Laphroaig Elements 1.0
The first edition of a new series of whiskies from the Laphroaig distillery hits the market. The Elements series is meant to offer us whiskeys in which, in addition to the traditional profile of the distillery's liquors, we get something more, an extra dimension of flavor.
Laphroaig Elements 1.0, 58.6% vol., is a whisky for which an attempt was made to return to the roots of the distillery's whisky-making process in three ways. First, a cloudy and semi-cloudy mash was used, which was designed to enhance the flavor accents of tropical fruits. Second, the effect of mashing 11 tons of malt and mashing 8.5 tons was mixed together. This second, smaller portion of the mash is a nod to tradition, a norm abandoned in favor of increasing the plant's output. Third and finally, 100 percent barley grown and harvested locally, on the island of Islay, was used.
This whisky was aged in bourbon barrels, but information on the size of these barrels and the maturation time was omitted. According to the producer, the new whisky's aroma offers hints of fresh sea breeze, smoked bacon and burnt pineapple. On the taste we can expect spicy and peppery notes, tropical fruits and licorice. Purchase of a single bottle Laphroaig Elements 1.0 will mean an expense of about £170.
Laphroaig is one of three currently operating distilleries located on the south coast of the island of Islay, the so-called Kildalton distilleries. These include Ardbeg, Lagavulin and just Laphroaig. They became famous for their liquors with a strong influence of peat smoke and often marine, iodine elements. This is often considered to be the whisky flavor profile that is most difficult for the untrained palate to take in, and more advanced whisky aficionados advise waiting to enter the world of these flavors only after some time of exposure to single malt Scotch whisky. Laphroaig itself, at a time when malt whisky was just gaining popularity among consumers, advertised itself as a beverage that you either love or hate.
Founded in 1815, the distillery is now the second largest malt whisky producer on Islay. In this category it is second only to Caol Ila. It is one of the few Scottish distilleries where you can observe the entire production process - from malting barley in a traditional floor malt house, to maturing the liquor in oak barrels, in customs warehouses on the premises. The traditional pagodas that crown the malt drying room at Laphroaig overly often release clouds of white smoke into the air. Laphroaig was also in the vanguard of malt whisky distilleries, whose products were actively promoted and sold widely even in the last decades of the last century, instead of being merely earmarked for blends. To promote the brand, a club of its admirers was founded in 1994, called Friends of Laphroaig. Anyone who buys a bottle of whiskey from the distillery is entitled to apply for membership, one element of which is the so-called lease of a square foot of land on a peat bog owned by the distillery. Naturally, the lease itself is symbolic, but you can locate your square foot when you visit the distillery, "visit" it, and even plant the flag of the country you come from on it. In exchange for the lease, one receives a miniature bottle of whisky, bottled specifically for Friends of Laphroaig.
The palm of primacy when it comes to the ranking of the biggest "peaty monsters" was taken away from Laphroaig a dozen years ago by Octomore whisky, produced on the same island by the Bruichladdich distillery, but still liquors from our today's heroine should be approached with caution. It's still the epitome of that distinctive Islay peat and maritime smoky-medium flavor profile. Some even find touches straight out of the maxillofacial surgery department.
Associated with the Laphroaig distillery is the story of Bessie Williamson, a one-time manager of the plant (1954-72), one of the women who made a lasting mark on the history of Scotch whisky. That's why it's not uncommon for whiskey there, when bottled by independent distributors with the manufacturer's name reserved, to be named Williamson. Another story related to Laphroaig is the episode of the dispute between Laphroaig and Lagavulin, which resulted in the creation of the legendary Malt Mill distillery in Lagavulin, used in Ken Loach's 2012 film "Whisky for Angels.".
In the current offer of the House of Whisky Online you can find a whole range of editions whiskies from the Laphroaig distillery. Among them are extremely rare and old specimens, waiting with us for new owners, to join the most prestigious whisky collections. There are also whiskies suitable for casual everyday tasting. There's something for everyone, so we invite you to visit and wander among our shelves.
[19.10.2023 / photo: Laphroaig]