Laphroaig 10 Year Sherry Oak Finish Whiskey Review

Company: Beam Suntory

Distillery: Laphroaig

Region: Islay, Scotland

Aging: 10 Years in Ex-Bourbon Casks and finished in Oloroso Sherry Casks

ABV: 48%

Price: $90

Appearance: Dark Maple Syrup

Nose: Light peat, smoke, caramel, vanilla notes, sweet and sugary

Palate: Peat, smoke, char, crispy caramelized bacon, pepper, maple, lingering heat

Is Laphroaig Sherry Oak Finish Approachable?

Laphroaig 10-Year Sherry Oak is a bit more approachable than the standard Laphroaig 10-Year in the fact that it is not as one-dimensionally peat. The Laphroaig Sherry Oak does have a higher ABV so it does have a bit more burn, so I would not say that it is very approachable for a new whiskey drinker.

Is Laphroaig Sherry Oak Finish Complex?

Laphroaig 10-Year Sherry Oak is not super complex. It has an additional layer on top of the peat and smoke, which adds the caramel, maple, and even crispy bacon peppery flavor, but for me… these two aspects do not mix particularly well.

How Does Laphroaig Sherry Oak Finish Smell?

You definitely get a lot of the sweet notes from the Oloroso sherry casks that do a surprisingly nice job of masking the peat and smoke from the Laphroaig 10-Year. It’s a pleasant aroma that many whiskey drinkers will appreciate as it blends two styles that you usually do not find together.

What are Laphroaig Sherry Oak Finish’s strongest attributes/flavors?

The peat and smoke are still front and center. This is always a strong point for Laphroaig and it’s the reason we love it so much. The strongest attribute of the Laphroaig Sherry Oak Finish is that it blends the sweeter maple syrup and sugary flavors like caramelized bacon into the mix.

Come to think of it, the more I sip this whiskey, the more it actually reminds me of sitting around a campfire cooking breakfast with the smell of smoke in the air as you cook your bacon and eggs.

Is Laphroaig Sherry Oak Finish a go-to whiskey?

Laphroaig Sherry Oak Finish would not be a go-to whiskey for me. While I enjoy the ying and yang of the flavors, it doesn’t stand out to me as more enjoyable than the standard Laphroaig 10-Year.

I drink Laphroaig for the peat and smokey flavors, so I’d more likely drink a glass of Laphroaig 10-Year and follow it up with a nice glass of bourbon to fulfill my sweet tooth.

Is Laphroaig Sherry Oak Finish priced accurately to its quality?

I think the Laphroaig Sherry Oak Finish is a bit overpriced for the quality. I would purchase this bottle much more regularly if it were a $50 bottle rather than the $90 price tag that I paid.

That being said, it is still a pleasant pour. I would suggest maybe splitting a bottle of this with a friend to give it a taste for yourself.

I hope you enjoyed this tasting experience with me.

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Thanks for reading and cheers!