Hunter Laing The Kinship Laphroaig 23 Year Old 1997

Laphroaig 23 Year Old 1997 from The Kinship is an independent bottling of Islay single malt by Hunter Laing & Co., the Glasgow family firm of whisky blenders and bottlers. The Kinship is Hunter Laing's series of rare, well-aged single malts; the 2021 collection, its fifth release, commemorates the virtual Fèis Ìle of 2021 and is drawn from Islay distilleries, with this bottle as Edition No. 6. Distilled in 1997 and aged 23 years, it was selected by Andrew Laing and bottled at a cask strength of 50.5% ABV, limited to 261 numbered 700ml bottles. The bottler describes a strong-bodied Laphroaig full of character.

Nose: Vanilla sponge cake, toffee, aniseed and Islay sea breeze.

Palate: Surprisingly subtle, with vanilla sweetness, a nutty element and the distillery's peat smoke, iodine and leather.

Finish: The peat smoke, iodine and leather linger.

Serve: Neat, with a few drops of water if preferred.