A DIP IN THE SEINE DURING THE PARIS OLYMPICS – Score: 3/10
This bottle of Laphroaig from Blackadder has been catching my eye for quite some time now. Tonight, I finally succumb to curiosity and open it. After all, Blackadder has a rather sterling reputation (especially considering the first six bottles I’ve sampled), earning a solid second place in my ranking of independent bottlers, just as Laphroaig comfortably sits within my top ten whisky brands.
A promising duo, then, presents itself this evening. Alas, my hopes are swiftly dashed, as this pairing falls woefully short of expectations.
Admittedly, the texture is wonderfully oily and full-bodied—qualities I greatly admire. Yet the flavours are overwhelmingly earthy, to the point of excess, and the bitterness of the wood—verging on bark—completely ruins the experience. What lingers is an unpleasant sensation akin to drinking brackish water.
A thoroughly disappointing endeavour.