Laphroaig 14 Year Old Douglas Laing Old Particular 2001 Single Refill Cask DL10877 (2015) 70cl

Laphroaig 14 Year Old Douglas Laing Old Particular 2001 Single Refill Cask DL10877 (2015) 70cl

1 of 390 bottles! What a colour on this one!

This was distilled in February 2001 and bottled in August 2015.

Laphroaig is owned by Beam Suntory. We know the quality they work with and it continues to thrive under their ownership.

Another of the Kildalton triumvirate, Laphroaig is a substantial distillery with seven stills and a capacity of over 3m litres per annum (that’s 1m more than Lagavulin and 2m more than Ardbeg).

Unusually for a distillery of this size Laphroaig has retained its own floor maltings which still account for 20% of its requirements. They have been retained specifically because it is believed that the Laphroaig kiln produces a more creosote-like phenolic character than the malt the distillery receives from the Port Ellen maltings. Certainly, a tarry iodine note is one of the signatures of the spirit.

The odd number of stills includes a spirit still which is double the size of its neighbours. As this produces a different character new make it is always blended in with those from the smaller ones.

A very long fore shot run means there are less estery notes in the new make, while a deeper cut means that heavier phenolics are captured compared to Ardbeg and Lagavulin. Its distinct sweet note therefore comes from the preferred cask type used – ex-Bourbon barrels. These, the distillery says, became the norm at Laphroaig post-Prohibition when Ian Hunter began travelling to the US. The effect of this type of oak is showcased in the Quarter Cask release where a vatting of younger Laphraoig is finished in small casks. Some Sherry casks are in the inventory and are mostly used for longer-term maturation.

TASTING NOTES

Nose: Punchy yet complex, carrying leather, beach bonfire ashes and spicy fudge

Palate: A balance of peaty and sweet characters with well fired toast and salted caramel

Finish: Long - carrying a dark chocolate and sea salt quality still smoky and richly spiced (J)

48.4% ABV

70cl