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Good on the nose, but taste is awful, short finish.

It’s just fine. A bit of smoke, sweetened, peat notes. But all in all rather flat and not too crazy.

Laphroaig light. The nose, which is already rather thin, promises more than taste and finish are able to hold. As everyday dram he does not hurt, but he can not really score. Too big is the difference to the 10 year old. Maybe something for beginners, which Laphroaig is in principle too violent. Honorable 80 points.

Too young, too soft. We could expect it. Rather easy to drink but below 10 years old and Quarter Cask

I like it better than the new Four Oak, yet I score it lower. Why? Because the Four Oak is presented as a different Laphroaig while this is presented as "typical house style". The 10YO has lost some character lately too, but the marginal difference in price from this one is still money well spent.

A great place to start your peat journey. Young and vibrant, slightly thin, makes a good panic gift 21 20 20 20

I love the Laphroaig style, so I like this whisky. Also, I love its price, as it is absurdly cheap. If we consider that it competes with the Ardmores, Bowmores, Aerstones, Finlaggans and Connemaras, it is the best there is. But if we compare it to any other Laphroaig (which cost at least double or MUCH more) it obviously has serious problems: it is extremely watered down, to the point of almost losing the essence of Laphroaig. Virgin oak doesn't do it any favors, and while the mix is interesting, it's nothing special. Any other type of barrel would have been more interesting. Also, he's ridiculously young, probably 4 or 5 years old. Lastly, the peat notes are the least intense I've tried of any Laphroaig. It's still a smoky whisky, but the peat is very thin. 40%, filtered, with a bit of coloring (it's the palest Laphroaig I've ever seen), just lacks complexity. It is a Laphroaig that fully accepts its category of cheap daily sipper. If I didn't like Laphroaig, I'd say this whisky is mediocre at best. If it wasn't for its price, I'd be pretty disappointed. It's the worst Laphroaig I've ever tried, and at the same time, the best of all in terms of quality/price. But, without a doubt, any other is WAY superior. But, despite all that being said, it's still a delicious whisky that I don't mind returning to from time to time, as long as I fit my needs. - Dominant notes: Laphroaig medicinal peat, marine notes, white pepper, lemon, and a lot of virgin oak. Sweet. Very, very loose in the mouth, almost water. Not well balanced, the notes of virgin oak do not go well with the rest, although they are interesting. - Secondary notes: leather, earthy notes, vanilla, anise/licorice, black tea, burnt wood, spices (cloves, cardamom), salted chocolate, alcohol. Light fruity (tropical fruits) and floral touches. Very light touches of moldy and dusty wood. It is not very complex. He is VERY young, quite hard, alcohol is present. The aftertaste is mediocre at best and shows that the spirit of Laphroaig and virgin oak just don't quite mix. I wish that, instead of putting it in virgin barrels for six months at the end, they would have left it for those six months in the fourth or fifth use barrels in which it was already lol. It would be, honestly, much better. This "finish" in virgin oak barrels that is becoming fashionable does not usually work. The Tomatin Legacy, West Cork Virgin Oak, the Auchentoshan American Oak... are proof of this. The only whiskys I've ever tasted that do better with a Virgin Oak finish are Deanston and probably Bain's Cape. Intensity: 3/5 Complexity: 2/5 Originality/heterodoxy: 3/5 Density/ presence in the mouth: 1/5 Quality/price ratio: 2/5

The "most accessible" Laphroaig with a reduced smokey note, but also less Depth. Very drinkable though.

Sea, salt, beach, away smoke, some banana, bitter, oak, racy, harsh, the aroma is quite thin, with water comes some Ahoyraise ... here too an oak-covered NAS, very forced and inharmonious

The dry smoke inspires, but it is also somewhat one-dimensional, the phenolic gives a hint to Laphroaig. The alcohol is barely perceptible. Blind tasted as part of an advent calendar action

A quiet Ileach. A soft and unusual dram from Laphroaig, and somewhat one-dimensional to me. Not as punchy and rich as the 10 year old or Quarter Cask expressions. I missed the body of flavour and the big mouthfeel. Perhaps a good introduction to Islay whiskies but not one I'd buy. https://www.facebook.com/Whisky-Connaisseur-550443305109776

It used to be "love it or hate it", with the last changes in their core it feels like they try to please the haters more and more.

