A young Laphroaig

On a recent trip to the local liquor store, I overheard someone explain to his friend that older whiskies/wines/whatever are better than younger ones. This eight year old Laphroaig from the Scotch Malt Whisky Society proves this is wrong. Despite its short time in the barrel, this is vintage Lapgroaig -- it has a light pinot grigio-like color and weighs in at 58.2% ABV (it comes from a refill hogshead ex-bourbon cask). The nose has the trademark smoke and iodine of Laphroaig, but also biscuits, wet stones on a cold beach, weather-beaten leather (I kid you not!), citrus peel and just a faint whiff of sea-weed. With water it develops an unlit cigarette smell and sweet maple, with an undertone of campfire smoke. It is a powerful, yet sweet whisky that explodes on the tongue without water (as you would expect at this alcohol level), but calms down considerably without losing the complex flavors as you add water. This is one of those whiskies that you will never find exactly the same profile for again, but wish you had bought a case of when you had the chance.