New Release: Laphroaig 1985-2016 30 Year Old Official Bottling 53.5%

A fruity Laphroaig that retains its alcohol strength, this release exudes a strong sense of dedication. Laphroaig LAPHROAIG 1985-2016 30yo OB 53.5% EX-BOURBON BARRELS The aroma is fruity and intoxicating, with notes of apricot jam, fruit cake infused with vanilla cream, robust oak, a hint of mint, and gentle peat. Upon tasting, it begins with a mellow texture that expands into a rich flavor profile featuring apricot jam, slightly powdery concentrated orange, vanilla, a sweet depth, and a tightening oak finish. The peat is more pronounced than the aroma, with a seaweed note, and the lingering fruity oak finish is both intoxicating and long-lasting. [Very Good] This year's new release, following the Bicentenary bottling, is a 30-year-old cask strength Laphroaig distilled in 1985. It shares the same high-end white base label as last year's Bicentenary 32-year-old sherry cask, but this is a bourbon cask vatting with a 30-year-old specification. From the first impression of the aroma, it's a very fruity Laphroaig with notable aging character. Initially, I thought it might be a sherry cask due to its jam-like qualities, but it's likely a long-matured bourbon cask with a similarly complex aroma that makes differentiation from sherry casks challenging. The fragrance is uplifting, reminiscent of fruit cake, with a clear oak presence. The Laphroaig's peat feels more mellow after aging, yet still present. On the palate, it has a smooth texture that doesn't emphasize the alcohol strength, offering a rich and aromatic flavor. In addition to the jam-like fruity notes I enjoy, there's also a powdery citrus nuance that adds considerable depth. The characteristic Laphroaig peat with a seaweed note is more pronounced than the aroma, but the fruity notes still dominate. A slightly stronger oak finish with a tannic edge lingers alongside the fruitiness. Undoubtedly, it's an intoxicating experience. After aging, it has significantly leaned into a fruity direction. While lacking the boldness expected from its alcohol strength, it doesn't feel dried out, as would be expected from a cask-strength bottling. Personally, I found the woody notes in the finish slightly overpowering from the latter half, but there are no signs of over-aging. Overall, it's an exceptional, fruity, and intoxicating long-aged Laphroaig with few faults.