Cask Information. The CS 10 YO (Green strip) *Batch #12* , 60.1% abv , released just at the beginning of COVID in February 2020, was matured in heavily charred Ex-Bourbon barrels. Heavy sweet burnt toffee notes from those charred barrels. In my opinion, by far the sweetest of all CS Laphroaigs and a bit of an experiment, an apparition. That dark toffee brown colour was all natural, due to those casks. Adding E150a to them would have been a complete waist of time. [In a Live UA-cam stream with the then distillery manager, John Campbell (now at Lochlea Distillery), he told me that the CS Batch 12 was NCF and NC. When I asked him why they don't state this on the label, he didn't reply]. The Cask Strength 10 Batch *#13* , 57.9 % abv was available in early 2021. 100% Ex-Bourbon Barrels but less of a burnt Oak flavour to it. The Cask Strength 10 Batch *#14* , 58.6 % abv, came out later in the same year, available in late 2021. 100% Ex-Bourbon barrels. A slightly dryer version with more peat, seaweed notes. The Cask Strength 10 Batch *#15* , 56.5 % abv, came out mid 2022. Matured exclusively, as always, in Ex-Bourbon Barrels, medium (regular) charred. Batches 13 to 15, being matured in regular charred Ex-Bourbon barrels, *MIGHT* have had some colour added? However, I must point out that having "mit fabstoff" does not necessarily mean that it definitanty has colour added. Case in point:There were batches of Diageo's Lagavulin 12 (2014, 2015..), which were so pale, they were almost clear with a slight green tint, had no added E150a added (according to my Kashrus contact at the distillery), yet all had "mit fabstoff" printed at the bottom of the cardboard boxes !!!
thanks for the review! Genuine, honest, and brilliant as always! And that love for this whisky @10:07 :) so nice! Can't wait to open my bottle of this beauty! Cheers!
I live in a controlled state, so the liquor prices are the same at every store. They screwed up and had Batch 14 at $53 USD. I ended up walking out with two cases lol
There was a Batch #016 released in Dec. '22 @ 58.5% abv but I never seen it or a UA-cam video review so it must have been a small batch or just hasn't made its way through distribution. We're usually about a year behind in the U.S.
I believe that since batch 013 the CS releases have been Mit Farbstoff, unfortunately. Batch 012 (Feb 20) was the last one that was natural colour, according to a German retailer. Although admittedly I’ve not checked for 015.
I have to point out that having "mit fabstoff" does not necessarily mean that it definitanty has colour added. Case in point:There were batches of Diageo's Lagavulin 12 (2014, 2015..), which were so pale, they were almost clear with a slight green tint, had no added E150a added (according to my Kashrus contact at the distillery), yet all had "mit fabstoff" printed at the bottom of the cardboard boxes !!!
Great review! Yeah when I first tried a CS Laphroaig 10 my initial reaction was to wonder why it's not more smoky :) I love this stuff, it's just delicious! I compared the Warehouse 1 release from last year to Batch 14 and I was hoping being a younger stock the Warehouse 1 would be better or stronger than 10 CS but no, the CS was just better! Have you tried the Warehouse 1 in a head to head situation and what are your thoughts? Cheers! 🥃
I agree and would go further. It's very annoying that Beam Suntory are really behind the times and simply don't see the commercial benefits to them, by stating on the bottle that it's Natural Colour and Non-Chill Filtered. Moreover, they own some of the most iconic distilleries in Scotland yet, in my opinion, grossly neglect them. Ardmore and Bowmore are two examples of shame. The history and tradition of these two distilleries, and Suntory abuse them by forcing the folks there to produce supermarket level NAS bottlings. Most whisky lovers are totally unaware just how good Ardmore and Bowmore Single Malts can be, given the opportunity. At least with Laphroaig we get this Cask Strength every year, but this is the exception to Suntory's incompetent and callous corporation policy. If they don't know or don't care to treat their distilleries with the respect they deserve then they should be encouraged to sell them to those who do appreciate them. OK, rant over!
Not to bothered regarding colouring for this batch, more put out regarding ABV going down year bye year, get it back over 60% ffs, happy days. A great dram but come on Laphroaig Arran Quarter cast is 57%
I think I've only seen one recent batch over 60%, but past bottles have been pretty close. Arran is giving everyone a run for their money. Peated stock or not.
Cask Information.
The CS 10 YO (Green strip) *Batch #12* , 60.1% abv , released just at the beginning of COVID in February 2020, was matured in heavily charred Ex-Bourbon barrels. Heavy sweet burnt toffee notes from those charred barrels. In my opinion, by far the sweetest of all CS Laphroaigs and a bit of an experiment, an apparition. That dark toffee brown colour was all natural, due to those casks. Adding E150a to them would have been a complete waist of time.
[In a Live UA-cam stream with the then distillery manager, John Campbell (now at Lochlea Distillery), he told me that the CS Batch 12 was NCF and NC. When I asked him why they don't state this on the label, he didn't reply].
The Cask Strength 10 Batch *#13* , 57.9 % abv was available in early 2021. 100% Ex-Bourbon Barrels but less of a burnt Oak flavour to it.
