Truly appreciate you Ralfy. Happy holidays!

You always provide such a fantastic perspective Ralfy. Thank you so very much for elaborating as you do. Always look forward to your next upload. Wishing you nothing less than the best of success! Cheers

Thank you for your honesty, Ralfy!

Thanks for all you do Ralfy!

I do have to agree with Ralfy on this one. Laphroaig has indeed lost a bit of its former smoke/soot/ash. Still a great whisky...but perhaps not quite AS great as it might have been before. Just my decidedly non-expert entirely subjective opinion.

What a find your Channel... I don't think I've heard somebody articulate, and explain whiskey in your manner. Truly an effortless pleasure listening to you speak. I dub thee the "whiskey whisperer"! What a wealth of knowledge...I appreciate cha! Cheers!

Thanks for the review Uncle Ralph. 🤙🏽

Hi Ralfy..loving the book..wife purchased one from the first batch for me.brilliant..as for the Laphroaig.i enjoy the quarter cask myself.have a lovely Christmas you star.cheers.🍷

Brought two bottles of this. I really like it. Great stuff!

Im a budget malt fan, and I don't want just competent for a malt nearing 100 dollars. Thanks for the review, Ralfy! Happy Holidays

Interesting, entertaining and thought provoking as always! Thank you!

Just like to say I'm really enjoying your book 'Search For A Whisky Bothy'. A fascinating insight into your world.

Ralfy.... unbelievable, bought this here in the US on Wednesday, got into my truck and looked up your review and didnt find one......4 days later - unbelievable you address it. Your ears must've been burning

Merry grinchy christmas ralfy!

I almost fell off my chair after the glam "on a budget" line. Well done.

Merry Christmas Ralfy. Slàinte 🥃👍

Ralfy , merry christmas to you an your family ! Cheers , Chris from Bremen / Germany

Hi Ralfy, your description reminds me of the Laphroaig 15 from before. Cheers mate.

Why chill-filtrating? Thank you for your honest opinion, Ralfy. Much appreciated. Merry Christmas to you and all fellow maltheads around the world.

Missed that one but I do not worry too much about it. Still have some 18yo olds in stock. And I am quite happy about the 10yo CS and the regular quarter cask and triple wood which I think are reasonably priced NAS of good quality.

Ralfy, I bought mine in Germany where it's compulsory to add a sticker to the label if a malt has been coloured with E150a. There's no sticker, so I think the insipid light white wine colour is more than likely quite genuine and natural. Other reviews have occasionally claimed the bottling isn't chill filtered either. To me, due to the imbalanced nature of the malt (in my opinion stemming from the exclusive use of first-fill ex-bourbon casks) I could well imagine that filtration hasn't played a role in the production process. I find the bottling good, and I certainly welcome the 48% ABV, but lined up against its 18yo brother its weaknesses show up clearly. I even wonder if they pushed the stills too fast on this batch and then whacked it into a parcel of first-fill bourbon casks that might provide a counterpart - maybe trying to get something like the punchy quality of the 10yo, but with 6 years more bottle age. In any case, it's simply not well enough balanced to my palate. Solid, good peated malt, yes. Outstanding no. But give me the 18yo any day! Second and third-fill ex-bourbon casks and Laphroaig distillate: that's the recipe I prefer. Cheers.

Re "Tinsel Town"...of course the original is Hollywood, but y'know what else "tinsel" was used for? The original "chaff"--the stuff airplanes dispense to throw off radar homing or heat-seeking missiles! And speaking as a veteran of Hollywood for real, once upon a time we on a sitcom I did decided to decorate our 4 cameras and dollys with tinsel and lights for the holiday season....and it jammed the radios we use to talk to one another so effectively we had to remove it! So....powerful stuff, tinsel! :)

Looking forward to your next review. Before i got in to whisky, i used to enjoy the combination of craft pale ales and port.

I just found a bottle of this! I stopped into the shop planning to get the cask strength 10 year (batch 12) but wasn’t expecting to see this. I got the second to last bottle. Looking forward to trying it. I’ll stop back maybe for the cask strength 10 in a couple weeks...

The first Laphroaig I tasted was the Quarter Cask. I didn't like it at first and it took me two months and a bottle and a half to tame it. Now it might be my favorite; I always have a bottle at home. I actually have a bottle of Laphroaig 10 yrs, Triple Wood and Lore. KANPAI!!

