The 15-year-old whisky in release NO.05 is from an original bottle distilled by the Laphroaig distillery in the 1980’s. This vintage expression was released before Laphroaig received the royal warrant from Prince Charles.

ABOUT THE LAPHROAIG DISTILLERY

Located on Islay’s south Kildarton coast, the Laphroaig distillery is a member of the Kildarton trio alongside its neighbours Ardbeg and Lagavulin. The Laphroaig distillery was first licenced to brothers Alexander and Donald Johnson in 1815, although it is thought that the Johnsons may have operated an illicit distillery for several years before receiving their licence. The Laphroaig distillery was operated by the Johnson family until the 1960’s, most notably under Donald Johnson’s great grandson Ian Hunter.

By the 1920’s, under Hunter’s innovative leadership the Laphroaig distillery was being sold as a single malt, unlike the majority of whiskies at this time, which were used almost exclusively for blending. When Hunter passed away in 1954, he left the distillery to his assistant Bessie Williamson who had been the de-facto manager during Hunter’s extensive international sales trips. Bessie Williamson sold the distillery to American distiller Schenley in 1967, although remained as managing director running the Laphroaig distillery until she retired in 1972. A succession of owners then followed and the Laphroaig distillery has been owned by Beam-Suntory since 2014.

Whisky created at the Laphroaig distillery is the most maritime of Islay’s malts. It is considered to have a distinctive medicinal character with touches of iodine, kippers, engine rooms and smoke, but softened by a sweetness derived from the distillery's preferred cask type; ex-bourbon American oak barrels.