I love a dram of Ardbeg but found that I did not like Laphroaig nearly as much.
While Ardbeg had this fantastically complex flavor that I could savor -- I could not really notice as much complexity to the Laphroaig. It tasted too much like medicine and I could not get much past that.
I am a bit surprised that I did not enjoy this relatively recent bottle of Laphroaig (couple months ago I would guess) that much. The reason is that I really enjoyed a couple of drams of Laphroaig I had at a bar in Prague with a Scottish guy who introduced me to the drink. I guess that good company and good conversation while on vacation in a foreign country makes any drink taste better.
I am surprised that I would love Ardbeg and not like Laphroaig nearly as much as supposedly the two are very similiar -- both being Islay with a peaty reputation.
About to finish up a big project at work and was thinking of buying a bottle of something to celebrate -- share a dram with friends. Any suggestions for something that I might like given my affinity to Ardbeg? I suppose I could always just get another bottle of Ardbeg 10 YO. :-)
How about Talisker 10 YO? It has good reviews in whisky magazine.
Will