LAPHROAIG'S 15 BOOK LIBRARY OF 30 YEAR OLD WHISKIES

 Laphroaig’s 30 Year Old SERIES ON The Ian Hunter Story

WHISKIES AS LEGENDARY AS THE MAN WHO MADE LAPHROAIG WHAT IT IS TODAY

In 2019, Laphroaig released a new Scotch whisky, The Ian Hunter Story Book One: Unique Character. It was presented in a novel manner, in the form of a heavy tome that, after a few pages, revealed a neat slot with a bottle holding liquid 30 years old nestled therein. It was also the first chapter of a series of rare and collectable aged whiskies that honour the legacy of Ian Hunter. He was the last of the Johnston family to own and manage the Laphroaig distillery, between 1908 and 1944. 15 such books were planned. Each release was to contain an aged Laphroaig, set into a crafted book that would document a part of Ian’s legacy. Every year, a new chapter would be told, uncovering the history behind Laphroaig and the characters who created it.

THE STORY- BOOK ONE: A UNIQUE CHARACTER is at 46.7% ABV. Aged in first-fill bourbon barrels, this non-chill filtered whisky is rounded with a combination of sweet, zesty and medicinal notes, the company says. This is Hunter’s influence, as it was his decision to introduce American white oak barrels into the maturation process of Laphroaig. Over time, the original smokiness of this 30-year-old whisky has become less of an assault on the senses. Married with the sweet vanilla notes enhanced with aging, the whisky develops into a more mature, well-rounded dram. The Ian Hunter Story Book One: Unique Character is available for a suggested retail price of approximately $560 per 750-ml. bottle. 

The first edition of the new, fifteen part series The Ian Hunter Story celebrates the legacy of Ian Hunter, a character as unique as their whisky. Unique. Distinctive. Not for everyone. You could be describing Ian Hunter as much as you could the taste of Laphroaig. Despite his polarising personality, Ian Hunter made Laphroaig what it is today: a whisky enjoyed the world over by a wide and diverse range of people.

Laphroaig is born out of the ancient soil of Islay, the art of distillation and the iconic nature of the people of Islay (‘The Ileachs’). It is thanks to Ian Hunter’s management of the Laphroaig distillery from 1908 to 1944 that these characteristics were brought together to create the whisky that we hold in front of us today.

Ian Hunter’s story still resonates across so many aspects of Laphroaig. In celebration of that fact, each release in this 15 Book series will tell the story of his unique character and his inspiring legacy—a legacy that lives on in their liquid.

In honour of the legacy of Ian Hunter, each release will contain a rare and aged Laphroaig®, set into a beautifully crafted book that will document a part of Ian’s rich legacy. making this a collection unlike any other, and one that is treasured by Laphroaig fans across the world.

TASTE PROFILE

Colour: Burnished gold.

Nose: Sweet and medicinal with manuka honey, light peat smoke, cooked apple and rosemary vanilla. Orgeat syrup and a hint of lemon peel complete the aroma.

Palate: Peaty and peppery with notes of herbs, cedar, kumquat zest and gorse flower. A sweetness of custard cream and vanilla pods.

Finish: Coastal with subtle iodine, sea salt and seaweed notes. A touch of coffee and oaky character.

Maturation: 30 Years in first-fill American white oak bourbon barrels.

THE STORY - BOOK TWO: BUILDING AN ICON is at 48.2% ABV but aged for 30 years in Spanish Oak Oloroso Sherry oaks.

The second release of Ian Hunter’s series has come in 2021, a non-chill filtered whisky with sweet sherry notes underscored by Laphroaig ‘s characteristic peatiness. This second release is a tribute to the Icon that Ian Hunter built more than 100 years ago. Because no one thing is more important to the creation of Laphroaig® than the place it comes from Islay and the ‘hollow by the bay’ where Laphroaig® first came into being. It might seem obvious to state, but their whisky could not be recreated in any other place than this.

Set into a beautifully crafted book that will document a part of Ian’s rich legacy which will unfold across 15 years, with every year seeing a new chapter, uncovering the extensive history behind Laphroaig® and the characters who created it, making this a collection unique, and one to be collected by Laphroaig® fans across the world.

Distinctive. Not for everyone This second release, a 30 year old non-chill filtered whisky, is matured in Spanish Oak Oloroso Sherry cask, which makes this second book a unique peated single malt whisky.

The second book starts with Warehouse No.1. With the different cask types being brought by Ian Hunter, including ex-bourbon barrels and sherry cask, Ian recognised the need for more capacity to house them. Ian selected the location by the Atlantic shore that would have its influence on the casks and planned a five-phased extension between 1910 and 1924. It is this icon that is celebrated in Book Two.  

TASTE PROFILE

Colour: Burnt umber.

Nose: Dried dates and figs, cigar box with toffee and dark chocolate, liquorice with medicinal notes, pink peppercorns and all spice. Adding water brings out pipe tobacco and orange peel.

Palate: Manuka honey; sweet, smoked stone fruit.

Finish: Long and mouth drying.

Maturation: 30 Years in Spanish Oak Oloroso Sherry oaks.

In over 20 years of tasting at least 15 expressions from this distillery, this is probably my favorite Laphroaig release of all time. After 30 years in a sherry cask, this whisky is decidedly dark, almost coffee brown in colour, easily the darkest Laphroaig release I can recall. Intensely nutty on the nose, it comes across with more of a Pedro Ximenez character than oloroso, immersive and rich with notes of black tea, some pepper, and the essence of my leather flying jacket.

It wasn’t until I fully savoured the first sip that I really became aware of the peat; the smokiness is so well-integrated with the other aromatics, giving it a lovely, gently smoldering character. It’s soothing and comforting, but also incredibly decadent, that sherry evoking clove-studded oranges, honeyed nuts, and some nutmeg dusted atop. The finish continues the theme, intensely winey and nutty, with chocolate notes emerging in time. It’s absolutely gorgeous and literally impossible to stop drinking, and now that I have no more, I find myself intensely, terribly sad.

THE STORY- BOOK THREE: SOURCE PROTECTOR 70 Cl ABV 49.9%, matured in refill ex-bourbon barrels. The third instalment in the Laphroaig ‘Ian Hunter Story’ series will be a 33 Year Old, bottled at 49.9% ABV. This third book is called ‘Source Protector’. It is a vintage 1987 distillation, fully matured in refill ex-bourbon barrels, showing hints of peaty aniseed and creamy liquorice. More details will be available when the Book is released, later this year.

Prices have skyrocketed. Book One is available at select sites for $1,250.

UPDATE

Laphroaig has launched the third whisky in its Ian Hunter Story series, the 33-year-old single malt Book Three: Source Protector. The Beam Suntory-owned brand launched the second Scotch in the collection October 2020.

The single malt charts the history behind the Kirkbride stream. Following a long-running dispute, Hunter purchased the land leading up to the source of the stream to ensure the distillery would be powered by steam. On the nose, the Scotch offers notes of pears, peaches and apricots. The palate delivers aniseed and liquorice.

The limited edition whisky is available from Laphroaig’s official website and specialist retailers for£920, $1,250 USD, and €990.

Addenda: In July this year, Laphroaig unveiled the 2021 editions of its 10-year-old and 25-year-old cask strength single malts. Part of batch 13, both whiskies have matured in ex-Bourbon casks. In March, Laphroaig had added a 10 Years Old Sherry Oak whisky to its core range.