New Release: Laphroaig 25 Year Old Official 2016 Release 48.6%

A powerful, expansive official 25-year-old bottling. The aroma is vibrant and fruity, with notes of vanilla, orange, oak, faint peach and plum, ginkgo, sea breeze, and a strong smoky peat with pronounced iodine from fishy brine. On the palate, it has a concentrated texture with a slightly powdery quality, featuring grapefruit-like notes (possibly from bourbon barrels), a spicy oak character (surprisingly so for its ABV), and a balance of sweetness, acidity, and saltiness. The umami-rich seafood stock essence and classic iodine-infused peat are well-presented alongside the fruitiness. While it is a highly enjoyable official bottling with diverse cask influences and a clear house style, there was a slight desire for more cohesion. Though it is already quite delicious as-is, aging it 10–20 years further might enhance its complexity. Even the final portion of the bottle is said to be more flavorful.