Laphroaig 15 YO 200th Anniversary
Laphroaig 15 YO 200th Anniversary, 43 %
Laphroaig Distillery on Islay is celebrating its 200th Anniversary this year. This will of course be celebrated with a number of special releases. The Laphroaig 15 YO 200th Anniversary is the first of these releases.
So far, what we know will be released throughout the year is the following:
- Laphroaig 15 YO 200th Anniversary (this whisky)
- Laphroaig Cairdeas 2015 (to be released in May 2015)
- Laphroaig 32 YO (to be released in July 2015)
- Laphroaig 21 YO (to be released in August/September 2015)
- This release is to celebrate 21 years since the Friends of Laphroaig was established in 1994.
The first 2500 bottles of the Laphroaig 15 YO 200th Anniversary were made available online on the distillery webshop in early March are are now sold out. With a reported total of 72000 bottles there should be plenty to go around though. Expect the Laphroaig 15 YO to be available in most markets around June this year. It should be available to buy in Norway ans Sweden as well.
The Laphroaig 15 YO used to be a regular in the core range from the distillery, but was replaced back in 2009 by the Laphroaig 18 YO.
Nose (22/25): Rather sweet on the nose, with vanilla and fruits like apples and pears. It is medium peated on the nose, with a touch of freshly cut peat. It is a bit medicinal and there is definitely a splash of salty sea water. Closing my eyes I am back there on the island, standing in front of the Visitors Center, taking in the scenery. A classic Laphroaig nose, I would say.
Taste (21/25): Peat, pepper, caramel, honey and ginger. Rather cool at first, maybe with a hint of mint and other herbs.
Finish (21/25): Rich honey and caramel which gradually gets more and more drops of salty sea water added. It is still rather cool and detached with medium length. It does get a bit too watery towards the very end. It doesn't quite keep it together all the way to the finish line.
Balance (21/25): A very nice whisky that does fall a bit short on the finish. I wish they would have released this at 46 % ABV and no chill-filtration.
Score (85/100)
Sláinte! - Thomas
