Laphroaig 30 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml) - 2024 Release

Laphroaig 30 year old has been on and off the market since around 2000. As of 2024 it comes in annual batches. This edition spent time in both American oak barrels and European sherry hogsheads and butts. Bottled at 45.8 Alc./Vol., with a profile that's soft, smokey and sweet, it remains the oldest whisky in the core range by quite a margin.

Other reviews... This baby ex-American oak and European sherry oak) I must admit we haven’t kept up with the official 30 year old in recent years, perhaps a missed opportunity, as we did love the old 30 at 43%, which went down like mother’s milk (albeit in far more generous pours, so drinkable it was…) Colour: deep gold. Nose: gone is the explosion of tropical fruits once found in earlier batches, yet what we have is rather coherent, a touch of camphor, massage oils, oysters, a little lime, then come whiffs of a beach at low tide. A few bits of bandage too. Lovely nose, no doubt. Mouth: beautifully saline, with a touch of active oak that might point to recent rerackings, followed by a fine, mentholated smokiness evocative of menthol cigarettes, along with those famous tropical fruits, though appearing only in measured quantities. Passion fruit and grapefruit. A little green walnut too, likely from the sherry. Finish: medium in length but very nicely medicinal and fruity at once, on lemon marmalade for instance. The aftertaste turns back towards ashes, with a touch of rubber and menthol, not unlike the profile of that NAS Feis Ile. Comments: clearly a success, despite the presence of active oak that does show just a little, I find. 89 points - whiskyfun.com

...The balance is magnificent, between, on one hand, expertly measured coastal notes, a very discreet medicinal touch, fresh iodine, and on the other, pulpy citrus, chalky smoke, and a light hint of vanilla. Looking closer, one finds vegetal traces: parsley, thyme, a spoonful of lard. Salt and icing sugar. A few tropical fruits emerge: mango, papaya. On the palate, it is also perfectly measured: white grape, luscious minerality, peat permeating the fruits—orange and grapefruit—light spices. A very long finish, slowly enveloping everything: varnished fine wood, a zest of lime, a full ashtray, burnt tire, licorice and melting chocolate, freshly ground coffee beans. Dark tobacco, tar. Hazelnuts. It's really superb, as expected, however the exotic fruits are a little discreet, and it doesn't have the depth and complexity of the 25 year old, at least those I've tasted. - whiskybase.com