Scotland, Isle of Islay. Distillery operational. Owner: Beam - Suntory

Few distilleries have inspired as much excitement among collectors as Laphroaig, and this with just a single expression of its single malt, the Laphroaig 10 Year Old. Nonetheless, since the end of WWII, it has released a large number of bottlings, each varying from one market to the next. Its heavily peated style has developed according to the barrels used for maturation (sherry/bourbon). Its ABV, varying from 40% to 60% for its cask strength bottlings, favours one characteristic of its profile over another. And yet, it is still the Laphroaig 10 Year Old and has been for 70 years and counting. This expression forms a collection of its own thanks to its numerous importers and labels, including Filippi Fausto to Bonfanti, Cinzano, R.H.Elsbach & Co and Carlton Import. Laphroaig is, however, also renowned for its outstanding vintages 1960, 1974, 1976, 1977, 1980 and 1981 and versions aged 15 - 40 years. All in own, a world of its own.

A small batch Laphroaig 14 year old (#8601-8604) distilled in 1998 and bottled in 2013 by Ian Mcleod. Ian Macleod & Company Ltd was founded in 1933 by Leonard Russell Senior. It was bought by the Russell family in 1963 and Peter Russell took over at the helm. At the time, Ian Macleod bottled blends and independent bottlings, including the famous Chieftain’’s range of single casks built from the stocks amassed by Leonard Russell Senior when he was founding his brokerage company in 1936. The business became Ian Macleod Distillers Ltd in 2003 after buying Glengoyne, which was later joined by Tamdhu in 2011 and Rosebank in 2017. A limited edition of 1,518 bottles.