New Release: Laphroaig 1997-2015 18yo BBR for WHISK-E #68 52.8%

The aroma is vibrant and strong, featuring grapefruit, vanilla, a pleasant grainy note, sea breeze, and a robust peat with iodine. On the palate, it begins with a smooth mouthfeel, expanding into ripe citrus notes, a touch of youthfulness balanced by a pleasant graininess, sweet full-bodied flavors, and a tightening oak finish. The peat carries strong iodine and charred charcoal-like oiliness, leaving a long-lasting finish. [Good/Very Good] This is the Laphroaig 1997, aged for 18 years, recently bottled by BBR for Japanese WHISK-E customers. The distinctive green bottle, previously associated with Maison (a French term referring to a specific customer segment), has been used here. The aroma is vibrant and strong, delivering the expected bottler-style citrus fruitiness typical of Laphroaig. The robust peat character, including iodine notes characteristic of Laphroaig, is powerfully present. When drinking, there's a satisfying feeling akin to enjoying an Islay cask strength whisky, with nuances of ripe citrus, grain, and oak, alongside a strong peat presence. While this may be divisive in taste preferences, personally I find the smoky notes reminiscent of charcoal and ash less appealing compared to exchange-spec bottles of the same specification. However, this is a matter of personal preference, and I greatly appreciate BBR's dedication to selecting quality casks and bottling them in their signature bottles for Japan. Having consumed quite a few Laphroaig 1997 bottlings in recent months, this one feels like a satisfying conclusion. Each had its own unique character and was thoroughly enjoyable.