Laphroaig 30 Year Ian Hunter Story – Book 1 Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Here we have the inaugural release from Laphroaig 30 Year The Ian Hunter Story series! As you may have guessed, the series celebrates Ian Hunter, the last member of the Johnston family to own and manage Laphroaig Distillery. The first release, dubbed Book 1: Unique Character, is a magnificent 30 Year Old single malt, matured exclusively in American white oak bourbon barrels. The reason behind the cask choice is to pay homage to Hunter’s original decision to introduce American oak maturation to the Laphroaig Distillery. The cask strength bottling is presented in a faux hardback book presentation case, with a limited release of only 4,800 bottles.

Nothing to do with the famous singer of Mott the Hoople, rather the Ian Hunter at the heart of this celebrative release from Laphroaig 30 Year takes a look at the life of the last original member of the family to manage the Islay distillery. Aside from the 30 year American oak matured malt itself, you’ll also receive a splendid and informative book about the man himself.

The first edition of our new, fifteen part series The Ian Hunter Story celebrates the legacy of one man, the last of the Johnston family – Laphroaig’s founding fathers – to own and manage the Laphroaig distillery. A character as unique as our whisky.

Unique. Distinctive. Not for everyone. You could be describing Ian Hunter as much as you could the taste of Laphroaig. Despite his polarising personality, Ian Hunter made Laphroaig what it is today: a whisky enjoyed the world over by a wide and diverse range of people.

Nose:

Sweet and medicinal with manuka honey, light peat smoke, cooked apple and rosemary vanilla. Orgeat syrup and a hint of lemon peel complete the aroma.

Palate:

Peaty and peppery with notes of herbs, cedar, kumquat zest and gorse flower. A sweetness of custard cream and vanilla pods.

Finish:

Coastal with subtle iodine, sea salt and seaweed notes. A touch of coffee and oaky character.