Laphroaig 15 yo 2026

 

 

 

46°

Distillery : Laphroaig - Islay

American Oak Ex-Bourbon Barrels

Original Bottling 

Core Range 

Single Malt 

Launched in 2026

Unchillfiltered

Peated around 43 ppm

 

 

 

Laphroaig 15 Year Old was first released around 1985. At the time, it had an alcohol content of 40% and was fitted with a screw cap. It was then known as Prime 15 Year Old. Then, during the 1990s, the alcohol content was increased to 43% and a cork stopper was introduced. I don’t know exactly when production of this 15-year-old ceased, but apparently it was in 2009, although some mention bottlings that may have taken place in the early 2010s. In any case, it was a huge disappointment for all the distillery’s fans. Then there was the 15-year-old ‘200th Anniversary of Laphroaig’ in 2015, but that was a limited edition. Next came the Cairdeas 15-year-old in 2017, another limited edition. And here it is again today, more than fifteen years later! This time, it’s 46% ABV and is advertised as ‘non-chill-filtered’ on some websites, which pleases me. The whisky is aged entirely in American oak casks that previously held bourbon, and I don’t think there are many first-fill casks in the batch, which leaves plenty of room for the spirit to shine.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

The full expression of Laphroaig, harsh smoke, tar, grassy peat, dust, disinfectant, ointment, with a delicate honeyed sweetness, heather, candied angelica, a whisper of citrus, and a generous dose of iodine, powerful, a few pebbles and seafood. On the palate, it is velvety, polished fruit, mirabelle plums, bananas, vanilla, varnished wood, the peat comes through later, cold ash, dry earth, measured spices, pepper, cloves. The finish is quite long, full of ash, asphalt, coffee, volcanic rock, shards of coal, black chalk, dark tobacco, an ocean of fuel oil.

 

In Short, 

Rather than simply a return to the distillery’s history, what we are invited to experience today is a genuine reconciliation, for the discontinuation of the 15-year-old has always seemed unjustified. But this 15-year-old is not the same as the one from back then, it is more robust, more Laphroaigish, with a finish that really gets your hands dirty, very long and charcoal-like. I found a lovely contrast between the sweet flavours of the cask and the distillery’s strong identity, which is perfectly evident here. I think it is an excellent whisky at a fair price, and I’ll definitely be buying a bottle. That said, I tasted it alongside the Springbank 10-year-old, and the latter is a cut above. 

Score : 88

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                To Be Listened While Sipping : 

                                                 Blood Desire - Darkness Dance