Wow, your notes Ralfy were so familiar as I was nosing and tasting a dram of Smoke Point from Shelter Point in Canada. My guess is that the Laphroaig casks they used to finish it were of the 16 year old variety, since I got fresh fruit on the front, middle was a waft of sweet smoke, and the finish was salty sour lemon but man does lemon continue on and on. Cheers!

Get a Tamdhu cask strength for that price imho, they have been consistent the last 4 batches and have a renowned reputation.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from hillbilly select reviews.

To be fair we have to encourage distillers to bottle at a higher rate, we need to applaud them whenever they do this regardless of why we think I’m the decision was made.

Och! I have a wee bit of that Deanston12 left from when Aquavitae recommended it so I got hold of a bottle. Can get it for 75NZD here - good buying. That’s about 37pounds in old money. My Hogmanay dram will be a special BenNevis 1991 cask strength. A gift from a generous friend. Must look after him! Cheers from NZ🇳🇿🥃

Ralfy, the info which you've divulged here re: independents hiking up prices solely based off whatever the "flavour of the month" Scotch is, is incredibly valuable to me as a relative newcomer to whisky world. I tried to justify the prices of IB's thinking it's NCF, NC, cask strength, single barrel... but ultimately was still left scratching my head as the prices still just seemed astronomically high. Port Ellen and Brora will always command high prices and the pricing disparity between IB and OB there is almost non-existent I've found, however for brands like Ardbeg and Laphroaig, as you touch upon here, the disparity between price and quality of the whisky is just astronomical. Macallan IB's are pricey, sure, but generally cheaper than their OB expressions- I think that's solely because these days mostly a certain kind of "whisky enthusiast" (read: collector) is buying Mac and maybe OB's are more valuable in that arena. But my god, the prices I've seen on some fairly young IB Ardbeg is absolutely ridiculous- Laphroaig is not too far behind... The Signatory 30th anniversary Laphroaig 20 immediately comes to mind at a cost of about 500 Euros. It would be greatly appreciated (by my self, and I'm certain many others) if you could perhaps dedicate an entire episode to just this topic; the gouging done by IB's based off whatever whisky is in vogue this season. You've touched on something that the vast majority of connoisseurs would never openly admit- frankly, I think this statement by you will leave many of them trembling in their boots, which will hopefully lead to more Scotch for us all to actually indulge in. Thanks very much, Ralfy.

Tinsel Town in the Rain, is one of my favorite songs from a Scottish band, called The Blue Nile - recommended, very moody, thoughtful lyrics.

I just polished off a bottle of Laphroaig 10 year old cask strength batch 11 for 75 dollars I liked it enough to buy 3 more

Do you reckon that what you said about using 48% abv for an anemic malt also goes for Glendronach 21?

It says First-Fill Bourbon Cask on the back of the tube. (Maybe not very well made ones then). I bought it too, but haven't opened it yet.

Laphroaig is what made me a whisky lover.

I'm glad I saw this review. The 16 year had been on my wish list for the past month or so. I had imagined the longer age and higher abv would've made Laphroaig what it's supposed to be. But apparently not. I'll stick to the 10 year cask strength and the regular 10 year when it's on a good sale for my daily, as far as Laphroaig goes. Otherwise, Ardbeg 10, Ledaig 10 and Lagavulin 8 will be my regulars. Port Charlotte Heavily Peated 10 is delicious as well, for an extra $10 over the Ardbeg 10.

Where is your barley bunnet????

... but there's the _house_ Laphi 18 which is excellent. I got it at < 70 € because they were the last bottles Mövenpick had.

As it was with Ardbeg. Around 1984 nobody was keen on the stuff destilled around 1974. 1983 the destillery was closed. When the stuff became collectable, every one made a bee line for it. I ordered my first 12 bottles of Laphroaig 10y at thr local deli store. Else there was no chance to get one. Btw, I agree, a clean, but uneventful Laphi, at least not extensively bitter from bad cask influence.

"why do they chill filter it!!!!" LOL...Reminds me of when I went to Buffalo Trace and visited the Blanton's bottling room....Begged for a sample before chill filtering

Any grinch with a bottle of Laph '16 is a friend of mine hehe

Classic beer back whisky, especially a peated malt ale

Ordered yer book, looking forwarded to it arriving, had to use Amazon, oh well

Excellent and timely review. I've held off but been close to pulling the trigger. I completely agree with what you say about focusing on the bad points. I've been drinking whisky for thirty years and I have a built in value for money barometer in my head. I have certain expectations of whisky that costs £90, especially those from a big name like Laphroaig. Sadly, those expectations have been diminishing over the last few years because those distilleries, particularly the five you mention, have been, mostly, overpriced. I completely agree that Laphraoig is better when young. My favourite bottlings have all been 6 to 12 years old and released by independent bottlers. Anything under 10 years is substantially better value too.

