If you are famous for making the most strongly flavoured whisky in the world, where do you go next? Well, in the case of Laphroaig, that meant an experimental programme of maturation in specially commissioned casks, a quarter of the normal size.

The smaller the cask, the faster the whisky will mature, so the Quarter Cask whisky is ready to bottle and drink at a younger age than normal. Laphroaig aren’t saying, but we reckon it’s about six years old, with less than a year of additional maturation in the wee barrels needed to give it the desired mellowness.

But despite its youthfulness, this isn’t a rough whisky. If anything, it is smoother than the standard Ten Year Old, with an extra creaminess. The pungent medicinal character of Laphroaig is not diminished – it comes roaring in at the finish to remind you what you’re drinking – but that smooth wrapping softens it a little.

If you find the Ten Year Old Laphroaig a bit on the fierce side, give this one a go, with a little splash of water to bring out the youthful fruitiness.

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