Home Tasting: Laphroaig 1991 23 Year Old Official German Bottling

I drank it carefully at home, but I still think it's a masterpiece released in recent years. Laphroaig LAPHROAIG 1991-2014 23yo OB for Germany 52.6% ・Aroma: Heavy and rich, apricot jam, ripe oranges and peaches, bitter chocolate, strong smoky iodine, tar from cigarettes, seaweed, barbecue sauce from the back, a slightly burnt thick barley note with savory richness, faint mint, oil-coated skin, earthy notes reminiscent of leaf mold, extremely rich. ・Flavor: Smooth mouthfeel with a slight viscosity, expanding powerfully and aromatically, thick texture with chewiness. Sweetness of apricot jam and bitter chocolate with good astringency, tannins without harshness, rich umami from thick barley, seafood dashi, and barbecue meat-like depth. Strong peatiness with pronounced iodine, the boldness reminiscent of Islay cask strength is rich and long-lasting. ・Adding Water: Stable and extends as is, but adding too much water causes not only the heaviness to disappear but also sweetness to vanish abruptly, disrupting balance. ・Overall Evaluation: Possibly due to sherry nuances, it contains diverse fruits like jams and ripe notes, with rich umami elements. Earthy notes like leather and leaf mold, and above all, the thick peatiness with pronounced iodine characteristic of Laphroaig was impressively felt together with a powerful body. Complex and rich, without any unpleasantness, it offers both drinkability and satisfaction, making it an excellent Laphroaig. 【Very Good/Excellent】 Laphroaig 1991, a cask strength 23-year-old official bottling for Germany. I drank it at Yurakucho and was moved to write an article about it, but later learned that it's a small batch including sherry casks. While there are many fruity Laphroaigs, this particular fruitiness is complex and unique to sherry and bourbon vatting. Especially compared to the citrusy or tropical fruity Laphroaigs common in bottlers, many have slightly weaker bodies and lack complexity, with iodine not always prominent. However, this bottling showcases diverse fruits alongside rich barley umami, earthiness, and leather notes. The classic thick iodine of an official Laphroaig was fully enjoyable, providing a satisfying drinking experience. I drank one bottle thoroughly at home, and due to having drunk it multiple times at Yurakucho previously, the impressions were nearly identical, resulting in similar tasting notes. An outstanding official bottling, there's no doubt it stands out among recent releases. The maturation and vatting are perfectly balanced, making it already drinkable, but there's potential for further development in sherry character and cohesion through future bottle aging. I'm eagerly looking forward to the next time I drink it. And... I can't help but feel envious that it's not available for Japan. If there are bottlings for Germany and Northern Europe, surely a Japanese version would be welcome too. #Laphroaig (LAPHROAIG)