Home Tasting: Laphroaig 1981 20 Year Old Caledonian Selection #4607

A home-bottled 1981 Laphroaig. Initially, it was a type that differed from my expectations but turned out to be delicious. Laphroaig LAPHROAIG 1981-2001 20yo Caledonian Selection #4607 55.3% Hogshead ・Aroma: Initially, the aroma is closed off but gradually becomes elegant and fruity with grapefruit, citrus, fresh pineapple, green pear and yellow peach before ripening, green papaya, vanilla, toasted ginkgo nuts, a strong malty note with slightly dry nuances, the plant-like sensation of straw and well water, the sweetness of diluted honey, strong peat, iodine is present but not intense, and a gentle mineral note of seawater and sea algae. ・Flavor: The initial bite is not harsh but gradually becomes spicy with white pepper, citrus, grapefruit, over time it develops into green pear, white flowers, a faint milky note, a condensed and slightly powdery texture, the fruity sweetness is light and not overpowering, citrus acidity, saltiness is unexpectedly strong, a dry malt sensation that seeps into the tongue with its umami, and a refined dashi-like umami from seafood, a plant-like note of young leaves, mineral notes of sea algae, light oak, the iodine is weaker than the aroma but there's a strong smoky character with a charcoal-like nuance. ・Aftertaste: The fruity citrus notes and their acidity, strong saltiness, the smoky and spicy aftertaste is long-lasting. ・Adding Water: The whisky becomes smoother, the citrus and peach-like fruits become more pronounced, a tarry and slightly aged peat note becomes prominent. ・Overall Impression: Initially, it had a stubborn impression with strong plant-like and peat-derived elements rather than fruity notes, which made me think it was different from what I expected for an old Laphroaig bottled by a bottler. However, after letting it open for some time and re-tasting it, a very elegant fruity character emerged with intoxicating notes of citrus, green pear, and peach, which was consistent in both aroma and flavor. Initially, I didn't notice much of the concentrated powdery nuance typical of this era's Laphroaig, but over time it emerged and became a texture I found pleasant. The bottler is close to the official style, likely using a Hogshead cask that had been used multiple times, and compared to the official bottling, the peat was stronger with less pronounced iodine, which was notable. Overall, it's a bottle that gradually regains the expected Laphroaig character over time, and I found it very interesting. 【Very Good】 This is a Laphroaig from the Caledonian Selection, matured for 20 years and filled in 2001. There's another bottler called Caledonian Connections, which seems to share the same capital as Brackla. Initially, I mistakenly thought this bottle was from that bottler, and the presence of several carbon-like sediment particles at the bottom of the bottle, similar to those I've seen in Brackla's RAW CASK series, reinforced that belief. In reality, it seems to be a bottler founded by someone from Laphroaig. That might explain why such a spec of Laphroaig was bottled. Regarding the essential content, it's a cask filled by someone from Laphroaig, and its flavor is closer to the bottler's style rather than the official one, with a fruity character. However, initially, it was very stubborn and difficult to approach as a malt. I left it untouched for some time until its shyness subsided, but when I opened it again after a while, it had transformed into a concentrated and authentic Laphroaig with the expected character. As described above, I thoroughly enjoyed its very fruity and concentrated Laphroaig-like flavor. Initially, the lack of expected fruitiness and strong plant-like and woody bitterness made me feel slightly regretful, but ultimately my concerns were unfounded. Incidentally, if I hadn't understood its stubbornness, I might have ended up drinking it carelessly before it could fully express itself. While the nuance is somewhat vague, I believe this understanding has been cultivated through encountering many bottles and reflecting on each one. I think such experience is essential for deeply enjoying the bottle in front of me.