Review #831 - SMWS 29.278 'Savory Peat Smoke' - Laphroaig 26 Year

A maturation of 26 years is a hefty age statement for any Islay single malt; this Laphroaig from the Scotch Malt Whisky Society spent that time in a second fill ex-bourbon barrel. Despite the long maturation, the Society suggests that this is still a "lively" tasting experience; even after more than two decades of evaporation, this single malt still has a cask strength of 57% ABV, so they may be onto something there.

The name 'Savory Peat Smoke' also suggests some umami flavors, which we would typically find in a Laphroaig that had some sort of sherry influence; instead, since this was matured in that bourbon cask, we'll be expecting the smoky notes from the distillate to bring that savory side.

SMWS 29.278 'Savory Peat Smoke' - Laphroaig 26 Year

Scotland/Islay - Single Malt

Price: USD 695 (2022)

Age Statement: 26 Years

Strength: 57% ABV

Cask Makeup: Second fill ex-bourbon barrel

Details: Not chill filtered, no color added; distilled April 4, 1995; 158 bottles

Tasting Methodology: Reviewed 2 times (once blind) over 4 months from a sample. Tasted in a nosing glass each time, rested 15+ minutes

Nose: Oily and malty, lots of lime curd, and quite coastal with salty accents and a bit of charcoal and ash. The peat has a medium influence; despite the age, this is still bright, and we get light notes of lemon, seared scallop, and custard. Time brings hints of cranberry, medjool dates, and some semi-dry yet musty oak.

Palate: A lovely palate - rich malt and wood smoke, a decent amount of peat smoke, and some charcoal and brine. Sweet citrus like lime builds, but we also get passionfruit and hints of mango coated in chili powder. Apples, lemonade, vanilla, and gingerbread continue the delicate sweet theme; campfire smoke lingers around the palate.

Finish: Very briny and mineral-forward into this finish, with some tart orange oil, sharp peat, and grill grate char. Musty and ashy, but there's also subtle sweetness: vanilla, a hint of passionfruit again. It's quite salty, and the aftertaste brings a bit of tobacco bitterness.

Final Note: Superb stuff, another examples of how good old Laphroaig can be. The peat level has started to mellow over the 26 years, but there's still a decent amount of smokiness, and it's accented by those wood smoke notes from the age. Past that, we get a lot of bright, semi-tropical fruit in this whisky, which is a character we love from older Laphroaig: passionfruit, lemon, mango, lots of great (but subtle) sweetness.

Even for such a good whisky, value isn't great due to the high price. It's hard to find Laphroaig older than 25 years, but $700 is quite a hefty hit to the wallet.

Our Rating: 9.2 / 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: 4.18

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.

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