Laphroaig kicks off Elements range
Beam Suntory-owned Laphroaig has released the first whisky in its new Elements series, made using Islay malt.
The first bottling in the range, Elements 1.0, was created following three experiments. Firstly, the team used a combination of cloudy and semi-cloudy wort that brought tropical fruit notes to the whisky. An 8.5-tonne and an 11-tonne mash, that combined the ‘past and present of distillery production norms’ was used, alongside 100% Islay malt. The resulting liquid offers fresh sea salt, smoky bacon and charred pineapple on the nose, leading to flavours of peppery spice, tropical fruits and liquorice on the palate. Bottled at 58.6% ABV, Elements 1.0 is priced at RRP £170 (US$206). Barry MacAffer, distillery manager for Laphroaig, said: “Elements is a series that we hope will give our friends a peek into the art and science of making Laphroaig. “Our distillery profile is so iconic and we always want to retain this as the heart of every bottle, while allowing room to experiment and innovate. “This first release showcases the raw materials we use in our whisky, especially the 100% Islay malt. As an Islay native this is an extra exciting whisky that I think will bring a little bit of our rugged island to friends around the world.” Additional expressions will join the range in 2024. As the series evolves, each whisky will feature a series of easter eggs on the packaging that provide a peek into the artistry and science behind the whisky-making process. Last month, Laphroaig released a limited edition 36-year-old whisky as the first expression in its new Wall Collection.