The Cask Strength 10 Batch *#14* , 58.6 % abv, came out later in the same year, available in late 2021. 100% Ex-Bourbon barrels. A slightly dryer version with more peat, seaweed notes.
The Cask Strength 10 Batch *#15* , 56.5 % abv, came out mid 2022. Matured exclusively, as always, in Ex-Bourbon Barrels, medium (regular) charred.
Batches 13 to 15, being matured in regular charred Ex-Bourbon barrels, *MIGHT* have had some colour added?
However, I must point out that having "mit fabstoff" does not necessarily mean that it definitanty has colour added.
Case in point:There were batches of Diageo's Lagavulin 12 (2014, 2015..), which were so pale, they were almost clear with a slight green tint, had no added E150a added (according to my Kashrus contact at the distillery), yet all had "mit fabstoff" printed at the bottom of the cardboard boxes !!!
This fills me with some hope. I truly would be baffled if it was coloured at this price point and style.
thanks for the review! Genuine, honest, and brilliant as always! And that love for this whisky @10:07 :) so nice! Can't wait to open my bottle of this beauty! Cheers!
Thank you!
Wonderful review!!!! 👏🏻 👏🏻 👏🏻 👏🏻 👏🏻
Thank you!
I live in a controlled state, so the liquor prices are the same at every store. They screwed up and had Batch 14 at $53 USD. I ended up walking out with two cases lol
I do not blame you. Amazing find.
There was a Batch #016 released in Dec. '22 @ 58.5% abv but I never seen it or a UA-cam video review so it must have been a small batch or just hasn't made its way through distribution. We're usually about a year behind in the U.S.
Me neither! I thought I messed up when I hadn't seen a new batch
Would be interesting to do a shootout comparison with this bottle and Ardbeg Corry and perhaps Lag 12 latest batch or recent. Cheers.
Hmmmm, that is a good idea.
I believe that since batch 013 the CS releases have been Mit Farbstoff, unfortunately. Batch 012 (Feb 20) was the last one that was natural colour, according to a German retailer. Although admittedly I’ve not checked for 015.
Yep just had a look and batch 15 has "mit fabstoff". I got my bottle shipped from laphroaig which ships out of germany
I have to point out that having "mit fabstoff" does not necessarily mean that it definitanty has colour added.
Case in point:There were batches of Diageo's Lagavulin 12 (2014, 2015..), which were so pale, they were almost clear with a slight green tint, had no added E150a added (according to my Kashrus contact at the distillery), yet all had "mit fabstoff" printed at the bottom of the cardboard boxes !!!
This is a thorough shame if it's true. I thought, as a CS release, it would be free from this.
Great review! Yeah when I first tried a CS Laphroaig 10 my initial reaction was to wonder why it's not more smoky :) I love this stuff, it's just delicious! I compared the Warehouse 1 release from last year to Batch 14 and I was hoping being a younger stock the Warehouse 1 would be better or stronger than 10 CS but no, the CS was just better! Have you tried the Warehouse 1 in a head to head situation and what are your thoughts? Cheers! 🥃
Hey there! Never tried Warehouse 1, although many of my YT whisky colleagues have and gave it a good review.
Hi mate. In Germany they have to declare it on the label. Unfortunately the 10 CS is coloured.
Besides that fact, amazing dram, though.
Genuinely annoyed at that, even with the quality of the liquid.
What's your favourite batch?
I agree and would go further. It's very annoying that Beam Suntory are really behind the times and simply don't see the commercial benefits to them, by stating on the bottle that it's Natural Colour and Non-Chill Filtered. Moreover, they own some of the most iconic distilleries in Scotland yet, in my opinion, grossly neglect them. Ardmore and Bowmore are two examples of shame. The history and tradition of these two distilleries, and Suntory abuse them by forcing the folks there to produce supermarket level NAS bottlings.
Most whisky lovers are totally unaware just how good Ardmore and Bowmore Single Malts can be, given the opportunity. At least with Laphroaig we get this Cask Strength every year, but this is the exception to Suntory's incompetent and callous corporation policy. If they don't know or don't care to treat their distilleries with the respect they deserve then they should be encouraged to sell them to those who do appreciate them. OK, rant over!
Bowmore and Ardmore can be exceptional, but it is a rare occurrence these days. True shame about Laphroaig
Batches 15 & 16 are excellent and completely different from each other.
Yeah, Triple Wood was awesome.
Miss the Triple Wood. This is probably still my whisky of the year.
Hope they stop putting colourant into it; then I'd buy it again.
Anyway, thanks for the video!
Anytime. Quite disheartened to learn it contains colour.
Not to bothered regarding colouring for this batch, more put out regarding ABV going down year bye year, get it back over 60% ffs, happy days.
A great dram but come on Laphroaig Arran Quarter cast is 57%
I think I've only seen one recent batch over 60%, but past bottles have been pretty close. Arran is giving everyone a run for their money. Peated stock or not.
Quick google search tells that this batch is colored, what a shame.
A thorough shame.