Laphroaig 35 y.o. - Strong Characters 2026

Volume: 0.7 litres | Alcohol content: 43.8% | Colouring: No

Special Features:

Maturation exclusively in ex-bourbon American white oak casks shapes this 35-year-old Laphroaig. Both barrels and hogsheads were used. The long maturation softened the peat smoke and developed a creamy character without displacing the distillery’s smoky signature. Sweet pastries and light fruit notes are joined by tropical fruit and warming spice.

Strong Characters Chapter 2 was released in 2026 as the second edition of a series dedicated to influential figures in Laphroaig’s history. Following Donald Johnston, this edition focuses on his son Dugald. The worldwide release comprises 5,500 bottles. The whisky is offered at 43.8% in a 0.7-litre bottle.

Bill Bragg illustrated Dugald Johnston’s story for the premium box and accompanying booklet. This visual narrative is as much a part of the edition’s concept as the long-matured single malt.

Tasting Notes:

• Nose: The nose opens with sweetness. Freshly baked pastries, apple and cherry then emerge, their combination recalling cherry crumble pastry.
• Palate: Smoke leads on the palate, accompanied by spicy flavours. The mouthfeel is creamy, while gentle raisin notes and warmth remain in the background. Tropical fruit and sweetness complement the flavour.
• Finish: The long, warming finish carries lingering anise and a lightly peppery tingle. These impressions slowly fade, returning to peat smoke.

Distillery/Bottler:

Donald and Alexander Johnston founded Laphroaig in 1815 on the Scottish island of Islay. The distillery’s present-day practices include traditional malting floors, where the malt is turned by hand, and slow smoking over Islay peat. Water from the Kilbride Stream is used to soak the barley. This 35-year-old single malt matures exclusively in ex-bourbon American white oak casks.

Dugald Johnston inherited responsibility for Laphroaig in 1847 following the death of his father Donald, when he was just eleven years old. Initially, Walter Graham, a distiller from a neighbouring distillery, ran the operation and taught Dugald about distillation and farming. On his 21st birthday in 1857, Dugald took over the lease. By 1871, he had more than doubled production. Strong Characters Chapter 2 is dedicated to this period in the distillery’s history.

Facts: