It’s been a while since I reviewed a whisky from The Scotch Malt Whisky Society, so why not do that and review a dram of my favorite distillery?
There’s not much to add here, only that I’m a bit sorry I didn’t grab a bottle of it back then.
When it comes to industry news and events, I usually do not publish them on the blog unless it’s accompanied with new whisky release, which frankly, is the kind of news that interest me (and you too I hope).
Laphroaig is my favorite distillery and in the Laphroaig Live 2014 they will introduce A unique 12 year old triple casked Nordic special bottling so I guess it does fall under the news I should provide you.
However, today is eve of new Jewish year which means I’ll be sitting with the family to a feast and so won’t be able to watch the event. But you can can my substitute so go ahead and watch it live at Laphroaiglive.tv. Slainte!
Here is what you need to know:
LAPHROAIG LIVE 2014 comes to STOCKHOLM!
Wednesday 24th September
Sweden 8.00 PM
UK 7.00 PM
New York 2.00 PM
Los Angeles 11.00AM
Sydney 04:00AM
On Wednesday 24th September at 8pm local time ( 7pm UK,) the eighth annual Laphroaig Live will broadcast live from Sweden.
This year’s show will be streamed live from a tiny island called Fjäderholmarna which is part of the archipelago just outside Stockholm.
During the show a panel of whisky experts will be tasting 4 phenomenal Laphroaigs:
A unique 12 year old triple casked Nordic special, this year’s much acclaimed Cairdeas finished in Amontillado casks, the latest Global expression called Select and a fourth that will be decided by a Friends of Laphroaig online vote.
An expert panel of guests will explore the strong connections between smoke and depth of flavour in what is sure to be a smoke fest!
As always, we’ll be joined by Distillery Manager, John Campbell. This year he’ll be accompanied by a panel consisting of these famous Swedish personalities; Nour el Refai a comedian, TV personality, host and a well-known Swedish radio presenter, Peter Borg chairman of the Swedish Whisky Association and Håkan Dahlberg a prolific Swedish whisky blogger of I Love Whisky.
And last year’s Swedish Bartender of the Year Madeleine Solo Rapp will be making a guest appearance and creating something special using Laphroaig.
Watch the event live here: http://live.laphroaig.tv/show/laphroaig-live-2014-comes-to-stockholm
It’s time to announce the winner in Whisky Gospel first birthday giveaway. As most of you guessed correctly, the answer to the question (big clue in the blog header picture 😉 ) – it’s Laphroaig! So the winner will get a Laphroaig 18yo bottle.
But just announcing a winner is boring, so bear with me for a little while more and let’s review a cracking Laphroaig bottle before announcing the winner (but you can scroll down to find the winner if you’re a bit impatient).
Having a close by friends who shares the love to the same distillery is a good thing. Take Michael (of Malt & Oak Blog) for example – he recently went on a trip to Europe and brought back a surprise – the Van Wees Laphroaig 1998 and I felt that a Laphroaig dram is the fitting choice to review for the winner announcement.
This one was distilled on 22.09.1998 and bottled in August 2012 after it spent 13 years and 11 months (1 month short of being 14yo!) in a Refill Butt #700394. So, is it good as I expect it to be?
Today is the fourth day of Feis Ile 2014 – kinda of a midpoint of the festival but I also consider it as a peak as it’s the open day at Laphroaig, and if you know me, you’re probably ware of the fact that Laphroaig is my favorite distillery.
I have a couple of Laphroaig drams waiting for review but decided to go with yet another indie bottling – the Creative Whisky Company (CWC) Laphroaig 1996 14 year old which I got from the folks of @WhiskyCorner when I visited Scotland.
