Laphroaig Select

Laphroaig Select is an Islay single malt Scotch bottled at 40% ABV. Laphroaig describes it as a vatting of single malts matured in a combination of cask types. That makes it a deliberate step away from the distillery's best-known, heavily medicinal style. Islay malts from this part of the island usually carry peat smoke, iodine, sea salt and tar. Expect Select to hold those traits but with the edges softened, so some orchard fruit and sweeter, creamier oak notes can sit alongside the smoke. The distributor's wording points to a range running from peaty to fruity, and the mix of casks is the likely reason the smoke doesn't dominate. The 40% strength keeps the texture lighter than cask-strength Islay bottlings, so it is easy to approach if you are new to peated whisky. For a first pour, try it neat in a Glencairn glass. The tapered rim concentrates the smoke and fruit, and a slow nosing before the first sip shows which of the two leads. If the peat feels forward, a few drops of room-temperature water loosen the aromas and usually bring out more sweetness. Ice is a poor fit at this strength. Cold mutes the finer fruit and oak notes, and the smoke ends up carrying the whole pour. If you still prefer it chilled, use one large cube in a rocks glass so it dilutes slowly. In cocktails, a smoky Scotch like this works best where the smoke is a feature and not something to hide. An Old Fashioned made with a small amount of demerara syrup and orange bitters gives the peat something to contrast with, and a Rob Roy (the Scotch version of a Manhattan) with sweet vermouth and a dash of Angostura suits it well. In a Whiskey Sour, the lemon and a rich simple syrup balance the smoke, and a lightly peated Scotch can lift the drink in a way most bourbons won't. For a Highball, pour over plenty of ice and top with cold soda water at roughly three parts soda to one part whisky. The bubbles open up the aroma and keep the peat from getting heavy. At the table, the smoke and salt point toward smoked salmon, oysters, aged hard cheeses and dark chocolate. A rocks glass is the better choice if you plan to sip slowly over a meal and don't need to nose closely.