Whisky: Laphroaig 29 Year (1991), Thompson Brothers “Isle of Islay”

Country/Region: Scotland/Islay

ABV: 50.8%

Cask: Refill Hogshead

Age: 29 Years (Distilled 12 Dec. 1991, Bottled 2021)

Nose: Mellow grill smoke, mint, swimming pool, garden soil, adzuki bean, and more medicinal herbs with hints of orange peel, tobacco, and salt with time.

Palate: Medium-bodied, maritime, fruity, earthy, salt-lined margarita, grill smoke, citrus, herbal undercurrents of tobacco, mint rosemary, bit of herbal funk and pepper at the end.

Finish: Medium to long and slightly drying with a bit of funky musty herbs, salt, and citrus rind.

Score: 7

Mental Image: Taiyaki Pool Party

Narrative & Notes: A summer celebration by the pool with adzuki bean stuffed Taiyaki, the aroma offered toasted pastries and sweet red bean filling with subtle grill smoke, chlorinated swimming pools, and wet garden soil. Mint and camphor stood out among more medicinal herbs with hints of rosemary, orange peel, tobacco, and a kiss of salt. Medium-bodied, the flavor profile was salty, fruity, and earthy with salt-lined citrus margaritas, charcoal grill smoke, charred orange rind, lime fruit pops, and wet slate. Peppery toward the end, an herbal undercurrent, sometimes medicinal other times firmly tobacco, ran throughout with hints of mint and rosemary. Medium to long and slightly drying, the finish was a tad funky with musty herbs, salt, and citrus rind.

Clearly, whisky fans did something right to earn multiple releases of relatively affordable Laphroaig single casks via the Thompson Brothers. Straight from the warehouses of Signatory Vintage, who have released their own sibling casks, these late-eighties and early-nineties unnamed Laphroaig have all been absolute delights.

I thought this particular Laphroaig maintained clear, crisp flavors and an unmistakably Laphroaig character. More herbaceous than some of the other releases, it teased an almost refreshing menthol tobacco note that never felt dirty or acrid. While the maritime aspects of the malt were subdued on the nose, they popped on the palate in combination with some tart citrus— do they have taiyaki in Margaritaville? It has been a while since I was left thinking about caramelizing batter, sweet pastries, and red beans, but this dram had a lovely adzuki or anko note on the nose.

Overall, a delightfully mature Laphroaig.

Image Credit: Whiskybase