Laphroaig launches 36YO for £4,500

Islay distillery Laphroaig has released a limited edition 36-year-old whisky as the first expression in its new Wall Collection.

The Wall Collection: Peat Edition is a 36-year-old single malt that focuses on the important role of peat in creating Laphroaig’s flavour profile.

For this release, the distillery has used a cask that previously held younger, heavily peated Laphroaig to ‘reintensify’ the brand’s signature smokiness.

Bottled at 42.5% ABV, the single malt carries an aroma of passionfruit, strawberries, sultanas, soft leather and cinnamon.

Flavours of sweet orange peel, pineapple, honey, vanilla and custard tart follow on the palate.

The new whisky comes in a hand-painted bottle by London-based illustrator Laura Carlin, using the same paint that adorns the walls of Laphroaig’s Warehouse No.1.

Carlin took inspiration from the peat bricks used to cold-smoke the barley in the design of the bottle.

Barry MacAffer, distillery manager for Laphroaig, said: “The Wall Collection is hugely exciting for us as it celebrates two of the most enduring and iconic elements of our whisky and our distillery: the peat we use to imbue our barley with its distinctive deep, smoky flavour and the striking white walls of our distillery.”

“And the whisky itself is every bit as special as the bottle. Matured in ex-Bourbon casks, this spirit has been finished in a heavily peated cask so we’ve been able to reintensify the smokiness that usually takes a back seat in older whisky. This extraordinary bottle is unlike anything else we’ve released before.”

Only 200 bottles of the whisky have been created, available to buy from select specialist retailers for £4,500 (US$5,486).

It can also be purchased via a ballot on the brand’s website, which will run from 12-16 October.

Beam Suntory-owned Laphroaig was given a packaging makeover last month that will cut its carbon emissions by nearly a third.