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An authoritative expert in the world of whiskey – editor of the Scotch Whiskey Review, judge of the World Whiskeys Awards and author of the book Whiskey. Atlas of the World” Dave Broom said: “Do you want to understand the sophistication of a real peaty whiskey tone? Take a sip of Laphroaig. He’s exactly what you need.”
Historical reference. Born at the beginning of the XNUMXth century, the drink began to be sold in bottles only at the end of the last century. And before that, Laphroig was bottled in kegs and transported for blending (mixing with other spirits) throughout Scotland.
Scotch has iodine and seaweed aromas, like most Islay molts, but Laphroig’s smell is “pungently subtle”. The youngest Laphroaig is 10 years old, but there are whiskeys aged 15, 20, 30 and even 40 years old.
It all started in the middle of the XNUMXth century, when three Jacobite brothers, Alexander, Roland and Duncan McCabe, fled to Islay from the mainland. Deciding to change their occupation, the rebels first changed their surname and became the Johnstons, and then seriously engaged in farming – they raised cattle. Half a century later, the sons of one of the brothers, Donald and Alexander Johnston, leased a plot of land for a farm on the south coast of the island, and then built a distillery there to process the leftover fodder.
Knowing about the tradition of naming distilleries by the names of the owners, the Johnstons decided to deviate from the rules (nothing strange, the surname was someone else’s). The name Laphroaig is translated from Gaelic into Russian as “a picturesque valley on the shore of a wide bay.”
Very soon, the profit from the distillery greatly exceeded the income from farming. Donald Johnston, who made the right conclusions, soon received a license and the status of an official manufacturer, then bought a share in the business from his brother. In 1836, Donald registered the Laphroaig trademark.
The history of the Laphroaig brand is closely intertwined with the history of another famous adhesive tape – Lagavulin. It may even seem that the company is connected by sincere friendship. But this is only at first glance. When Donald Johnston died, leaving minor heirs, the next neighbor Lagavulin, who did not let go of the reins of power and influence for several decades, became at the helm of the enterprise. Even after the long-grown Dugald Johnston, after going to court, began to manage the company, Lagavulin remained a sales agent, and half of the volume of whiskey went to him.
The enslaving contract was broken only at the beginning of the last century with a big scandal: representatives of the Lagavulin company blocked the source from which Laphroaig took water for their products. Again there was a court, the source was forced to clear, but relations did not become friendlier.
Glory to Laphroaig came just after the final break with Lagavulin, when the company decided to promote its brand in the global market. Even Prohibition in the USA did not prevent the popularization of the drink.
Today, Laphroaig continues to develop as part of the American corporation Fortune Brands and produces 13 varieties of single malt whiskey aged from 10 to 40 years.
Interesting facts about the production of Laphroaig
- The peatlands of Laphroaig are composed of heather, lichens and mosses, which makes the taste of peat-smoked malt unique. Peat is extracted by hand, which minimizes the damage caused to nature.
- The malt is dried for 12 hours in ancient ovens built in 1840 until the moisture level reaches 4%.
- The double distillation method is used: primary stills produce a product with 22% alcohol, and repeated distillation increases the strength to 68%.
- The stills of the distillery are shaped like onions – this design gives the purest and lightest spirits.
- 90% of the barrels in which Laphroaig matures are made of white oak and were previously used to age bourbon. The remaining 10% are sherry and ale casks.
The taste of Laphroaig scotch was appreciated by Charles, Prince of Wales, who visited the island in 1994. The representative of the royal family personally allowed the brand to bear the coat of arms of the Windsor dynasty and called the fifteen-year-old Laphroaig his favorite Scotch whiskey.
Community Friends of Laphroaig
The community of friends of the brand was organized in the year of the visit of the distillery by Prince Charles and today has more than a million members. Each participant is entitled to discounts and the purchase of drinks from special releases that do not appear on the open market.
Another spicy feature of the community: each member, buying a bottle of scotch, receives a certificate with a number that guarantees the right to 1 square foot of Laphroaig land.
Types of whiskey “Lafroig”
Laphroaig 10 Years Old. Ten years of aging in oak bourbon barrels gave the drink a sparkling golden color. The aroma is delicate and delicate, with notes of algae and peat smoke. The taste is harmonious, multifaceted, with hints of smoke and fresh herbs. It is better to drink clean, but you can add a little ice water in Scotch.
Laphroaig Malt 15 Years Old. Prince of Wales’ favorite Chalse Scotch has a deep gold color and a soft, smoky aroma with hints of freshly cut grass. The taste is slightly salty, with hints of roasted almonds, nutmeg and peat smoke. Fortress 43%. It is better to drink clean as a digestif.
Laphroaig 18 Years Old, 1990. A bright amber scotch with a harmonious, balanced aroma, with notes of honey, heather, meadow grasses and peat smoke. The taste is soft, spicy, with hints of honey, cinnamon, prunes, cardamom. There is a long smoky-woody aftertaste. Fortress 46%. Serve neat at room temperature.
Laphroaig 25 Years Old (45,1%). The drink is amber in color with a reddish tinge. The deep color and aroma of dried fruits are obtained as a result of 25 years of aging in Oloroso sherry casks. The taste is soft, multifaceted, with hints of smoked prunes, dried fruits, peat smoke. Whiskey received a gold award at the International Wine & Spirit Competition in 2010. Experts recommend drinking this scotch neat or adding some ice water.
Laphroaig Malt 30 Years Old (43%). Red gold colored whiskey with aromas of sherry, dried fruit and peat smoke. Thirty years of aging in oak barrels has enriched the palate with sweet notes of dried fruit, combined with a light peat smoke. When tasting, there is a long pleasant aftertaste with smoky-woody nuances.
