The nose is very potent peat with minor hints of spice, citrus, and florals.
Neat, the mouthfeel and taste are immediately more refreshing than the nose would imply. Oak is subtle early on and fades fast on exhale, but sticks around and is more pronounced if swished around a bit without exhaling.
On ice, the floral and oak notes come through more while the sweetness and peat is subdued. A surprisingly refreshing “summer Scotch” profile that is perfect on a hot night.
At ~$70, this is a delicious and agreeable Scotch that anyone would be happy with. This was my first taste of anything from Laphroaig and I was expecting it to be more harsh, akin to something like Lagavulin (and perhaps the standard 10-year Laphroaig will be when I try that). But Laphroaig Quarter Cask reminded me more of my personal favorite, Caol Ila 12, and I was surprised at how much I liked it from the first sip. Definitely a recommended purchase.