Laphroaig 32 Year (1990), Thompson Brothers “Lobster Cat”
Whisky: Laphroaig 32 Year (1990), Thompson Brothers “Lobster Cat”
Country/Region: Scotland/Islay
ABV: 49.3%
Cask: Refill Barrel
Age: 32 Years (Distilled 20 Nov. 1990, Bottled 2022)
Nose: Smoke and sea, antiseptic iodine swabs, dry-aged duck, cedar wood/sauna (dry, hot wood), hints of tropical fruit and copra, oil lamps, pipe tobacco, oily tinned fish, camphor.
Palate: Medium to light body, mellow smoke, lamp oil, slightly acrid and industrial, oily grease for large gears, coal, iron-metallic, soft maritime and salty air, copra and black sugar, camphor and tobacco on an herbal finale.
Finish: long and robust with acrid smoke, charcoal grill, and faintly sweet tropical fruit
Score: 8+
Mental Image: Lighthouse Mouser at Work
Narrative & Notes: The crash of waves along the breakers sent a briny mist that swirled with the smoke of burning lamp oil and petrol loaded into the lighthouse generator. The aroma spoke of storm-clad grey skies and cobalt seas with naught but an orange tabby and oily tinned fish, or was it smoked eel, for comfort. The rich smoke shifted to dry-aged duck and worn oak or cedar before subtle dried tropical fruits, coconut mainly, developed with hints of camphor and pipe tobacco. Medium to light-bodied, the profile was industrial yet soft, with hints of caramelized tropical fruits. Mellow lamp oil smoke and brine accompanied by slightly acrid industrial notes of oil, grease, and chemical solvent— the impression was very steampunk with coal, iron, rust, and salt lingering on the tongue. A sweeter side arrived at the end with grilled pineapple in brown sugar, copra, and black sugar buns while tobacco and camphor lingered on an herbal finale. The finish was long with acrid smoke, a sizzling charcoal grill, and faintly sweet tropical fruit.
Thompson Brothers appear to have an endless supply of these mystery Islay malts from the late-80s and early 90s sourced from Signatory’s warehouses. Signatory has released a few sibling casks, but it is hard to beat the lot that Phil and Simon Thompson bottled under their own label. Reputable sources, from retailers to hints on bottle art, indicate that these casks are virtually all from Laphroaig. However, as they were presumably destined to be used for blended whiskies, the casks were not sold with a provision allowing the producer to be named.
Overall, the aroma and flavors were robust, though softened slightly with age. Plenty of maritime brine and industrial tarry smoke still came through clearly with the notion of a storm-battered lighthouse or perhaps something more steampunk. I did buy a bottle of this, so I did not exactly approach it from a neutral standpoint— I wanted to like it, especially as it was one of the more expensive bottles I have ever splurged on. I did like it, I actually liked it more each time I returned to it, and I do not regret grabbing one, though my peat-monster wife was a bit more lukewarm. She still thought it was above average, just a bit too soft and mellow for her taste.
Image Credit: Thompson Brothers
