Laphroaig Elements 2.0 Cask Strength, 59.6%

The peat leads the dance from the get-go, with smoked bacon and bonfire along with seashells, dried seaweed, salinity, and minerality. The palate is peat-loaded and spicy, but leaves room for sweets: creamy vanilla, peach, and poached pear, accented by white pepper. The finish offers vanilla custard, bitter chocolate, lemon drops, and ashy peat. Dry and peaty but also sweet and fruity, this one seems to have it all. No. 1 of our Top 20 of 2024.