The year 2015 was a milestone for Laphroaig who celebrates 200 years, and aside from launching Laphroaig 15 yo, they have released Laphroaig An Cuan Mor into the Australian travel retail market.
“An Cian Mor” means Big Ocean in Gaelic, and the no age statement travel retail whisky comes in at 48% ABV. The single malt is aged in first fill ex bourbon casks then sits in European oak to give it light layers of flavour. Is it ex sherry casks or is it port? It remains mysterious and untold.
Non-chill filtered, Laphroaig An Cuan Mor is pale straw in colour. The nose is glorious and pungent with the classic medicinal and maritime character along with baked fruit, apple crumble and apricot jam giving it a balance of fruitiness and smoke. The peat intensity and medicinal character slowly dissipate into mellowness in the glass.
The palate bursts with a balance of fruit, raisins, spice, vanilla and smoke but is more subtle than Laphroaig PX which is aged in ex bourbon and quarter cask. The finish is medium to long and lingers with peppery spice and smoke.
Laphroaig An Cuan Mor has the Laphroaig DNA and has been created to appeal to buyers of Laphroaig 10 yo or 18 yo which is being phased out at the time. It sits well between the excellent Laphroaig PX and the Laphroaig QA, the entry level travel whisky aged in ex bourbon and virgin casks.
This article was originally published on July 22, 2015 on our sister website Gourmantic.
