🥃 Whisky Auctioneer

Quick hit review. We have an age statement and 46% ABV, and a closer look at the back of the box reveals: 'We haven't chill-filtered or added colour.' The whisky market is in a downturn and I don't think we would have seen such bottlings in 2022. Whiffs of coal smoke, citrus fruits and menthol drops emerge from the glass - it is medicinal, antiseptic and textbook Laphroaig. Aniseed, seaweed and lemon zest come through. On the palate, sweet notes of honey and vanilla are steamrolled by peppery spices, TCP and a dirty blast of peatiness. Crisp apples, lime juice and drying oak develop, rounded off by grapefruit, licorice and fresh mint lingering in the prolonged and ashy finish. For 60 €, this is an absolute no-brainer. May we see more bottlings like this! RATING: 3.9/5.0 stars ≙ 86 pts → FIRST-CLASS [-]

Not a release I expected to see. Not only is it a 12YO official bottle of Laphroaig, but it's un-filtered, non-coloured, and at 46% "Exclusive to travelers"... is that because it is a trial, or because of restricted stock? Exclusive duty-free releases are rarely missed when they are replaced after a brief exposure. Let's hope this is more of a sign of things to come.

Not a bad dry modern Laf, too much coal in my opinion, but the increased strength level to 46% helps! 21+ 21 20+ 21 84

With its respectable age and 46% ABV, Laphroaig shouldn't really be a problem. Well, as a travel retail bottling, it gives me the impression that it doesn't want to offend the traveler who takes pity on it too much. And so, for a Laphroaig newbie, it has just enough "unexpected" surprises. Aromas on board, but that won't really entice a long-standing customer who has been used to something different for many years.

Light, straw color. Oily structure.

85.5

Is Laphroaig pivoting from the brute-force approach to peated whisky it had taken since the turn of the new millennium? This is a lighter, sweeter, more floral and fruity LP, and I have to say I like it better than, for instance, the sheer peat-and-burnt-herbs vibe of the 10-y.o. CS. Reminds me of the 16-y.o. instead, which had a similarly sweet first-fill-bourbon recipe. Same overall score, also, which is saying something.

This is a relatively good value Laphroaig whisky.

This was a sample courtesy of Peatbogger. I really enjoyed this and it would make a nice edition to their core range.

Laphroaig 12yo 46%. I've been tasting this new Laphroaig for the last few days. And I have to say that I really like it. It's not a standard smoke bomb, but it's an excellent, ashy, sweet shot for the whole evening. It doesn't get boring. It's definitely good to give it time. After sniffing it, it's almost eucalyptus-fresh. If it happens when everyone gets fed up with -50€, it will definitely be a stable part of this producer's offer.

A somewhat unusual Laphroaig that is fun and expands the portfolio with a natural wholegrain version, so to speak, even if it is not hyper-complex. But there are far worse options in the OA standard area. It fluctuates between 87 and 88 points. As a fanboy, I'll round up :)

A bottling I'm very happy about and hadn't expected. Much nicer than the 10-year-old, significantly more mature than the Quarter Cask. And it will get even better once it's spent some time in the bottle. I'm already familiar with this phenomenon from the current 10-year-olds in the new packaging (box instead of tube): within the first year after bottling, the aromas harmonize very noticeably. I'm sure it will be the same here. A release price of under €50 would be more reasonable. As soon as it gets even cheaper, I'll get a larger batch of the new 12-year-olds. A superb everyday dram – you can just sip it straight away.

Today a tasting with the current 12-year-old Exclusive to Travellers (ID 281640), the 21-year-old Friends of Laphroaig (ID 70596) and a 31-year-old Secret Islay (ID 216553). I really like the 12-year-old for the price. A nice, straightforward Laphroaig for beginners, noticeably more delicate and not as stormily peaty as the current 10-year-olds.

