Laphroaig TCWC EXM, 2011 56,6% sherry hogshead 4008

Laphroaig TCWC EXM, 2011 5 years, 56,6%, 0,7L, sherry hogshead 4008, 354 bottles.

Laphroaig TCWC EXM, 2011 56,6% sherry hogshead 4008. Laphroaig distillery is an Islay single malt Scotch whisky distillery. It is named for the area of land at the head of Loch Laphroaig on the south coast of the island. The meaning of the name is unknown, but it could be from “lag” (Gaelic: hollow), “breid” (Norse: broad) and “vik” (Norse: bay). The name may be related to a placename on the east coast of Islay, “Pròaig”, again suggested as meaning “broad bay”. Through Beam Suntory the distillery and brand are owned and operated by Japan’s Suntory Holdings

The Laphroaig distillery was established in 1825 by Donald and Alexander Johnston, who were from the Clan Donald and are likely to be from the MacIain of Ardnamurchan branch of the clan. The last member of the Johnston family to run the distillery was Ian Hunter, a nephew of Sandy Johnston, who died childless in 1954 and left the distillery to one of his managers, Bessie Williamson.

The distillery was sold to Long John International in the 1960s, and subsequently became part of Allied Domecq, Fortune Brands (Pernod Ricard) which than split up its business product lines in 2011, forming its spirits business into Beam Inc., which was then purchased by Suntory Holdings in April 2014.

Nose:      Strong but sweet black coffee followed by classis Islay influences with smoke and peat. Followed by plenty fruit like apples blackberries and cherries,

Taste:      Nicely balanced for such a young whisky. Smoke followed by fruit, followed by smoke, by fruit, by smoke….. roasted walnuts, plum sauce and fudge.

Finish:     very long, smoky and spicy. Ginger cookies covered with dark chocolate. A cigar with a double espresso.