Laphroaig 1992/2011 19 Year old Old Malt Cask

Laphroaig distillery (the name means "the beautiful hollow by the broad bay") was established in 1815, by Alex and Donald Johnston. It was sold to Long John International in the 1960ies and subsequently became part of Allied Domecq. Today the distillery is owned by the American spirits company Beam Inc. This particular expression was distilled in April 1992 and bottled in May 2011 by the Old Malt Cask for la Maison du Whisky.

The nose is soft, briny and lightly smoky. Hints of vanilla and pears are there, together with phenolic sweetness. A rather delicate nose without the expected smoky and ashy impact.

The palate is medium-bodied, spicy and very smoky. Soot and peat are now very prominent and mingle with vanilla and lemon flavours.

The finish is long, warming, and nicely smoky. It remains very phenolic and sooty to the very end, followed by distinct tannic dryness.

This was an interesting Laphroaig, the rather delicate nose being followed by a smoky and sooty palate and an equally phenolic finish. This was satisfying and easy to drink, although I prefer the 18yo from the distillery’s core range.

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