Dr. Octagon Presents Scotch Reviews: Laphroaig Quarter Cask

by Dr. Octagon, J.D.

Our esteemed editor has informed me we are broadening our horizons with beer and booze reviews. He’s also trying to squeeze as much content out of me as possible and there are very few things that I know about, so Scotch will have to do. For UFC 141 tonight I’m drinking Laphroaig Quarter Cask. Right now the ghetto Facebook stream isn’t working on my state-of-the-art computer, so I figured I’d file this in the meantime.

Laphroaig is a real Scotch-nerd’s Scotch. It’s the sort of Scotch that bros mention on internet message boards to show they have some sort of idea of they are talking about. I wish I had a nickel for every time I’ve seen someone inquire what to buy for a Scotch-lover only to have a million people chime in “Laphroaig."

Laphroaig is the wrong answer to that question. (Right answer: Find anything starting with "Glen” in your price range. The Glens are all agreeable and will be a hit with most people who like Scotch) Laphroaig is a different item altogether. It’s a polarizing Scotch that tastes of smoke and iodine. It’s perhaps the harshest expression of the Islay style. Scotch has regions similar to wine, some of which are blurry. But Islay, with its peaty soil and exposure to the sea is particularly recognizable.

This release I’m drinking tonight is 48 vol, which is pretty fiery, but not as strong as cask-strength, which weighs in at 57.3 vol. My beverage tonight is aged in oak, then in a quarter cask of some unidentified wood (just as it was 200 years ago, according to the bottle).

The age isn’t stated on the bottle, but to me it tastes a lot like the Laphroaig ten-year except more oily and complex. Even with the regular ten-year, the stronger releases were always more complex (they have been released at both 40 vol and 43 vol). So it’s no surprise this one is even better given the additional firepower.

For whatever reason really peaty scotches can stand at a much higher proof than the more delicate Highlands varieties. Quarter cask tastes medicinal with a hint of burnt bacon. Add a decent amount of water to this one. It has some kick to it.

I give Laphroaig Quarter Cask a 145 out of 158.3.