How long have we waited for a bottling like this? Forever! Laphroaig, 12 years old, 46% ABV, no added color, no chill-filtered. And something else is new: the label no longer features the Prince of Wales's coat of arms, but a genuine Royal Warrant from King Charles III. The color is golden yellow, exactly the color I expect after 12 years in American oak barrels. Initially, the whisky was only available in travel retail for around €60. Now you can also find it in other online shops for about €63. That's a lot of money – but it's Laphroaig, after all. glen-efze.de

way better than the 10yo standard

A delicious, easy-drinking malt. The nose offers relatively mild smoke for a Laphroaig, but the palate reveals significantly more ash and smoke. Vanilla, a few citrus notes, and spice complete the picture.

I like it, it's a good addition to the standard 10-year-old and definitely worth buying - 26.12.2025

Not typical Laphroaig

For all my love of Laphroaig, I didn't like the standard 10 at all because of its simplicity and 40% strength. The 12 - 46% bottling, on the other hand, I consider one of the best standard bottlings of Islay whisky.

Something between a regular "ten" and PX Cask, with a strong bias towards the latter.

It has a medium viscosity and a relatively strong bouquet. I detect aromas of pleasant, maritime peat smoke, citrus, vanilla, toffee, and refreshing mint. It's not particularly complex. It has a good balance between sweetness and dryness. The alcohol is well integrated, and it has a medium body.

Very decent daily dram.

Well-crafted "integrity bottling". Don't necessarily agree with those who say this was really necessary (yes, the normal 10 in Europe has 40% abv., CF, and color but who gives, there are plenty of alternatives from Laphi with 48% abv., Cairdeas and the CS), but this one has been matured in nice fresh - no need to state, just tastes like it - ex-bourbon barrels. Agree that price should be somewhere between 40-50 EUR max. Just an addition: It's a rather light and delicate style, those in favor of Quarter Cask may find it lacking oomph. But if you are going for elegance and a notch of the olden Laphroaig fruitiness (we are not talking casks but distillate) will find their joy.

But it's not bad at all. At first I was skeptical, and my first impression wasn't very good either. But after chewing it, it could very well be. A slightly upgraded version of the regular top ten. At first, it seemed that these extra 2 years and a little strength were not beneficial, because they revealed certain shortcomings and made this youthfulness more noticeable, but over time he calmed down and it turned out "what he wanted." Norm, maybe

a proper basic Laphroaig how it should be. Reminded me of Quarter cask from 15 years ago, but with less power and more complex. At the same time there is a bit too much wood in the finish, although it's just a minor issue for me. A good value for the money.

Finally, you can get this 12-year-old for under 50 euros, and I think that's a reasonable price. And finally, a Laphroaig with a clear statement on the box: "We haven't chill-filtered or added colour." (!!! - I'm adding three exclamation marks after it, I'm so happy!) Hopefully, the 10-year-old Laphroaig cask strength will soon be available without added coloring. In this respect, less is definitely more!

Laphroaig as you expect Laphroaig to be, with just a sweeter edge. Increasing the age and ABV works wonders for this whisky compared to the 12. In my opinion, this should become a permanent bottle that is easy to obtain!

Blog online on 15 December 2025 on my website: www.longpouramour.com My conclusion: "It would be a good thing to just phase out all these commercial elements out of all Laphroaig products. Those who buy this single malt whisky, do not care if their Laphroaig has the right colour or is just a little pale. They come for peat, elegance and power. This expression offers and delivers on all accounts. What a nice surprise, also for those who stay at home to enjoy this bottling of Laphroaig 12 years old."

Also sweet with some light fruit notes, but mainly medicinally peaty. Nicely robust drinking strength. What bothers me somewhat is the bitterness, which I'm not used to from Laphroaig. It's immediately noticeable, but dominates the finish.

Peaty smoke, barley malt, toffee, old wood, fruit trees blossom, dried green fruits. Good but for me personally looks weaker then 10 y.o.

Really god value, peaty and puncy. some spice to.

Oh, you sweet ocean! Laphantastic! Did the old Laphroaig whiskies have even more smoke, iodine, and seaweed? I think so. Still, great stuff.

