Laphroaig 1968 Sestante Pinerolo Import 40% ~triangular bottle vs Laphroaig 1968 Gordon & MacPhail for Donini 55.3%
Laphroaig 1968 Sestante Pinerolo Import 40% ~triangular bottle
Old bottle effect is present with some obvious glass and chrysanthemum tea but it’s not too loud here. Sharp seaweed-laced sea breeze, dry firewood licked by flame , granules of char and fallen embers. Alas no discernible fruit. Follows with earthy patchouli pointing at shades of dank undergrowth, hint of large animal, burnt leathery leaves and salt. But alas bottle condition is important and experience may vary. Glassiness is prevalent. 85 pts
Laphroaig 1968 Gordon & MacPhail for Donini 55.3%
Right. A lot going on. It’s got quite some gamey animalic aspects, tons of salt and a deep growling peat. Again not the obviously fruity sort of 60s Laphroaig but that’s not itself an issue. Rich and ripe sort of flavours float up here, jungle undergrowth, damp mouldering compost. Plenty of tar pits and black grimy oils. But it does seem quite subtle in turns. Perhaps not as approachable and obviously glorious as the lively 1966/67 Signatories but undoubtedly of meandering depth. Gets progressively saltier and more herbaceous with mint based bitters and burnt medicinal herbs, burnt myrtle and eucalyptus syrup. And the smoke grows into a billowing fog of Grey’s and blacks… But fruity notes are not apparent and the lack of power and conviction in this sample makes me thing I may have kept this one too long. So 92 pts for what must be a sample in decline.
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