Scotland, Isle of Islay. Distillery operational. Owner: Beam - Suntory

Few distilleries have inspired as much excitement among collectors as Laphroaig, and this with just a single expression of its single malt, the Laphroaig 10 Year Old. Nonetheless, since the end of WWII, it has released a large number of bottlings, each varying from one market to the next. Its heavily peated style has developed according to the barrels used for maturation (sherry/bourbon). Its ABV, varying from 40% to 60% for its cask strength bottlings, favours one characteristic of its profile over another. And yet, it is still the Laphroaig 10 Year Old and has been for 70 years and counting. This expression forms a collection of its own thanks to its numerous importers and labels, including Filippi Fausto to Bonfanti, Cinzano, R.H.Elsbach & Co and Carlton Import. Laphroaig is, however, also renowned for its outstanding vintages 1960, 1974, 1976, 1977, 1980 and 1981 and versions aged 15 - 40 years. All in own, a world of its own.

A Laphroaig 19 year old distilled in 1987 and bottled at cask strength for the 50th anniversary of La Maison du Whisky. This is a blend of six casks selected by Master Blender Robert Hicks. The Laphroaig 1974 also bottled by La Maison du Whisky the year before gave prominence to sherry cask ageing and the exoticism of old Laphroaigs, whereas this 1987 shows the modern face of Laphroaig with a more present peat and bourbon cask ageing. A limited edition of 1,387 bottles.