Laphroaig has announced the launch of a new limited edition series. Strong Characters is a series of single malt scotch whiskies dedicated to the characters in Laphroaig’s history who made the distillery what it is today. The first release, unveiled this week, is dedicated to Laphroaig’s founder, Donald Johnston.
Laphroaig Strong Characters will be an ongoing limited series, with each bottle paying tribute to a character from Laphroaig’s past, such as Bessie Williamson. The first edition will be available from October 6th exclusively from The Whisky Shop, and from October 8th at selected retailers, for an RRP of £960.
Laphroaig Strong Characters, Donald Johnston
Laphroaig Strong Characters, Donald Johnston is a 33 year old whisky that has matured in both American oak barrels and European oak ex-sherry hogsheads. Bottled at 43.8% ABV, the whisky pays tribute to Donald and his brother, Alexander, who founded Laphroaig in 1815. However, the packaging of this release gives credence to the rumors that the distillery was actually built in 1810.
Donald Johnston became the sole owner of Laphroaig in 1836 and ran the distillery until his untimely death in 1847.
“There’s a growing desire amongst whisky drinkers for not only the flavours behind a distillery, but also the story,” says Laphroaig Global Brand Ambassador, Teddy Joseph. “Laphroaig has such a rich and compelling history, and the new Strong Characters series offers whisky drinkers the chance to delve deeper and discover the pioneers and stories that have made the brand what it is today. We were also lucky enough to work with Bill Bragg and his atmospheric imagery captures the history and spirit of life on this uncompromising isle.”
Tasting notes for the new release are as follows (provided by Laphroaig):
- “Nose: Notes of sweet vanilla crème brûlée, stewed rhubarb and apple with custard. Creamy soft fudge is followed by heather honey, freshly baked sourdough bread and a briny sea spray
- “Palate: The gentle sherry influence has added notes of Christmas cake and subtle spice
- “Finish: The peat element reveals savoury aromas of smoked ham, cured mackerel, and a herbal, almost grassy smoke. A splash of water brings forth billowing peat smoke.”
In Collaboration With Bill Bragg
The packaging for the new release was created by renowned British artist, Bill Bragg, and reflects the journey undertaken by the Johnston brothers when establishing their new distillery. His signature black and white style can be seen on the box, label, and on a booklet accompanying the bottle.
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“All my projects start in black and white,” says Bragg. “I think it was a really good pairing with this project, as people often describe Laphroaig as a combination of unapologetic peatiness, in an elegant whisky. It’s the rough and smooth, and I wanted to retain a little of that in the drawings themselves. Boldness meets elegance, and that matches with the character of the whisky perfectly. Donald’s story is unique. I sketched a lot of him as this falling figure, as it’s such a dramatic and shocking end to his story; essentially giving his life to his craft.”