Laphroaig 33 - Strong Characters - Chapter One Donald Johnston

This is a 33-year-old Laphroaig from Islay, released as Chapter One of the Strong Characters series and dedicated to Donald Johnston, a co-founder of the distillery. The whisky was matured in a combination of American ex-bourbon barrels and European sherry hogsheads. Its peat smoke has spent decades in the damp, salty island air and developed into something more nuanced. The nose offers crème brûlée and fudge with heather flowers, apple and stewed rhubarb. On the palate there is salted caramel and ripe cherries, with cinnamon and a firm peat character. The finish is long, with maritime saltiness, dry peat smoke and a trace of ripe apple.