Laphroaig 25 Years Cask Strength 47.3% is a rare, fully mature Islay single malt that shows the distillery’s coastal peat in a remarkably refined form. The 2023 release was matured for a full quarter-century in ex-bourbon casks and bottled at its natural cask strength of 47.3% ABV, non-chill filtered and naturally coloured. It offers a wonderfully balanced mix of sweet fruit, vanilla, oak and evolved Laphroaig smoke.
Producer – Laphroaig Distillery
Since 1815, Laphroaig has been producing intensely peated whisky on Islay’s rugged south coast. Barley is floor-malted and dried over thick peat smoke, giving the spirit its famous medicinal, iodine-rich character, brimming with seaweed and salt. In the 25-year-old cask strength expression, that style is softened and deepened by time, resulting in a whisky that is still unmistakably Laphroaig, yet more layered and graceful.
Nose
The nose is refined, richly aromatic and gently smoky:
sweet pear drops, crisp green apples, custard and warm pastry
notes of honey, vanilla cream and a touch of bubblegum
cured smoked ham, subtle cinnamon spice and a herbal thyme note
soft peat smoke, sea breeze, hints of dry oak and liquorice in the background
Palate
On the palate, the whisky is silky, medium-bodied and very expressive:
a rich wave of tropical fruit – pineapple, peach and mango – mingling with pear, vanilla and light toffee
gentle white pepper, barbecued orange rind, toasted oak and a thread of baking spice
the peat is elegant rather than aggressive: glowing embers, ashy campfire, coastal salt and a faint medicinal edge
Everything is beautifully integrated, with sweetness, spice, fruit and smoke working together rather than fighting for attention.
Finish
The finish is long, warming and deeply satisfying:
lingering tropical fruit, vanilla fudge and honeyed oak
layers of soft, ashy peat smoke, liquorice, pepper and sea salt
a classic Laphroaig aftertaste, evolved and mellowed by 25 years in cask
Serving & style
Enjoy Laphroaig 25 Years 47.3% neat in a tulip-shaped glass, after allowing it a little time to breathe. A small splash of water can bring out extra layers of fruit, vanilla and citrus while keeping the refined peat core fully intact.
This is an exceptional choice for experienced Islay lovers who want to taste Laphroaig at its most mature and sophisticated – a cask strength dram that delivers depth, coastal character and wave after wave of subtle peat smoke.
