LAPHROAIG 27 ans 1981

Nose : full-bodied and creamy. On the initial nose, blood orange and an oily peat share the aromatic palette equally between them. Next, the fruity register develops into passion fruit, mango, apricot and wild strawberry. For its part, the peaty register becomes more animal (leather, bacon), saline and ashy (chimney). Meanwhile, spices (candied ginger, cinnamon), aromatic plants (chamomile, verbena), heather honey and heady florals (lilac, iris butter) add their two cents.

Palate : firm and mellow. The attack is exceptionally velvety (cocoa, orange zest, wild peach skin). At the same time, smoke, ash, thick soot and emery cloth permeate the increasingly heady air (lily, rose, tuberose). The very dense and compact mid-palate literally pours out blocks of now more dry but just as animal (grilled meat) and herbaceous (tobacco) peat. The very malty end of the palate wavers between dark chocolate, vanilla and citrus fruit (orange, mandarin).

Overall : long, concentrated. The very fleshy finish invites us to savour gooseberry and the same blood orange from the nose, whilst raspberry appears alongside wild strawberry. A tasting held by the hearth of a crackling fire. On the retronasal olfaction, liquorice stick, turmeric and very ripe banana bring the flavour palette a magnificent tawny colour. In turn animal, the empty glass is also characterized by notes of incense, pine resin and pine honey.