It’s part of their The Exclusive Malts brand, Distilled on 17.10.1996, then aged for 14 years in cask 7317 and bottled at cask strength of 50.8%. I won’t delay you anymore – let’s roll into the tasting notes: Continue reading
Yesterday I posted on my visit at Laphroaig distillery in October 2013. As usual, here’s a companion review of a Laphroaig dram 🙂
This one was a sample I got from Stewart & Kirsty when we met at SMWS bar in Edinburgh (Thanks folks!). No, it’s no coincidence I choose a SMWS Laphroaig dram given to me in SMWS bar in Scotland to escort a distillery tour post I did during the same trip 🙂
Nose: the classic medicinal notes of Laphroaig – iodine, antiseptics, earthy peat notes, some burning coals, lots of sweet lemon and heather, some fruity/herbal edge. after a few minutes in the glass the peat and medicinal weakens mightily and the sweet notes takes the front seat.
palate: earthy oily peat mixed with sweet heather honey and toasted sugary candies. This time the sweet takes the backseat and the peat notes are rolling over the tongue in big strong wave with leather and greenery notes
Finish: medium length, strong earthy peat and leather notes lingers with small fluffs of sweetness popping up in surprise, although those come infrequently.
Conclusion: Lovely and classic Laphroaig dram. It bore all the classic Laphroaig notes shared with heavy dash of honey and sweet candies. Superb dram.
2nd day on Islay and the most eagerly tour is ensuing – Laphroaig Distillery. If you’re following me and/or my blog, you’re probably aware of my affection to Laphroaig, so this tour was booked with very high expectations.
(Just a quick note before we actually starts – this post has more pictures then the usual so you’ve been warned!)
We woke up to an sunny and bright Islay day, ate quick breakfast and drove early to the distillery to soak some Laphroaig atmosphere at the FoL (Friends of Laphroaig) lounge before going on the high-end Distillers Wares tour. We even saw John Campbell the distillery manager but he was too busy so didn’t managed to get a picture this time.
On the shore at Port Ellen on the way to the distillery
I’m a Laphroaig fan boy. I admit that. I purchased this bottle long time ago and last June also the Portwood bottle (Feis Ile 2013) but didn’t open them yet. But 2 weeks ago I’ve been to a great whisky evening with 4 local whisky lovers and that bottle was present. The liquid level wasn’t too high so we did it a favor and finished it off #evilgrin (Thanks Yori for sharing this one!)
Since 2008 Laphroaig has been releasing Càirdeas expressions. Càirdeas means friendship in Gaelic and this series is in honor of their Friends of Laphroaig group. Each year the new expression is being released during the Feis Ile festival.
As I admitted in my previous post, I’m a big fan of Laphroaig whiksies. My first single malt ever was a Laphroaig Quarter Cask (less then 3 years ago) and since then, I never looked back.
So, when this PX Cask expression was announced I was very eager to put my hands on a bottle despite this one being exclusive for Travel Retail market, and I got lucky when a friend went through Heathrow airport and grabbed me one.
If you’re following my recent whisky reviews, you probably know I love Islay and peated whisky. But I admit that I have a very soft spot for Laphroaig – it was my first true single malt taste and I love their core range of bottles – the QC, 10yo, 18yo and the PX but never tasted indie Laphroaig bottling until this one.
Mike, the mind behind Abbey Whisky shop (great online whisky which you can visit here) celebrated his firstborn with a contest for this dram and I was the lucky one win this!
This one is bottled by the famous SMWS – The Scotch Malt Whisky Society, which bottle different single malt whisky from different distilleries for a very affordable price and have some great whisky bars/lounges around the world (I will visit the Edinburgh one in this coming October!) – I’d probably be member of if I’d live in UK and if you live there, you should really be member of this club if you like whisky.
So first indie Laphroaig and SMWS bottling for me – should be good ah?
Nose: Starts with classic and lovely trademark Laphroaig notes – peat, iodine, seaside smell, lots of salty notes in this one and it’s strong and very fresh – feels very young (although aged for 20yo). After 5 minutes in the glass, prominent notes of lemon and ginger, honey, spearmint. Did I already say it’s very fresh? With added water, the spearmint and lemon takes center stage along with the peat.
Palate: Starts very Laphroaig – peat, iodine and salt and then we get strong and big punch of raspberries notes with some dirty notes. after they are gone, we stay with mineral and peat notes
Finish: Medium length. Peat and wood notes, being zesty, with lingering salty raspberries.
Conclusion: Frankly – this ain’t your standard Laphroaig dram. But still, it’s a very good one. It’s more of a dram for sunny day noon beach stroll. Very easy-drinking Islay one. Loved it!
Whisky Gospel 