I am also a friend of Laphroaig and all things Islay, so take my comment as such. The glorious earthy richness and salty aftertaste is so typical, I am always drawn to comparisons with Lagavulin and it largely depends on which I have had last which determines my favourite. I find the 10yr Laphroaig to be more subtle and less oily with a little more pronounced alcoholic nose, by the time it has got to 15yr the peatiness has diminished a little too much for me but heartily compenstated for in gravity and smoothness. We have also a cask strength Laphroaig which is super as the extra alcohol carries the peatiness to a lighter more ephemeral plane without being so alcoholic as to drown the character (as I personally found with the 100 proof Glenmorangie for instance) On the topic of cask strength expressions, in my very limited experience the very best I have had was Springbank, anyone else tried this?