Have to admit I am not a fan of Laphroaig myself or Ardberg, maybe I did not give the Ardberg
Uigeadial a chance someone bought a bottle for me son and we tried in November but to me it was like drinking old leather.
Both are hard core. Uigeadial I thought was something special, combining the hard core smoke and peat with softer sherry hues.
Laphroaig 10yo in my opinion is just disgusting, I mean why not lick a well used ashtray then have a swig of some meths - same taste, roughly the same effect.
The Ardbeg though, it's heavy on the smoke and peat, but the peat, though heavy, is not stale and overly bitter plus you can taste light barley bree and citrus fruits, there is a lightness to go with that OTT peat and smoke. It's a big hitter but it works.
I actually bought this over priced bottle of Ardbeg (as sadly it is now overpriced in the UK) just to make sure that I really did (still) like it, as my recent purchase of one bottle of Laphroaig made me wonder if after a few years away from the hard stuff that maybe I had gone off it. But no if you wanna try some hard core smoke and peat then I suggest giving Ardbeg a bash and maybe steering clear of Laphroaig (thought some folks have said to me that the younger unchill filtered Laphroaig's that are now available are far better than the older offerings and one wonders if Laphroaig may be in the process of dumping the chill filtering).
Anyway here's my Flickr review of one of the least good drams I've tasted for a long time.
Laphroaig 10 year old.
One of the biggest peat monsters on the block. A great many claim that this is the finest single malt whisky in the world.
It's been many years since I've tasted it, and all I can remember was that I hated it. But that was many years ago, and considering it's huge popularity perhaps I was mistaken. Well the supermarket was doing another crazy discount, so why not.
On the nose it's unmistakeable peat and smoke. A quick taste is promising, a big spirity citrus peaty hit. But then you notice the bitterness, and that smoke is not bitter sweet, it's more half burnt anthracite mixed in with used diesel engine oil, the peat is shudderingly bitter and dry, oh and there's a hint of stale dentists finger whilst those initial citrus fruits on the tongue become softly stale rotting seaweed.
If you are fond of licking used ash trays then you might just like this.
As for all those who worship Laphroaig. Well I guess we are all different, some folks taste buds adore fresh mussels but I hate the things, some folks love mushrooms, but ah cannae stand em. And so it is, my taste buds dinnae care for Laphroaig wan wee bit.
3/10