New Release: Laphroaig 20 Year Old Eluxir Distillers The Single Malts of Scotland Director's Special 53.8%

A standout Laphroaig aged in a Sherry cask. Although expensive, it's a satisfying flavor. Laphroaig LAPHROAIG 20yo ELIXIR DISTILLERS The Single Malts of Scotland DIRECTOR'S SPECIAL 53.8% one of 493 bottles, Oloroso Sherry Butt The aroma has a pleasant sherry, berry and plum jam, black tea, premium bitter chocolate, fish stock and charred malt from the depths, slightly earthy and leathery notes with herbs and peat. When drinking, it has a rich flavor but smooth texture, gradually spreading umami like plum jam and tropical elements such as faint pineapple, a sweet richness with strong body and pleasant astringency, the body is thick and concentrated fruits with long-lasting peat notes in the finish. 【Very Good】 This is a Laphroaig 20 Year Old bottled as Director's Special by The Single Malts of Scotland. There is no vintage notation, but if it wasn't released from stock, the distillation would be around 1997. It is bottled by Eluxir Distillers, but this seems to be a name change of the Specialty Drinks division that handles part of the Whisky Exchange. Although aged in a Sherry butt, the barrel itself is good, and its quality is clearly evident. In addition to elements like jam, black tea, and premium chocolate, I also faintly sensed the earthiness and leather-like qualities often found in exceptional Laphroaig. As a representative of the Islay malt, Laphroaig has the powerful presence typical of cask strength, with clear peat notes of fish stock and iodine. Although it's a new release, there is no roughness, and the penetrating texture suggests it might have been slightly aerated after bottling, which was impressive. The body is thick, the umami is strong, and even the finish was pleasant. It's already a very good malt, but it has the potential to improve further with time, making it one of the bottles I'm looking forward to in the future. Mr. Skinard from Whisky Exchange has a strong image as an expert in selecting Laphroaig, and he's bottled many masterpieces before. However, this bottling is particularly good among them. I decided to feature this bottle as the first of the year, which gives a sense of the future.