Laphroaig 10 yr Sherry Oak Finish Whiskey 750ml

Laphroaig Distillery sits on the southern shore of Islay, near Port Ellen, and traces its founding to 1815, when brothers Alexander and Donald Johnston first began distilling there. Laphroaig is now owned by Beam Suntory but continues to draw its water from the Kilbride stream, which runs through the same peat beds the distillery uses to malt its barley, giving the whisky its signature medicinal, smoky character. It remains one of the best-known names in Islay single malt, credited with helping define the peated style during the whisky boom of the late twentieth century.

The 10 Year Sherry Oak Finish begins its life the same way as Laphroaig's classic 10 Year Old, maturing in American oak ex-bourbon barrels for the bulk of that decade. In its final 12 to 18 months, the spirit is transferred into hand-selected European oak casks that previously held Oloroso sherry, layering sweeter, fruitier notes onto the whisky's peated base. It is bottled at 48 percent ABV, a touch higher than the standard 10 Year, and was introduced as a permanent addition to Laphroaig's core range in 2021.

On the nose, expect medicinal peat smoke, Manuka honey, and grilled bacon alongside cloves and leather. The palate turns sweet and waxy, with maple syrup, dark chocolate, and toffee meeting pine and cedar, while the finish lingers with smouldering peat, brine, and a nutty sherried sweetness.