New Release: Laphroaig Official 'LORE'

The aroma is classic, the flavor was somewhat crafted but it was delicious. Laphroaig LAPHROAIG OB 'LORE' 48% The aroma is rich, with notes of apricot jam and orange marmalade, chocolate, strong fishy smoke and dashi, burnt barley, and a powerful peat with strong iodine. Upon drinking, it starts with a gentle mouthfeel typical of watered-down whisky, expanding into a rich aroma of bitter chocolate and dried orange, vanilla, smoky smoke. The sweetness has a strong, full-bodied character with hints of young barley, nuances reminiscent of biting charcoal, strong oak tannins, a strong peat with iodine, and smoke. 【Good/Very Good】 This is the recently released official 'LORE' from Laphroaig. It's a vatting without an age statement, released in conjunction with the end of the 18-year-old bottling, and has the same high ABV of 48%. Like many non-age statements that have been increasing recently, it was announced to be made using a diverse range of casks to create a delicious whisky. Although I don't have a strong impression for non-age statements, I purchased it immediately upon receiving the email from the distillery. The aroma had a classic Laphroaig character with rich jam notes, chocolate-like qualities, fishy smoke, and strong iodine. Upon tasting, it had a rich expansion with fruity notes, chocolate, and a full-bodied sweetness along with strong iodine peat, which was a good impression. However, the oak influence felt slightly strong, with pronounced nuances reminiscent of biting charcoal or ash. While the oak and peat are prominent, some youthful notes seemed to remain unmasked. The long maturation of the malt was clearly felt, so although it might have an average longer aging for a non-age statement, the lack of cohesion between the flavoring and the overall unity was slightly concerning. As it's a first batch with strong character, I believe that with bottle aging, the unity will improve and the youthful qualities will soften, making it a rich and very delicious whisky. I had planned to open it at home immediately, but I decided to keep it for a while longer.