.laphroaig - a.d. rattray - cask# 4096

On our travels through Scotland in 2013, we diverted our route to the Bladnoch distillery, so we would drive past A.D. Ratray's Whisky Experience, near Kirkoswald. A nice little place, where one can enjoy a guided tasting, browse around in the little shop with their ever changing selection, or empty one of the casks into your own bottle. That last part is exactly what we did and one of the bottles would be a 375ml Laphroaig.

56% abv, €35, single malt, non-chill filtered, natural colour

Nose: smoke, eucalyptus, sweet, floral, heather, earthy, mushrooms
Palate: dry, sweet, honey, hot, spicy, jalapeƱo peppers, cinnamon powder, dark chocolate pure cocoa 
Finish: smoke, ash, sweet, over-ripe cherries
Mark: +++++ 

Conclusion: Although the 56% abv is quite generous, the alcohol in this dram does not overpower the flavours. She is truly an offspring of the Laphroaig family, without any nonsense.

More info:  If I recall correct, maturation was done in an ex-Bourbon barrel, but I misplaced my notes, or did not take any. Distilled in June 1999, matured in cask #4096 for 13 years, 11 months and about three weeks,bottled on the 8th of June 2013. I am a sucker for numbers, and the number 4096 has extra special appeal to me, bringing me back to the maximum number of colours of my good, old, trusty (but now resting) Amiga 500.

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