Review #760 - Laphroaig Quarter Cask

Laphroaig's Quarter Cask is a core range bottle and a favorite among fans of the distillery; over the past several years, it has generally been reasonably priced, and it's bottled at a nice strength of 48% ABV.

This single malt doesn't have an age statement, but after the distillery initially matures the spirit in ex-bourbon casks, they use a finishing period in smaller quarter casks to add increased oak influence. In theory, this should lead to a more rounded flavor profile, even at a relatively young age. We're hoping to get a decent amount of flavor and good texture as well - Laphroaig states on the label that this whisky is not chill filtered.

Laphroaig Quarter Cask

Scotland/Islay - Single Malt

Price: USD 69 (2026)

Age Statement: NAS

Strength: 48% ABV

Cask Makeup: Ex-bourbon casks, quarter casks

Details: Not chill filtered

Tasting Methodology: Reviewed 3 times over 4 months; bottles at 80%, 40%, and 30% fill levels at times of review. Tasted in a nosing glass each time, rested 15+ minutes

Nose: A decent amount of peat, with a medicinal and peppery side to it. It's quite rounded - no challenging flavors - and we get nice fruits of orange, lemon, and sweet lime, as well as a bit of wood spice and dry malt. Time brings ash and tar or creosote, as well as just a hint of salinity.

Palate: The mouthfeel has a medium thickness; flavors of dry, ashy peat, black pepper, charcoal, and effervescent mint greet us. Sweetness from pears drops, buttercream icing, and vanilla follow; then it's some sharp oak. Subtleties like guava, honeydew melon, medicinal notes, lime-lime soda, and mineral flavors can be found occasionally.

Finish: Honeydew melon and pears, white sugar, hints of buttery croissants - quite light and sweet at times. There's still a decent amount of peat, as well as sharp oak, slate, and charcoal; the aftertaste brings charred orange and margaritas. It's a medium-long finish due to the peat smoke.

Final Note: This is a solid, if unexceptional, malt from the Laphroaig distillery. It has a lot of the classic modern, ex-bourbon Laphroaig flavors that we've come to expect: peat with just a light medicinal side, light fruits, and some light baking notes, all of which combine for a sweet and sharp experience. The complexity here is okay, but a bit more time aging might contribute to that more; we wouldn't mind a bit more flavor density, too. Decent whisky, though, one we'd happily drink.

Value is about average; actually, this bottle experienced quite a price jump in our market in the last 6 months, which we think is a bit of a surprise considering the downturn in the whisky market. It could be related to local retailers specifically, but the price went from about $49 to $69; we would buy at the lower price, but would have second thoughts at the higher price.

Our Rating: 6.5 / 10

In the current whisky landscape of increasing prices and variable quality, we've added a value rating to our reviews that relates to the score and the available pricing of each whisky. This roughly equates to a 0-10 scale; no reviews so far have exceeded a score of 10, although it is technically possible for the formula to produce a value rating higher than 10 with a high enough score and low enough price.

Value Rating: 6.34

About Us: We're a husband and wife review team living in the Midwest United States. Generally, our reviews and tasting notes will be a compilation of both of our experiences with a whisky over several tasting sessions.