old.

Quarter casks are small 40-60 liter casks which were used for transporting whisky on horseback during 19th century. Because quarter cask size is so small, the maturation doesn’t have to take long. Ageing of this whisky gets accelerated due to the larger wood contact.

Most bang for buck whisky I’ve experienced

Laphroaig is a legendary distillery. And this is one of their most legendary drams as far as I know. And now I know why the Quarter Cask is such an iconic whisky.

Powerful but rich, guaranteed Laphroaigian quality. I really like what they’ve done with this single malt. It has the same peaty power as Laphroaig 10 year old but it offers different layers of sweet notes.

This single malt offers great value for the money you’ll be paying for it. Bang for buck dram indeed! I just recently bought a bottle for 35 euros, included in the deal were two Copita nosing glasses with Laphroaig logos!

Matured in:

Ex-Bourbon casks for 5 years, finished in approximately 50 liter quarter casks

Non-chill filtered

ABV: 48%

Colour: Golden amber

Nose: Oh that great maritime medicinal peat, typical by Laphroaig, starts the show! Seaweed with salt. Fruits and ashes. Drops of water bring glazed meat, sugar and charred oak. And smoke.

Taste: Nicely oily. Starts smoothly, with heavy sweet and dark fruit notes that quickly turn into warming spices. That’s when it gets aggressive. Some hot chilli notes appear. Smoky peat comes too, if you chew it long enough. Vanilla sweetness and some caramel comes with drops of water.

Finish: Coastal notes and peat hits first, but quite quickly it’s all about sweet and spicy notes, along with some smoke. Red licorice, warming spices, cigar leaves. Addition of water gives room for oak, giving emphasis on the smoke burning effect that takes place in your mouth.

Balance: Great combination of typical Laphroaigian peat and smoke with fruity sweetness and velvet coating.