Laphroaig 34 Year Old, The Ian Hunter Story Book 5: Enduring Spirit, is the fifth and final chapter of Laphroaig's celebrated series honouring the man who shaped the distillery. Distilled in 1988 and matured for 34 years in a combination of first-fill American oak bourbon casks and Pedro Ximénez sherry European oak hogsheads, it is bottled non-chill filtered at 45.5% ABV.
Ian Hunter was the last member of the Johnston family to own and manage Laphroaig, running the Islay distillery between 1908 and 1944. He is credited with many of the decisions that define Laphroaig today, and The Ian Hunter Story has told his life in five annual books, each paired with a very old whisky. Book 5, Enduring Spirit, closes the series, and its white presentation case with the gold 34 opens like the cover of a book.
Three and a half decades in oak have shaped Laphroaig's famously bold peat into something gentle and layered. The smoke is still there, with iodine and burnt wood on the nose, but it now sits alongside floral green malt, candyfloss, vanilla fudge and red berries from the bourbon casks, while the Pedro Ximénez hogsheads add salted caramel, butterscotch and roast chestnut. It is a rare chance to taste how Islay's most distinctive spirit evolves over a lifetime in the cask.
Tasting Notes
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Nose: Lightly peaty with iodine and burnt wood; floral green malt, sweet candyfloss and vanilla fudge, with subtle blueberry and raspberry accents.
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Palate: Sweet and spicy, with classic Laphroaig peat and cold barbecue ash, salted caramel and butterscotch, roast chestnut, a hint of peach, dried flowers and white pepper.
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Finish: Peaty and malty, with praline notes and a lingering sweetness.
Specifications
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Producer: Laphroaig Distillery
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Style: Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky
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Expression / Batch: The Ian Hunter Story Book 5: Enduring Spirit (final release)
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Age: 34 years (distilled 1988)
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Proof / ABV: 91 proof (45.5% ABV)
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Cask / Finish: First-fill American oak bourbon casks and Pedro Ximénez sherry European oak hogsheads; non-chill filtered
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Region: Islay, Scotland
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Size: 750ml
How to Enjoy It
Serve it neat in a tulip glass at room temperature, and let it rest a few minutes so the fruit can rise above the smoke. A single drop of water brings out more of the salted caramel and peach. It pairs well with dark chocolate, smoked almonds or a mild cigar. As the final volume of The Ian Hunter Story, it completes the set for collectors and makes an exceptional gift for a devoted Islay whisky lover.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Book 5 the last in The Ian Hunter Story?
Yes; Enduring Spirit, the 34 Year Old, is the fifth and final release in the series.
What casks were used for Laphroaig 34 Year Old?
First-fill American oak bourbon casks and Pedro Ximénez sherry European oak hogsheads.
Who was Ian Hunter?
The last member of the Johnston family to own and manage Laphroaig, running the distillery between 1908 and 1944.
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