No drink, no peace, no calm and I`m in the middle of moving, buuuuut I`m still gonna watch ;)

I have a few malts in. But I'm saving a bottle of springbank for me and a good friend boxing day.

You got a haircut Ralfy! A little change leading up to the new year?

I saw a version of this today at my local Cava and on the back it states first fill bourbon casks but nothing about chill filtration, and when i moved the bottle around i saw this thick dusty cloud swirling around in the bottle and i have to say i almost bought it then and there. Any thoughts on re reviewing this in 2023? still seems like a better value purchase for an older laphroaig.

I soon will check out a Brodir 😊

Youre awesome Ralfy, such a eloquent amazing use of the english for these reviews Feel smarter after each video Old fan here sending regards from Brazil since 2015, 2016 Cheers mate

Where would we be without the fresh cask involved? Manx bothy is where it's at fellas, take note! -

Merry Christmas

I have learned a lot about whisky from your video's; thank-you! I've been a fan of Laphraoig for a while now. I agree with your comments about this 16 YR; but I do like it. To me this Laphraoig 16 YR is all up front with little finish. This is very different from other Laphraoig's I've had. I think this may be a good version to introduce someone to Laphraoig for the first time. It has the distinctive Laphraoig character but doesn't punch you in the taste buds like my current Laphraoig favorite, the 10 YR cask strength. I prefer smokey, peaty whiskies. I have a bottle of The Balvenie Peat Week 14 YR I'm waiting to try. I will be cracking this one open to enjoy a dram on a cold night soon. I'm curious where this one will fit with Laphroaig and Lagavulin 16 YR. I love this hobby.

I picked up a bottle a few days ago and am halfway through by first tipple when I find you telling me about my last half hour, a glitch in the matrix perhaps

I received a Laphroaigh Càirdeas Tripe Wood. Bottled at a searing 59.5%. I wish I could get a bottle to you from America. It was $79 here. But I'm a fan of peat, and this is pretty powerful stuff. I just don't know how old it is, no age. But it was filtered and colored. Of that I'm sure.

"WHY, WHY do they chill filter it??!!"" Like why do dogs lick their bollocks = because they can. CHEERS!!

the 2020 edition is said to be much better. Maybe a comparison would make sense? Would love to see that

Ralphy -may I kindly ask you - when you add WATER, what sort of water do you use/recommend? Thank you

Any chance to get new bunnets?

Yes , i' m really enjoying your book ralfy , i'm from helensburgh but i've drank in the smiddy & the bon accord many a time , just over half way through at the moment , wanted to ask if you've tried the new version of kilkerran 8 CS oloroso cask matured , it truly is a sparkler , . X

Could you give us the bottle code please? Is this the 2019 version?

Really interesting review; I am a Laphroaig fan but by the sounds of things I would be better off sticking to the cheaper expressions. I am very surprised about the chill filtration as the cheaper Quarter Cask states "please note that any cloudiness when mixed with water is normal for a whisky that hasn't been chill filtered (but it is barrier filtered, but instead barrier filtered only, the method used when the quarter cask was king".

Nice one for a " barmpot" good lad 👍🇬🇧

This 16yo is really superb, at a great ABV. It is no illusion. Stop trying to be too clever. You have nothing to prove. Nobody will think less of you if you are honest and say that this Laphroaig is really very good.

Spot on Ralphy! I do love this, but it's design is one relegated to a specific environment. Perhaps a more social, and less personal experience. It's a thing.

Time to switch to Ardbeg Uigeadail.

Don't have a good single malt selection where I'm at. Noting with a WOW factor available. I've gone back to cask strength and bottled in bond Bourbon and The. Last several bottles of malts have been a waste of money.

Ralfy what oficial bottling of Laphroaig do you find best? The standard 10yo?

Ralfy likes Quarter Cask!!!

Hey Ralphy, you are the best! When I watch your surveys, I always feel like sitting down and having a glass of whiskey. And your English is perfect :) Greetings from Russia!

Ralfy - do you feel the same way about Lagavulin 8yo being bottled at 48%? After seeing this review and reflecting back on my bottle of Laga 8, I think so.

