COFFEE GROUNDS – Score: 7/10
What a marvel to behold this legendary bottle before me. One does not encounter such a dark Laphroaig every day, and this alone already makes the moment exceptional.
Five Oloroso sherry casks have been combined by Robert Hicks, the master distiller at this renowned Islay distillery. Bottled at a respectable 57.4%, the anticipation is nearly unbearable as we bring the glass filled with this elixir to our lips.
The first surprise is the overwhelming dominance of the sherry cask over Laphroaig’s typically intense peat. Such is the quality of these casks that the medicinal style of this whisky is entirely eclipsed by the sherry.
Is that necessarily good news? Not entirely. The sherry is so pervasive that it stifles the Laphroaig’s natural richness. The coffee notes are roasted to the extreme, overwhelming the palate much like an invading force. The finish is ultra-woody, with only a few fleeting hints of caramel.
A whisky certainly crafted with quality materials, yet far too unbalanced for my taste.