An unusual, young, quite successful Laphi! [Color] bright gold;

Taste of the sea, peat and smoke. Brings to mind a wharf with newly tarred small wooden fishing boats.

Doesn't seem quite as medicinal as the standard 10s. so I find him a little more pleasing. Still, I don't really warm to him.

Laphroaig light, pretty much dispensable. There's a milder form of earthy peat smoke, some vanilla and spicy wood notes. Not a bad whisky, but I would pay a few (yes it's only a few) euro's more and get the 10 year old or quarter cask instead.

20 20 21 20 summer dram)

2020-09-19

Classic Laphroaig profile: phenolic, medicinal, maritime and sweet, but much too thin. As with the regular 10s, the 40% is much too watery, so I would rather avoid these two bottlings. Length: 5/10 Grade: 2-

Strong scent of Seirogan. Stimulation of alcohol.

typical Laphroaig especially and yet not exciting something one-dimensional and yet sufficient from nose to finish a line strong and yet little complex and hardly deep the whisky is delicious, just Laphroaig you want to blind him immediately;) a welcomed dram ranking: 1st mouth, 2nd nose, 3rd finish

Nothing pretentious and designed to show a non-whisky drinker times smoky whisky. For 30 € also quite fair .. From me he gets a 3-

If you like Laphroaig, because of its special aroma, you will be disappointed. For me rather a whisky, without much claim and where there is not much to discover ... but who has not tasted smoky whisky's, for which he could be a good start?

Not too bad but certainly not the best. I would say buy a quarter cask or a ten

Far from the best Laphroaig I tried, would like to try this one at higher ABV, visible first fill American oak. I don't think I will get another bottle special not for price in my area

The most boring Laphroaig I ever tried. Had this one one several occasions. Dilluted distillate for newbies and once in a while drinkers. Not my cup of tea. I hardly score under 80 but this expression is crap.

The smoothest ''Laphroaig'' I've ever come across. Unfortunately, this also makes it not very spectacular and the usual tarry-medicinal note is lost in a certain weak complexity, which is not really expressive due to the insufficient aging time and the low alcohol content. It's a shame, he's showing good signs but can't improve on them.

The simpliest and most boring Laphroaig version out there

06/09/2025 - bottle Pleasant surprise, I expected something more restrained than the Laph 10, but this one shone with all the citrus and peaty freshness. Thank you!

Peat reek tamed to paper smoke. Matured in Oloroso and PX ex-sherry casks, first fill ex-bourbon quarter casks. Finished in virgin American oak barrels. Chill-filtered. Not coloured. Introductory Laphroaig.

plv absolutely ok .... surprising nose.

It is a full whisky with initially a sweetie, followed by the classic dry, venous gray taste. Delicious aftertaste in which the rich fruits of the European barrels come back.

Very interesting. Obligatory to taste

Received as a gift, great that it has the distinct character of Laphroaig but lacks any real guts

Overall, good in a pinch, I would never go out and order a pour, but I would happily accept one. Likely the Laphroaig crew that hosted the tasting knew what they were doing when they used this for the welcome cocktail rather than the actual tasting.

“The dirty little secret of the Scotch industry is they’ve become addicted to high prices, but they’ve run out of old whisky,” says Ian Buxton (whisky expert)

For the Laphroaig Select, the Islay distillery has taken whisky from a number of different types of cask, including Oloroso Sherry butts, white American oak, Pedro Ximenez seasoned hoggies, Quarter casks and first fill bourbon casks. Quite a "selection", wouldn't you say? A laid-back addition to the Laphroaig core range of single malts.

I had this side-by-side with the 10 YO entry level malt and this one was not even close in comparison. The 10YO is so well balance all the way through. But with that said the select is not bad, I would not buy a bottle but quite approachable if you just want a peaty dram to sit by the fire relaxing and not think to much about it. (Rating interval 78-81)

Better than I expected after reading some pretty bad reviews on here, but when I compared it to the Quarter Cask this one really lacked body.

On an absolute scale, it is still decent, good, but when I think this is Laphroaig, I'm just scared to find out where they are able to go in this distillery and what to do next. This is another spit in the face of the hard core of supporters of the brutal and uncompromising Laphroaig. I will not buy this shit anymore, the price difference between her and 10 yo is scarce, a qualitative jump then huge. I still did not buy a bottle, but just a sample at the Whisky Festival 2015.

