Laphroaig Limited Edition 27 Year Old Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

Islay is going from strength to strength as a magnet for new and veteran admirers of Single malt Scotch whisky. As part of its 200th anniversary celebrations in 2015, Laphroaig launched a 32 Year Old – its oldest whisky in over eight years. In 2016, a 30 year old followed. Then in 2017, this 27 Year Old double matured edition formed a trifecta - each emphasising what a master blender can achieve with cask selections of the highest quality. The big difference with this beauty is that it was aged in refill hogsheads before being double-matured in first-fill ex-bourbon barrels and refill quarter casks. All of it was aged in Warehouse No.1, the maturation hall closest to the ocean, with waves rearing up just below the distillery’s white washed walls - hence, a few tasters report extra maritime lift in the whisky.

The broader consensus is that the double-maturation has really worked some magic. Evidently, distillery Manager John Campbell has nit-picked casks in an effort to bottle a highly distinctive Laphroaig: Smoke remains, but extended age has mellowed and integrated the peat, instead accenting unusual lime and tropical fruit characteristics over the more familiar tobacco, salt and coastal notes. In short, it’s whisky selected at its peak. And yes, this is actually cask strength at 41.7% (!) so if you do cave into cracking one, there’s very little room for water.

Common to the entire range are wooden boxes with a carved image of the distillery inside and neutral tones evocative of the white-washed walls of Warehouse 1. Collecting aside, to acquire all three whiskies in the series and taste them together would be an enviable sensory experience.
Distilled from Oct. 1988 through to Nov. 1989 and bottled in March 2017. 41.7% Alc./Vol.