You could possibly mistake this Laphroaig for a classic Demerara rum at first look. Deep, brooding mahogany within the glass, far darker than most peated whiskies ever get. However this isn’t molasses-based spirit from the tropics. It’s a single malt from Islay’s most famously smoky distillery.
Distilled in 1981 and matured for 27 years in Oloroso sherry butts, this uncommon Laphroaig takes the home model in an sudden path. Solely 736 bottles had been ever launched, all bottled at pure cask power with no color added and no chill-filtration.
A type of 736 bottles occurs to be accessible proper now over on the Mark Littler Store. A quiet alternative to revisit a really uncommon chapter in Laphroaig’s historical past.
Cask-Pushed Darkness – The Color That Got here from the Cask
The exceptional coloration of this liquid isn’t a trick of the sunshine or the results of added coloring. The depth comes fully from the cask: 5 first fill Oloroso sherry butts, stuffed in 1981 and left untouched for 27 years. The result’s a whisky that visually defies the Laphroaig norm. No E150, no chill filtration, simply time, wooden, and the chemistry between spirit and sherry oak.
When you served this blind, many skilled drinkers may by no means guess its origin. There’s no fast clue within the glass to say “Islay,” not to mention “Laphroaig.” And that’s a part of what makes it so particular: this can be a daring, pure outlier in one in all Scotland’s most distinctive distillery lineups.
Uncommon and Gone: The Laphroaig 1981 Backstory
The Laphroaig 1981 27 Yr Outdated was by no means meant to be mainstream. Distilled throughout a transitional interval for the distillery, it was bottled in 2008 as a part of a short-lived collection of classic releases that adopted the acclaimed 1980 27 Yr Outdated. Solely 736 bottles had been produced, every hand numbered and signed by grasp blender Robert Hicks and distillery supervisor John Campbell.
What makes this launch particularly notable is how far it strays from the home model that defines many trendy older Laphroaigs. Current 25 and 30 12 months previous expressions have leaned closely on bourbon casks and combined maturation kinds, usually bottled at decrease strengths, designed for broader enchantment. The 1981 takes a really totally different strategy, it was totally matured in Oloroso sherry butts, bottled at 56.6 %, and left unfiltered and naturally colored.
There was no follow-up in 2009 and no 1982 classic to hold the collection ahead. The 1981 was the ultimate launch on this forgotten chapter of Laphroaig’s historical past. Quiet at launch and now even quieter in circulation.
What Occurs to Peat After 27 Years in Sherry Casks?
With lengthy ageing, peat smoke usually retreats, evolving from sharp depth into one thing softer and extra built-in. Within the case of the Laphroaig 1981, that pure mellowing meets the pressure of 5 highly effective Oloroso sherry butts. The result’s a whisky the place Islay’s signature medicinal peat turns into a background presence.
When Shade Tells a Story: Evaluating the Darkest Single Malts
The Laphroaig 1981 stands amongst a uncommon group of naturally coloured whiskies recognized for his or her extraordinary darkness and depth. Right here’s the way it compares.
Bowmore Black 1964 (29 Yr Outdated)
Virtually black within the glass. Sherry-rich and smoky, it’s a legendary Islay dram with a brooding profile. Authentic worth: £80 (1993).
Springbank 1966 Native Barley (24 Yr Outdated)
Drawn from a single Oloroso cask. Close to opaque and maritime-tinged, it mirrors the Laphroaig’s depth and rarity. Authentic worth: low tons of (1990).
Glenfarclas 1953 (60 Yr Outdated)
Matured in a first-fill sherry butt. Deep mahogany and treacle-thick, it’s a masterclass in pure color. Authentic worth: £14,495 (2014).
Glenfiddich 1937 (64 Yr Outdated)
Solely 61 bottles had been made. Vintage bronze color and a contact of peat from the period. Authentic worth: £10,000 (2001).
Highland Park 1960 (50 Yr Outdated)
Married from two sherry casks. Burnished copper with smoky-sweet stability and super richness. Authentic worth: £10,000 (2010).
A Laphroaig Aside
The Laphroaig 1981 27 Yr Outdated is in contrast to something the distillery has launched earlier than or since. Its deep pure coloration and softened peat reveal a extra contemplative aspect of Islay’s most assertive malt. Formed by sherry and time, it trades punch for poise with out shedding its id. For collectors and connoisseurs, it’s not simply uncommon, it’s unforgettable.
