Laphroaig 1997 Cask Strength Collection 17 yo c. 8365

 

 

 

50,2°

Distillery : Laphroaig - Islay

Bourbon Hogshead

Independent Bottling 

By Signatory Vintage

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2014

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Peated around 43 ppm 

Signatory Vintage has acquired nearly 25 casks of Laphroaig dating from 1997, all distilled on the same two days, 28 April and 8 October. I'd already had a small sample of cask 8368, which I'll talk about here. This one, 8365, was distilled on the same day, but bottled 4 months earlier. 242 bottles were produced. It will be amusing to see the differences between the two almost-twin casks.

Let's Taste It : 

The first impression is costal, a beautiful sunny beach whipped up by vigorous waves, foam, kelp, seaweed, sand and salt. Immediately afterwards, a powerful herbaceous character emerges, with angelica, arugula and tall herbs. Then a peat at the same time soft and mineral joins the party. All this balances out perfectly after a while, it's a bit dirty, but just the right amount, a medicinal touch, gas oil, motor oil, but in the background, and up front, it's gourmand, custardy vanilla, white fruits, mirabelle plums, honey. On the palate, it's silky, pineapple, lemon, on top of a layer of thick, chalky, rough peat, with a lovely woodiness binding the two together. Nuts, almonds and fine spices, pepper and cloves. The finish is on a par with the rest, quite long, explosive, a touch of liquorice, damp earth, braised mushrooms, lemon zest, vanilla bean. Cardamom.

 

In Short, 

It's amazing the difference between the two casks. I didn't like the 8368 too much, to be honest, I thought it was very gentle for a Laphroaig, with some lovely exotic fruits and vanilla, but not much else. No doubt the cask had played its part a little too much. With this cask, the balance is perfect. A distillate that retains all its character, and is made more complex by the influence of a sufficiently measured cask. The result is superb, I thought. At 17 years of age, this is of course a softer Laphroaig, but it retains its originality. Sold out a long time ago, it's nowhere to be found, but the release price seemed pretty fair for its time.

Score : 90

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Trees of Eternity - Broken Mirror