Laphroaig 30, 750ml, 43% abv.

This is supposedly the first version release label, which was I believe around the 2000s. From what I understand, there have been several 750ml and 700ml releases during the 2000s and then it stopped. Although this series is constantly quoted as "rare" and/or "extremely rare", there are many bottles in circulation.

Nose: up close I get some peat smoke, phenol, burnt wood, leftovers from a wood bbq, while I smell apple juice, fruity vinegar, when my nose is at a small distance away. However, after a while I mostly smell fruits and the smoke, or burnt offerings, seemed to have taken a backseat, but overall it's a play between phenolic peat smoke and fruity vinegar.

Palate: buttery, good body, initial palate is light unripe fruit which transforms to lightly flavored dried fruit paste, mid palate is a sort of light fruit with some meaty flowers, after some time I seem to taste light soot, the unripe fruit has dried, more body all of a sudden, back palate is like meat, some smoke, dried fruit.

Finish: long, peat smoke, some burnt wood, burnt cherries, maybe some figs? a slightly bitter aftertaste.

Wow, another amazing pour and so different from the older-young Mac12! Additionally, this 30 year Laphroaig is sooo different from the 2016 version. This one has the nose of an older Islay with the peat smoke, but a body of flavors mostly towards unripe meaty fruits, generally lightly sweet, not overwhelming, oily, delicious. After some time, the flavors are similar to the aromas on the nose, a struggle between phenolic peat smoke and dried light fruit such as pears, cherries, old grapes. Wouldn't say it's similar to sherry, but it does seem to lean that way. I am surprised that the smoke has survived that long as I've read peated distillates don't last long in barrels. A great bottle! Gotta be conservative though.

Grade: B+

Whiskyfun.com, Serge Valentin, sgp:556, 93 points
Malt maniacs, 91 points on 15 reviews
Scotchwhisky, Dave Broom, 88
Whiskyadvocate, John Hansell, 91
Lawhiskeysociety, B from 12 reviews

Image courtesy of Eric Yee.

Eric Yee

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