A great bottling. Everything a 10-year-old should be. Proper age statement, uncolored or filtered.

Not bad, but not a standout either. Smoke, iodine, maritime notes, vanilla, and a grassy note. You can still tease out a bit of the nose, but the rest unfortunately flattens out considerably. 85/100 or 5/10

An honest Laphroaig, friendlier and more composed. Matured in ex-bourbon American oak casks. Thick slowly forming primary legs. Non-chill filtered. No added colour. Droplets. To the likening of enthusiasts and yet more approachable for the others.

A very nice thing! Matured in American oak ex-bourbon casks, it's beautifully classic, with no sherry influence. You only get a few notes. Along with plenty of vanilla and a sweet fruit basket (pineapple, green grapes, and a combination of sour and ripe apples), there are certainly the typical Laphroaig notes of a still-burning campfire (smoke) in the background, seaweed, and iodine. Truly beautifully crafted by Laphroaig. I only bought it because it wasn't chill-filtered, wasn't colored, and was bottled at a higher alcohol content (46%). Plus, with a discount, I paid "only" €56. That's what a standard bottle should be! The regular 10-pack is significantly inferior. The overall package must get a good 88 points.

Refreshing, uncomplicated, not overly complex.

[84~87] nice, there is something to discover, purchase incentive only with good price-enjoyment ratio :-) 3 drops of water bring out some of the flavors, but with more it loses again.

Without a doubt, this is a Laphroaig in the glass. The new expression performs very well and is definitely a valuable addition to the Laphroaig range. The 46% ABV suits it perfectly. The interplay of sweetness, citrus, smoke, and spice is particularly striking. In terms of character, it is certainly much closer to the Quarter Cask than to the Laphroaig 10.

A 12 year old Laphroaig at 46% and uncolored / NCF sounds like a whisky nerd's dream fulfilled. Perhaps that explains what I feel are over-enthusiastic ratings. Moreover, for what it is this iteration of Laphroaig is quite overpriced, it should cost no more than €45. Anyway, the nose has some classsic Laphroaig peatsmoke with hints of sarsparilla, not much iodine or bandaid, a bit of sweetness, slight alcoholic sting, generally it feels light. The nose is the best part. On the palate it's remarkably light, even thin, apart from a peat note, the casks are not the best, very restrained bourbon impact, but noticeable bitterness. Quite short, too. I do not consider it bottle-worthy, particulartly in lieu of the availability of various cask strength editions for a few dollars more. Great idea, less than impressive excecution, fanboy pricing. Thanks, but no thanks.

Overall 85,5pkt.

Designed to appeal to both established lovers of Laphroaig and emerging ‘whisky-curious’ travelers, this single malt represents a new anchor for the travel retail range. It is set to enhance the brand’s offering in the channel and reduce barriers to purchase with its clear and recognizable age statement. Celebrating the unmistakable Laphroaig character, this remarkable aged single malt offers a bold, inviting flavor full of sweetness, salt, and smoke. It can be served neat, with ice, or with a splash of water to reveal notes of stewed apple, heather honey, and seaweed. Non-chill filtered and bottled at 46% ABV, Laphroaig 12-Year-Old is matured in American oak ex-bourbon casks for two years longer than its domestic 10-Year-Old counterpart. Laphroaig 12 Year Old will hit the Cannes spotlight at the upcoming TFWA world Exhibition Dr. Calum Fraser, Master Blender, Laphroaig, said, “Laphroaig 12-Year-Old is a significant milestone for us. This new whisky embodies the perfect balance between our signature peated intensity and the refined influence of time. We’re very excited to share it with whisky lovers as they travel.” And best of all, it is again non-chill filtered and non-colored. The Laphi 12 has a good balance between sweetness and dryness.