Tasted at a Festival. This had a classic Laphroaig nose with heavy peat and quite medicinal. There's also smoked meat. The taste had a barley sugar sweetness but the peat hit was very weak. It had a medium/long finish with a little peat and a vague sweetness. Very disappointing and I definitely wouldn't buy this.

Well, it’s not so bad, it’s not so, very simple, smooth, strong, peat and smoke are at a minimum, extra light, a good option to get to know Ayla for people who are wary of smokers.

I choose to start with Select before the 10 year old or the QC. Nice whisky, peated with some surprises there

Aroma: You definitely get know Islay and it's the best part of this whisky. Distinctive smoke over sweet taste. Citrus, honey. It's simple, but fine. Taste: Very soft in all aspects except smoke, but that's the way it is with young whiskys. But unfortunately, it affects the surface only diluted. Sweet, honey, primitive. Nothing to discover, nothing to praise. Finish: Weak, sweet, smoky and relatively boring. Total: Such an incompleteness does not make sense. It's as if the young boy's first sex is with a girl without a vagina. What Laphroaig does Laphroaig is suppressed, maimed and, at best, only hinted at.

yeast and peat. Any. The whisky isn't really bad - but Laphroaig can do a lot more.

Pretty exquisite value for money at £24.

Just buy the 10. This one is disappointing in every way.

A sweeter, younger tasting laphroig. Worth the price.

Official tasting notes

Not bad for 27 euro but i prefer the regular 10 year old, this one must be younger if you ask me.

It's a shame! Great nose, but the palate is a bit weakish and simple. Still, this is a good dram and value for money.

I like it surprisingly well

blind tasting

Compared to Laproaig 10 and QC, this is a weaker piece.

N20 P19 F19 B20

Spicy peat, gentler than the normal 10s, but very tasty and a delicious entry-level smoker.

Hardly recognizable as Laphi on the nose, very mild but not bad. Otherwise quite monotonous, better spend a little more on the QC

Even more pointless than the Four Oak. LP drinkers don't need an "entry" malt. Either you like LP or you don't. What a watered down young mess. Spend only a few more bucks and get the 10, if you mind.

Laphroaig Select, 40%. Consumed Nov 2018. For some reason I was massively interested to try this at the time. Well it has plenty of peat. Pretty simple and one-dimensional up front. Ultra-clean light estery backbone, touch woody, touch of pale biscuit. Mostly peat from the middle to the finish. Nice without being mind-blowing. Starts to seem watery over time - not dissimilar to peated blends. Nice enough but quite underpowered and one-dimensional. 3.4/81

My fourth bottle now: A tasty, uncomplicated Laffi with peat, lots of vanilla sweetness, maritime notes and liquorice with a discreet pepperiness

Quite strong and full flavoured but nothing special

A perfect whisky for those who want to start exploring peated whiskies. Smoke from a burning field, campfire, and cigarette smoke, which cover sweet notes of yellow fruits, caramel, wood, light citrus notes, like a sweet lime pulp, mixed with brackish notes, slight spiciness, persistent and light nicotine notes from the tobacco with coffee. The spiciness and sweetness increase with the addition of water. No perception of alcohol.

I liked the nose which is very promising.Taste: OK, it is Paphroaig, but I get a certain bitterness and a weakness in the taste which I don't like. Right after tasting the Cairdeas 2014 a very clear step down!

A quiet islander.

blind tasting

Tasting Notes: https://whiskycuse.wordpress.com/2014/08/05/laphroaig-select-ob-2014/

Absolutely not the best Laphroaig you can take.

Has a friend brought. Let's try ... The smoke in the nose does not immediately remind of Laphroaig. The scent is rather mild, delicate. Behind it damp, young wood. Spices round off. Slightly sweeter in the mouth, but quite mild. Almost, he does not even have 40%. Herbs, especially carnation. Funny, that is very strong in the taste, but you do not taste alcohol.

