Laphroaig 30 Year (2024 Release)

I've been waiting on some scary medical tests for about a month, I've learned today that they all came back beautifully. Can't think of a better excuse to eschew my (semi) tradition of having 1oz of this bottle on the monthly date of my birth (which I purchased as a unique celebration of my 30 years on this earth; distilled the year I was born, bottled the year of my 30th). Sitting and beholding a whisky that was distilled by masterful hands at the same moment you were just entering this world and then kept watchfully as it aged alongside you is an experience I hope all can experience at some point. Existential, humbling, and emotional. It really helps put the concept of time in perspective. Today, I'm especially grateful for these thirty years. Sláinte to all who might see this, I'm still here. Here's to at LEAST thirty more for you and for me 🥂 Nb. I'm coming into this after dinner, a couple beers, and a celebratory Laphroaig 10 dram shared (somewhat forcingly) with my non-scotch-drinking companions who had not tried it before. Nose: oloroso coming out a bit more now, I'm getting oud bruin/red wine grape conditioned wild ale reminiscent of de Garde Brewing from Tillamook. Dark sticky plum with some bright citrus peel, deep and complex old musty oak, a splash of bright red berries. Slight herbaceous/vegetal note. Somewhere between black and white pepper. Some sweet caramel. As always, a peat fire burns somewhere on a dreary, drizzly, windy shore; lighting the way as a lighthouse would. Smoke and peat elements are just a touch earthier and sweeter than I recollect. Palate: Bright citrus peel, prominent red fruit skin, sweet caramel, Ocean spray, bittering oak & bittering dark fruit skins. Medicinal peat and salinity are certainly present but take a slightly more supportive role this round of tasting. A nice subtle vanilla pastry note. Oddly getting a fruity/citrusy tang that I've not noticed before as it transitions to finish. Strong, robust, and old oak throughout. Finish: old, mature oak (is it worth the $800 price tag? You tell me, but it's a unique experience and I'm grateful to God to be able to say I've enjoyed this dram). Phenolic peat, and strongly coastal sea air

45.8% ABV. Aged in American oak and European ex-Oloroso sherry hogsheads and butts. I was originally hoping to get this for my 30th birthday, but it did not come into Oregon in time, so were doing birthday +1 month. By far the oldest whisky I've ever had. It was my dream and hope to have a 30y.o. Laphroaig for my 30th birthday and they delivered. Distilled in my birth year of 1994 and bottled in 2024, a Laphroaig as old as I am. Is it worth $800? Probably not, but its meaningful to me and that is priceless. Nose: immediately a sweet and rich sherry, orange and lemon peel. Vanilla, baking spice. Definitely see the toffee note they speak of. Hints of caramel. Sweet malt. As it sits a bit, brine and seaweed appear with a gentle haze of peat smoke. Evokes a dense oceanic mist over the beach bringing a light drizzle while you cozy up next to a peaty bonfire in the sand. Palate: Beyond smooth. This is layered, deep, and complex. Bright, sharp citrus, candied orange peel. Mild briny elements. Theres a hint of lightly buttery shortbread/pastry. A distinct white pepper note. Im not quite getting the fresh thyme note, but there is something herbal lurking here, maybe a hint of sage? A strong, mature, and robust oak as it transitions to finish as well as the classic oily, phenolic peat. Finish: substantially long. Peat smoke and "sooty campfire" indeed shine here. Drying wood tannin that is noticeably more robust than whisky I've had thats younger, its almost like you can tell that this spent 30 years in oak.

Nose: the classic Laphroaig peat is here but has matured and mellowed over 30 years. A gentle beach bonfire, iodine, ocean spray. Sweet malt. A touch of bergamot and citrus peel with a nice element of baking spices; mostly cinnamon with small hints of baker's chocolate and candied ginger. Almost a hint of maple bacon. Sherry soaked/candied walnuts. A subtle but deep oak influence, sweet vanilla custard. Has a hint of old wood, like a well loved desk passed down in your family for generations. Sweet pastry dough appears as it rests and as you sip. Palate: rich, oily, deep. Peat is prominent but in concert with rich caramel, earthy sherry, marzipan. White pepper. Baked/roasted/charred citrus. Theres a very beautiful depth to the oak here. Vanilla custard, caramel. Sea breeze. Warming. Semi-sweet chocolate chips. A drop or two of water marginally brings out some pastry notes. Finish: long and elegant. Aged wood, oak tannins and peatfire linger for a long while. Sooty campfire is apt.

This one's for you Ozzy, poured a little extra in honor of the Prince of Darkness 🦇 Nose: classic Laphroaig smoky peat, but again, dressed in a rich tapestry of baking spice, candied/stewed orange peel, dark fruit and a gentle hint of white pepper. A hint of sage/rosemary. A touch of maple sweetness. A touch of creamy vanilla comes out. Cinnamon-sugar/candied nuts. Palate: Rich, full deep. Lemon peel, oak, vanilla. Getting a strong sea air briny-ness on the first sip. A little zip of white pepper as it transitions to finish. A hint of chocolate raisin. Classic Laphroaig medicinal elements shine in balance here with some dark fruity/earthy sherry balance. A little bit of water brings out the brighter citrus notes and a bit more aggressive smoke profile. Finish: deep, long, oceanic. Lingering peat, a nice drying oak that's not bitter but definitely noticeable; old wood.

Missed the birthday yesterday for this so figured I'd break it back out for a proper Christmas dram. Coming into this after a very festive evening so the palate is nowhere near as sharp as normal for a whisky of this caliber. Nose: rich antique wood from a sunken pirate ship, syrupy dark fruits, plum, a slight hint of rosemary, a nice touch of candied orange peel and mulling spices. Classic Laphroaig peat and smoke elements are matured and mellowed, very well integrated here. Hints of salted caramel. A suggestion of black pepper, Palate: a surprisingly robust citrus oil here, bergamot mostly. Vanilla custard, mixed berry jam, a noticably old oak. Peat is more prominent here, but comes in mostly on the transition to finish. A nice rich oloroso influence. Finish: lightly sooty, smouldering peatfire, lingering jammy notes

Nose: sweet and musty old oak, a through line of candied lemon/citrus, syrupy/stewed dark fruits, fig. Freshly toasted almonds. Sweet dark/vinous sherry note. A gentle peat and salinity. As it opens up a bit more caramel and vanilla come through, a smoldering beach bonfire becomes more noticeable Palate: vanilla, lemon, a mild phenolic peat that's balanced well with a robust old oak. White pepper, nice wintry/cozy salinity and oceanic peat. Finish: robust old oaky tannin. Light peat phenols.