Scent: wonderfully balanced, with a metallic undertone that doesn't come across negatively at all, machine oil, the obligatory gauze bandage combined with the equally obligatory medicinal, iodine-like smoke, a sweet undertone, black pepper, smoked bacon Taste: Unexpectedly unspectacular on the palate, almost defensive, watery; the typical phenolic Laphroaig notes are only hinted at, and the 46% alcohol seems significantly more tamed than the 40% in the 10-year-old standard; subtle wood spice, short finish. Color: Straw-colored, medium waterline, clear Conclusion: Phew, while the nose is certainly promising, the whisky is a complete disappointment on the palate – and unfortunately, paper claims like uncolored, unfiltered, aged, and bottled at a higher alcohol strength don't help one bit... Is anyone taking the "uninformed customers" in travel retail into consideration here?

Looking for Laphroaig on a reasonable price but also 46%, non chill filtered? Also like the 10 year old but you would like it with being a little more fruity? This is for you! Great value for the price!

A fresh, vibrant first impression on the nose, characterized by citrus and phenolic smoke. On the palate, I get a pleasant sweetness, notes of light fruits like pear and mirabelle plum, as well as hints of lemon zest and floral notes. Creamy vanilla. Along with this, a tingling spice of oak and toasted pepper. This is underscored by consistently intense smoke, cool, mineral, with bitter hints of charcoal, iodine, and ash. A typical Laphroaig, which certainly raised high expectations. It undoubtedly represents a significant improvement over the Laphroaig 10-year-old, but the whisky's flavor fades rather quickly. Considering the price, I would recommend the latest Laphroaig 10-year-old Cask Strength Batch 17, which truly impressed me with its intensity and smokiness.

I don't just like the 12-year-old, I think it offers something so different from the other Laphroaigs – the dominant fruitiness, less phenolic smoke, and the highlighting of the inherently mild, sweet distillate character – making it an absolutely sensible addition to the portfolio and building a bridge in the affordable segment that didn't exist before, appealing to beginners in Laphroaig in particular, Islay and peat smoke in general, while also attracting more advanced drinkers. (Okay, €2 goes into the box for long sentences...) Especially since similar fruits are only available in the standard range starting with the 18-year-old. ;o) Not my favorite bottling from one of my favorite distilleries, but I wouldn't want to be without it!

Laphroaig 10 was my first Peated whisky and it was a roller-coaster, I hated it and then I fell in love. After that I tried hundreds of whisky but I never bought Laph 10 again. There was so much more interesting stuff. When this came out, with these specs I bought it right away. Great whisky and I think it should replace the 10.

This is a bit different Laphroaig, but it is the Laphroaig. Beautiful, slightly light color, and balanced and pleasant taste. This was very nice experience and makes me think that there might be some additional reasons to travel.

Wow, what a beautiful and awesome laptop, for me one of the best currently in the standard range and hopefully it will remain in the program forever. It offers lovely vanilla and caramel notes; I even detect banana notes from very early quarter cask bottlings. The oak is subtle but nicely present, with light chocolate notes (milk chocolate, not dark) emerging in the finish. Everything is so smoothly integrated, with the typical Laphi smoke, but not quite as dominant as in other, more recent bottlings. It's also nice to have a pure ex-bourbon bottling without sherry again. Many believe that the new 12-year-old is challenging the 10-year-old Cask Strength, but the 10 CS is my absolute favorite Laphi, and no, the 12-year-old definitely doesn't challenge the undiluted 10 CS, but it certainly challenges the diluted 10 CS to below 50%. For me, the new Laphroaig 12 is one of the best currently in the range; it clearly surpasses the standard 10-year-old, Select, and Four Oak—really, all of them by a significant margin. I even find it better than the Quarter Cask, but (logically) it doesn't quite reach the level of the 10-year-old Cask—a 12-year-old Cask would be nice. I don't even want to include the other sherry bottlings in the comparison because of their different character due to the sherry maturation. Laphroaig, please include it in your standard program! There are still rumors that Laphroaig wants to discontinue the 10-year-old CS (hopefully not), but if that happens, the 12-year-old is at least a somewhat adequate replacement, but still not a full replacement. A definite buy recommendation for the Laphroaig 12!