Laphroaig – 15 Year Old 2004 The Octave

This is a 15 year old single malt from Laphroaig, carrying the year 2004 and the name The Octave. It is old gold in colour. The nose opens with smoked pears and damp earth, the smoke restrained and rather vegetal, alongside sultanas and fresh grilled figs. On the palate the sherry notes are more definite, and the whisky is quite dry and grassy yet fairly fat in texture, with smoky walnuts and salt-preserved lemons. The finish is long and oily. The smoke fades to a rounded sweetness, with a touch of seawater among the sugars.