Laphroaig Triple Wood
Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: NAS
Abv: 48%
Non-Chill Filtered

Nose
Rolling waves of peat, pushing along billows of smoke. There is a dark charcoal thread in there, peeking here and there. On some approaches, I am struck by sweetness – not a characteristic I normally find in Laphroaig. Certainly there is the Laphroaig Islay personality here, but more sweetness returns on this night. Perhaps a factor of the last dram of the bottle, but this is different than what I was expecting for my tasting notes for the Triple Wood.

Palate
Big punches of dark peaty smoke, dang near nasty! Strong. Again a big swell of sticky sweet. Full, some spirity kick. Woosh. The medicinal and tarry rope notes are there, underneath, trying to push their way out, but the swamp of charcoal and peat beat them back and hold center court.

Finish
That smoke and vegetal peat just glom on to my tongue like an oil slick, lingering with a fading charcoal streak. As the dram nears an end, I feel like my mouth is becoming numb.

Final Thoughts
I surprise myself with this being my first tasting note for a Laphroaig. The Laphroaig 10 was one of my very first Islay smoke whiskies, and it’s been a favourite for a few years now. Haven’t had it on the shelf for a bit now though, having been exploring the other expressions.

This note taken on the last dram of the bottle. My understanding is that the Triple Wood halted production several years back, so I actually snagged this one over a year ago, intending to keep it around for a bit. After months of seeing more and more of them, I figured maybe they’d be around, but now, I don’t see any so… last of the TW.

My first experience with Triple Wood was an unbelievable waft of heavy, charcoal smoke on first opening a bottle. That experience has never quite been repeated, but in general I have always found this one to be like a Laphroaig 10, just smokier, peatier, heavier, stronger. Tonight I was getting a sweet shot here and there that I don’t recall in the past. But the ever present charcoal smoke, particularly on the extremely long finish (seriously, still tasting it five minutes later!), dominates most elements.

I was happy to have it on the shelf, but won’t pine for it now that it has retired. I recommend to reach for a Laphroaig 10 instead.