Laphroaig 2005 Hand Filled Cask #73

Laphroaig is the largest of the three heavyweight Islay distilleries in Kildalton, out-stripping the production capacity of neighbours, Ardbeg and Lagavulin, by over 1 million litres per annum. Despite its traditional appearance, Laphroaig was always a forward-thinking distillery. It was bottled as a single malt as early as the 1920s, an unfashionable option at the time, especially for a peated whisky. They were also shrewd in capitalising on post-Prohibition America to add trademark sweetness to their spirit through the use of imported ex-bourbon casks, and hired Scotland’s first ever female distillery manager, Bessie Williamson, in 1954. Laphroaig is one of only a handful of distilleries in Scotland to still use in-house maltings, providing them with 20% of their annual requirements, and contributing to the distillery’s unique flavour profile.

This Laphroaig was distilled in 2005 and initially matured in a single bourbon cask for 8 years. It was then transferred to single Amontillado cask #73 for a further 10 years. It was hand-bottled in May 2023 by veteran warehouseman James McGregor to mark his retirement, after spending over 40 years at the distillery.