About the product
Single Malts of Scotland Laphroaig 2014 11 Year Old Single Cask #222 is a limited independent bottling that captures the bold and unmistakable character of Islay whisky. Distilled in 2014 and matured for 11 years in a single cask, it offers a unique, unrepeatable profile with natural intensity.
On the palate, it delivers classic Laphroaig notes of peat smoke, seaweed, and medicinal character, layered with hints of lemon zest, green apple, and vanilla. Subtle sweetness from the cask balances the powerful smoke, while touches of iodine, salt, and spice add depth.
The texture is rich and slightly oily, carrying the smoky intensity with precision. The finish is long and warming, with lingering peat, coastal salinity, citrus, and gentle oak.
Bold and expressive, this single cask release is ideal for peat lovers and collectors, offering a pure and concentrated snapshot of Laphroaig’s iconic style.
Tasting Profile & Food Pairings
Taste Notes
At nearly 64% ABV, this is a "heavyweight" Laphroaig that demands time and a splash of water to fully unravel.
- Nose Intense and medicinal. It hits with smoked sea salt, iodine, and wet wool, followed by surprisingly bright notes of lemon zest, green apple, and vanilla bean. There is an underlying scent of scorched pine needles.
- Palate Explosive and oily. It opens with raw peat smoke and charcoal, transitioning into a savory mid-palate of salted licorice, kippers (smoked fish), and white pepper. With water, a hidden sweetness of pear drops and honey emerges.
- Finish Monumental. It leaves a massive, dry trail of ash, tar, and medicinal gauze, with a final, lingering mineral saltiness that feels like a sea breeze.
Food Pairings
The extreme smoke and high proof of Cask #222 require foods that are either intensely salty or richly fatty.
- Savory Raw Oysters with a Lemon Squeeze. Pouring a tiny drop of this Laphroaig directly onto a fresh oyster is a legendary Islay ritual that highlights the whisky's maritime salinity.
- Main Smoked Bluefish or Peated Salmon. The "oily" nature of the fish stands up to the 63.8% ABV, while the smoke in the food mirrors the smoke in the glass.
- Cheese Roquefort or Stillman’s Blue. The pungent, salty "funk" of blue cheese is one of the few flavors strong enough to compete with Laphroaig’s medicinal peat.
- Sweet Dark Chocolate Ginger Thins. The ginger provides a spicy bridge to the white pepper notes, while the dark cocoa tames the "ashy" finish.
About the brand
Laphroaig is the world’s most polarizing and "medicinal" distillery, famous for a spirit that smells of iodine, seaweed, and cold-smoked peat. While the official distillery bottlings often focus on consistency through blending, Single Malts of Scotland (an independent label by Elixir Distillers) seeks out individual "renegade" casks. This 11-year-old release from the 2014 vintage is particularly special because it bypasses the standard 40% ABV dilution. By selecting a refill hogshead, the bottlers have allowed the "distillery DNA"—that raw, coastal, and band-aid-like peat—to remain the star of the show, rather than being overshadowed by heavy new wood.