To begin with, some sunny cereals, malted barley of course, then a nice uppercut of peat, thick smoke, it's almost sickening, but that's what we came for, isn't it? Lemon, iodine, a little rock. Very light medicinal touch. Some vague plant reflections, tall grass in the rain. Pleasant taste, lemony, white grape, a little spicy, cumin, paprika, but it's young all the same. Vanilla shade. Finish not so short, and even full, on nutmeg and charcoal. Nougat. Sandy earth. Really disappointing overall. The nose is mediocre, the palate is passable, only the finish raises the level a little, which means that it remains drinkable. https://ilikesky2020.blogspot.com/2022/04/laphroaig-select.html

Laphroaig Select 40% 6 months virgin American Oak Finish Nose: very light, vanilla, toffee, fruity, green apples, citrus, slightly marine, medical, more smoky than smoky, a bit of sea salt. Taste: simple and pleasant, medical smoke, iodine, linoleum, herbal, fruity, apples, pears, vanilla and toffee, nuts, a bit of sea salt. Finish: rather short and light, smoky, smoked, salty, tart, a bit of bitter citrus.

A simple, easygoing Laphroaig that shows light smoke and oak, but feels thin and a bit underpowered.

tolerable

The worst Laphroaig ever.

a very disappointing release of laphroaig, easily describable as alcohol, water and peat

Somewhat mau for a Laphroaig. Looks pretty watery with peat and smoke - nothing exciting and no character. For me it seems like this bottling is for those who want an easy-to-enjoy and "ironed" whisky. All real whisky connoisseurs will probably prefer the 10, as it offers more facets and more flavors.

From a number of different types of cask, including Oloroso Sherry butts, white American oak, Pedro Ximenez seasoned hoggies, Quarter casks and first fill bourbon casks. Laphroaig 'light'...

A really musty island whisky.

While this is far from spectacular, it’s not quite the disaster I’ve seen people make it out to be, objectively speaking. This seems to me like a very good option in those bottom shelf, budget style single malts.

With this bottling, they obviously shift down a gear. The medicinal smoky aroma typical of Laphroaig is present, but the Select lacks too much power and complexity to live up to the motto of the "most richly flavored of all Scotch whiskies". https://www.aboutwhisky.de/tastingnotes/laphroaig-select/

Standard Peat whisky, Sweet and paraffin, spicy and balanced. Good

Fine for an Islay, but absolutely not laphroaig, very moderate

Although I had almost no expectations for this whisky, it did not meet the target. The most boring and rarest whisky from the brand's entire portfolio. I really don't understand the reason for the model's existence, because for fans of the brand this whisky is useless and for those who want to discover the typical character of the brand, this whisky is too rare and does not reveal anything... I recommend buying a basic 10yo or Quarter cask instead... I bought it on sale in the German Netto chain of stores for 17.99 euros, including a tasting glass in the set, but despite this very favorable price, I do not plan to buy another bottle...

2020 Rating

The nose knows to please, but the taste forgives very much by the high dilution. The 48% could certainly something.

I'm a Laphroaig fan but this one is the pits. Barely any nose and a weak palate that almost tastes as though it has grain alcohol. If you want an exotic yet reasonably priced Laph, get yourself a bottle of cask strength 006. It has a fragrant palate, full mouth feel, and wonderful finish. I still like the 003 a little more, due to the fact that it is more complex, but the 006 is smoother.

Not as wispy as intended. But wispy in comparison with the 10 YO. It's more like a Quarter Cask after 48 hours of oxidation. An ABV of 48%, 3-4 more years in the cask and we would have had a splendid malt. So it is just unfinished business. Concerning price/performance ratio: 7/10

Medicinal peat of Laphroaig with a little acidic acid side. The mouth is very soft, soft, on a slightly sweet peat and tannins well integrated, a little black pepper. Vegetable notes (green wood) betray his youth. Long finish on peat and tannins again. Good and good q / p but given the low price difference I prefer 10 years.

N: tarry, not very sweet, perfumey T: toffee, peat, light peppery F: peper, dry - young&oak

Well. Interesting nose, the rest is pretty neutral.

In the flavor, hint present kumquat and pineapple candied fruits and that's all. The characteristic medical theme is not developed. An extract for six months in fresh barrels imparts at least some strength to a spirit as flat as tundra. Aftertaste with a noticeable bitterness. Why? (((

A very nice and gentle Laphroaig. Not quite my expectation but nevertheless a nice and enjoyable whisky. More a warm summer evening Laphroaig than a cold winter one

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COLOUR: golden yellow (one of the few Laphroaig bottlings that are colourless!) - surprisingly mild, fruity Laphroaig - the alternative was successful, and thereby something of Depth and the medical note is missing - not for a Laphroaig lover / fanatic - ok for about 25€ and on sale on everyone case worthwhile