A Muddled Thought

Laphroaig 10 Year and 10 Year Cask Strength

We recently decided to take a look at two of Laphroaig’s offerings. Their original 10 year old bottling and their cask strength 10 year old bottling. As Laphroaig is made in the Islay region of Scotland, its a highland scotch and this definitely shows itself in the flavors exhibited in both products.

The original 10 year has notes of heavy sea salt married with cherry that wake up your palate with each sip. It starts off with a peaty and smoke body and finishes with a touch of sweetness.

Laphroaig 10 Year Old- Rating 8/10

The 10 year cask strength is where Laphroaig can throw out bragging rights. The cask strength offering is simple and to the point. . It makes no excuses about what kind of spirit it is. From that first sip, you know your drinking a cask strength bottling, and we wouldn’t have it any other way. It starts off bold and ends with a long slightly sweet finish. Adding a splash of water brings out additional sweet notes of honey and sea salt.

Laphroaig 10 Year Old Cask Strength-9/10

While both of Laphroaig’s ten year offerings are impressive, the Cask Strength truly establishes itself as a leader among ten year old scotches and is a must try when given the opportunity.

After sampling both product offerings, we decided to see how the Laphroaig 10 Year Old would work in cocktails. Here’s what we were able to come up with.

A cocktail inspired Smokers Delight* but playing off the Cocoa and Caramel Undertones of the Milagro Anejo with the Smokey Flavor of the Laphroiag.

The Mexican Smoking Break
1 ¼ Oz Laphroiag Ten year
2 Oz Milagro Anejo Tequila
Chocolate Extract(3 Dashes) or Chocolate Bitters
2 Dashes Aromatic Bitters
3 Dashes Grapefruit Bitters

The Smokers Delight(The inspiration for the above drink)-
1 ½ oz Laphroaig Single Malt
¾ oz Mozart Black Chocolate Liqueur
2 Dashes The Bitter Truth Aromatic Bitter Truth
(Courtesy of Gonçalo de Souza Monteiro)

Sunday at the Loch

1 oz Laphroaig Ten Year
1 ½ oz Remy Martin 1738
3 Dash Regan Orange Bitters
1 dash chocolate extract
1 dash whiskey barrel bitters
¼ Maraska

Combier-Years Past

As we’re always continuously exploring the spirits world, we’re always on the look out for a new or in this case old spirit to work with. In this edition of A Muddled Thought’s Cocktail Spirit Highlight we’re going to take a step back about a 175 years to France and the little village of Saumur, where Combier has it’s origins. A baker by the name of Jean-Baptiste Combier wanted to create a new flavor that hadn’t been tried before. After several years of experimenting with various spices, sweet and bitter West Indies Orange peels and an alcohol base he perfected what would become known as Combier Liqueur D’Orange. Using a triple distillation process, Combier had created the original triple sec. Using the same recipe as Jean-Baptiste had created in 1834, Combier continues to make a great citrus spirit to be used in all types of cocktails.

The Modern Version of Combier. Welcome Back.

With such a versatile ingredient that incorporates flavors of orange, spice and hints of vanilla we wanted to see what cocktails we could create with it.
Sunrise in Athens

1 oz Metaxa 5 Year
1/2 oz Combier Orange Liquor
1 1/2 oz Mount Gay Rum Silver Eclipse White Rum
Shake with Ice

Serve in Champagne Flute, Top off with Champagne

Sunrise in Athens. A Combination of Metaxa 5 Year, Combier Orange Liquor, Mount Gay Silver Eclipse Rum, Topped with Champagne.

We also tried Combier in a modified margarita along with some other ingredients to create a drink with a slightly different flavor profile than your run of mill margarita.

2 oz Corzo Anejo Tequila
¼ oz St. Germain Elderflower
¼ oz Combier
¼ Scorpion Mezcal
1/2 oz Agave Nectar
1/2 oz Fresh Lime Juice
2-3 Dashes Grapefruit Bitters