Ralfy, you mention Laphroaig being at its very best around 6-7 years old; could you perhaps suggest any particular expressions which best exemplify this? Very eager to try. I, myself, have definitely found that peated Islay's do best at young ages and fully agree with- just curious which bottles you like that fit the bill. Cheers.

Hi Ralfy! Can you please do a vfm peated whiskey episode;Ardbeg every year gets shitier Laphroaig too. i love peat but i can't stand paying more to get less every year. I opened a new bottle of uigedail and I almost cried.. It is less than 40% the whiskey it used to be 10 years ago..

Could you please do one off best non age statement whiskys\whiskeys\bourbons video some of us just want to know if there is some good stuff out there that not going to break the bank and is easy to find

I always thought that tthis was a direct marketing ploy, trying to go against the Lagavulin 16 yr old. The Lagavulin 16 year old has changed over the years, and not for the better. I think their best offering right now is the 12 year old. Some whisky is bottled past its prime, and I actually enjoy some of the younger more intense whisky like Kilchomann Machir Bay. When I did the warehouse tour of Lagavulin, we did some cask sampling of 21, 22 yr old and the famous 1966 cask. We also tried some 7 and 8 year old whisky that I really enjoyed.

Laphroaig 10 Cask Strength still the best!

Just ordered the book. Looking forward to it.

Talking about Glasgow, what about the 1770 and 1770 peated?

The initial description of this 16yo amazon bottling sounds a lot like the 15yo "cairdeas" they had last year (or two years ago?) which was only at 43% but was so much better then the 15yo they produced for the 200 years celebration. Have you tried those 15 year olds? (the latest 'cairdeas' and the "official 15yo 200 year celebration bottling) and if you did how would they compare? Slainte!!

Glad to know there're other people out there willing to pay a little more at another retailer in order to NOT buy from Amazon. It's been evident for years that they (Bezos, et al.) largely take their customers for granted.

I bought it for $90 here in the liquor store, and Costco has nice Laphroaig 12 CS for $57. Both delicious

got my Laphroaig 10 year old in hand, maybe its time for an upgrade? After the review, perhaps not. I've been having lots of luck with smaller distilleries, even the 10 year old is leaving me a tad disappointed. Was expecting to be hit in the head with a metric ton of peat! Merry Christmas R. and to all the other Malt Heads on here, a Happy New Year!

Ralfy dear, 87? I was smelling an 83!! :-O

Hey Ralfy, 5 months ago you released a video where u showed of all the bottles you bought recently and that you were going to review in the near future. Among those bottles was an Arran 12 year old finished in palo cortado cask (Master of distilling 2 if I remember correctly). You said back then u were definitely going to review this bottle. I was really looking forward to that specific review so I would like to know what happened to that review , did the bottle in the meantime failed to deliver your expectations or was the quality not good enough for a review? Thanks in advance, Kind regards, Klaus De Potter (one of your maltmates from Belgium )

Mix it with a large dash of Drambuie to liven it up!

Tinsel notes- Is Glasgow then the topic to the English band Prefab Sprout song-Tinsel Town in the Rain ? Merry Christmas Ralfy

So would the young, 48%, NAS Quarter Cask version be your favorite official version of Laphroaig?

Amazon won’t sell me the 16yo.... or any whisky actually. I feel rejected ! 🥺

I love Laphroaig, but I think I’ll skip the 16. My favorites are the cask strength ten year. Scotch should come with a throat punch.

Hi Ralfy, any thoughts on the Laphroaig PX Cask? I agree with you in terms of how good young Laphroaig in white wine casks can be .... and despite the travel retail, added colouring, chill (or some kind of) filtration, and NAS ... I think this PX Cask Laphroaig is at least worth a review :)

I heard that they chill filter for Asian markets.

I've tried many official bottlings of Laphroaig, and nothing comes close to beating the 10 cask strength for me.

Just to change the subject for you a bit Ralphy. You have a great Christmas, and f you are driving anywhere take care.

I like Grinchy Ralfy.

Integrity malt?? Why if it is chill filtered?

Shame this is so expensive now. The 10 used to be a decent affordable dram for us mere mortals but these days its pish. 😢

Oh dear....I’ve just spoiled myself of buying the 2019 version, 25yr, cause of the price being favourable ( not from amazon) 😳. I’m a bit concerned i might be disappointed. Here’s hoping.

I would rather stick with the quarter cask for 27.99 on amazon

What dictates an integrity malt?