Laphroaig SMWS 29.105 Massive and Volcanic

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Laphroaig SMWS 29.105 Massive and Volcanic


The Scotch Malt Whisky Society bottles single cask whiskies since 1983. Every bottle looks the same at first sight. They are only to be distinguished by a unique code and a sometimes fitting, sometimes outrageous name. The codes came into use because distilleries did not want to connect their name to independent bottlings. Nowadays, it has become a unique selling point.

The bottle code consists of two parts. The first part identifies the distillery. The second part is the n-th cask being bottled by the Society. Applied to 29.105 it means: the 105th cask bottled from distillery 29, being Laphroaig.

Identity Card Laphroaig SMWS 29.105 Massive and Volcanic 


  • Laphroaig Distillery, Islay
  • 12 years old single malt
  • Single cask - 619 bottles
  • Refill ex-sherry butt
  • 59,6% ABV
  • Distilled 25 Match 1999, bottled August 2011

An outburst of chocolate and peat 

Tasting notes

Colour: The colour of this indy Laphroaig balances between old gold and copper. Nose: There's a lot going on in the glass. You're overwhelmed with a wave of liquorice rolls, old leather, apple mint, asphalt, vanilla fudge and incense flavoured with vanilla and peat. There's a slow development of some more curious flavours like the ammonia scent found in Brie de Meaux cheese with honey, mud and wet leaves. Water gives you more vanilla and liquorice flavours.   

Taste:  A sweet sensation of honey greets you shortly and is overtaken by intense pepper. A volcanic outburst - the name was well chosen - of smoke and ash. Bitter chocolate with figs and raisins. The water creates more sweet notes of honey and a combination of burnt olive oil and used matches.

Finish: The aftertaste is short but feisty with quite some bitterness. An extinguished fire on a wet autumn day.
Laphroaig SMWS 29.105 Massive and Volcanic

Conclusion

Laphroaig is, with the rest of the Islay family, extremely wanted by independent bottlers and aficionados. Praised for its sweet and earthy flavours, these Laphroaigs sell extremely well. This bottling from 2011 is already long gone. With some luck, you could still sample it at a festival.

Laphroaig SMWS 29.105 Massive and Volcanic
It bears a clear signature from Laphroaig, on the other hand, it is slightly different than the core Laffies. But that is fine, damn fine.

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