Laphroaig's changing lineup

[sutton]

I've recently bought a Laphroaig 18 and it runs $89.99 around me. A perfect dram by the fire pit with the Fall weather (notwithstanding the tropical monsoon we just endured). I'm on the hunt for a Springbank 18 after having it at a bar recently - swap the Band-Aid phenols for some diesel, depending on mood.

I haven't had the CS but also like the Laphroaig 10. If the 21 is priced reasonably (say less than $150?) I'll give it a whirl...

[Dolph Lundgren]

start saving your pennies gents, I have from a good source that in 2015, there will be a 21yr available. Limited release, one time only.

Future is looking bright for fans.

B

[Jazz Nut]

Whoa, which store of yours had it listed for $62.99 in the first place? As another Minneapolis resident, I don't think I've ever seen it that cheap before.

Unfortunately this liquor store (Top Valu Liquors in Columbia Heights) has raised their price to $79.99. It was $62.99 for months! I bought two at the beginning of the summer, I couldn't pass it up.

[BFerguson]

Will this be from the same batch as the 21yr getting released in Germany next month? If so, break the piggy bank - that bottle is a olo sherry / bourbon cask mix. First reviews are saying its very nice. Think msrp in Germany is around $300sh. I'd be ok with that here given the current state of things.

Unknown. He was pretty tight lipped about what they are doing in the coming years and talked about the 21st anniversary of the FoL, then said, "that's a hint".

Yah, likely going to cost a bit.

B

[garbanzobean]

Just as a follow up, this is directly taken from a MM&F thread about a similar topic:

Simon Brooking: 10 Year and 18 Year Laphoaig being discontinued? I don't know who is spreading these rumours but they are exactly that - rumours. Laphroaig 10 Year is the lifeblood of our brand . It is here to stay. 18 Year is a bit more limited and so it's a wee bit harder to get but it is not going away. Find them. Share them with your friends and celebrate Laphroaig's 200 year anniversary in 2015. Cheers!

[sutton]

That is good to hear - lately my tastes have moved toward the 18 over the Quarter Cask - I know that probably puts me in the minority ...

[portwood]

lately my tastes have moved toward the 18 over the Quarter Cask - I know that probably puts me in the minority ...

You're not alone. The 18 is one fine dram. If it weren't so expensive compared to the QC ($180 vs $70) I wouldn't bother with the QC

[zillah]

I weep for you in Canada. I get the 18 for $70 on sale here in PA.

[Frodo]

I weep for you in Canada. I get the 18 for $70 on sale here in PA.

I cried when I read this...

[garbanzobean]

I occasionally am able to grab it on sale for $62. Standard price in Maryland varies between $70-$150 depending on store and distributor.

Edited November 17, 2014 by garbanzobean

[VT Mike]

I stopped by one of the big whisky retailers outside of Boston today and was talking to their Scotch expert. He told me he had just bought as much 18 year Laphroaig as possible because it was being discontinued and that was his last opportunity to get any. I'm quite sure of what I heard Simon say back in September and I stand by my original post. Maybe he let the cat out of the bag way too early and upset the people he works for. I suspect his statement quoted above by garbanzobean was an attempt to do some damage control. It wasn't all that long ago that Bruichladdich was claiming they hadn't discontinued their 10 year, which wasn't completely untrue because you could still buy it at the distillery.

[Auracom]

Saw 15 yr on shelves yesterday in my area... and sitting right beside it was faithful 18 year with the extra 3 years of age and 3% ABV. For $10 less than the 15.

Doesn't matter how you speculate this, something's gonna change. Either the 18 year is going up above the $120-130 pricepoint or it's getting discontinued. No one can deny that the two sitting side-by-side right now at current pricing makes zero sense.

*note - I don't think the 15 year is necessarily a bad price at msrp. Pretty much on-par with Lag 16 now.

[Jazz Nut]

The 18 is around $80-90 in the Minneapolis area. Last year at this time I could get it for $62.99....I bought two bottles at that price. And THOROUGHLY enjoyed 1 bottle quite quickly.

[unclebunk]

Just as a follow up, this is directly taken from a MM&F thread about a similar topic:

Simon Brooking: 10 Year and 18 Year Laphoaig being discontinued? I don't know who is spreading these rumours but they are exactly that - rumours. Laphroaig 10 Year is the lifeblood of our brand . It is here to stay. 18 Year is a bit more limited and so it's a wee bit harder to get but it is not going away. Find them. Share them with your friends and celebrate Laphroaig's 200 year anniversary in 2015. Cheers!

I hope Mr. Brooking's statement still holds true. The 10 YO is all I really ever need, though I occasionally pick up the Quarter Cask which seems to really hit my sweet spot. I've only ever picked up the Cask Strength once and had high expectations for it. Good as it was, the QC still won out in my book. As to the 18, I've purchased it a number of times but found that the extra years simply mellowed it beyond the point that I really like. All my Scottish relatives still prefer the 10 to everything else in the lineup and are happy to leave the much more expensive stuff to those of us in the US.

[VT Mike]

Just for the record, I've never said anything about the 10 year being discontinued. And quite honestly I'd be shocked to see that happen.

[unclebunk]

Just for the record, I've never said anything about the 10 year being discontinued. And quite honestly I'd be shocked to see that happen.

I would be shocked too. But then I was shocked when Balvenie and Aberlour discontinued their 10 year olds, so you never know.

[tanstaafl2]

I would be shocked too. But then I was shocked when Balvenie and Aberlour discontinued their 10 year olds, so you never know.

I think the Aberlour 10 is no longer being distributed in the US but can still be had in the UK and perhaps elsewhere.

[unclebunk]

I think the Aberlour 10 is no longer being distributed in the US but can still be had in the UK and perhaps elsewhere.

Perhaps someone from the UK can chime in regarding its availability, as it hasn't appeared in the range of products on Aberlour's web site for several years now and I haven't seen one on a store shelf since 2010 or so.

[amg]

Perhaps someone from the UK can chime in regarding its availability, as it hasn't appeared in the range of products on Aberlour's web site for several years now and I haven't seen one on a store shelf since 2010 or so.

The Whiskey Exchange has it in stock. Not sure when it was bottled, but they're not charging much for it.

[unclebunk]

The Whiskey Exchange has it in stock. Not sure when it was bottled, but they're not charging much for it.

Thanks for the info. I wouldn't pursue the 10-year-old when the 12-year-old is readily available here in the United States but I am curious to know if they dispensed with the 10-year-old altogether, as the trend towards "age-ism" has done away with the "standard" 10 YO expressions in several cases in favor of progressively older bottles; a development that appeals far more to Americans than any Scots I know.

[tanstaafl2]

Thanks for the info. I wouldn't pursue the 10-year-old when the 12-year-old is readily available here in the United States but I am curious to know if they dispensed with the 10-year-old altogether, as the trend towards "age-ism" has done away with the "standard" 10 YO expressions in several cases in favor of progressively older bottles; a development that appeals far more to Americans than any Scots I know.

Might be able to find out in person for you at Aberlour in a couple of months!

[unclebunk]

Might be able to find out in person for you at Aberlour in a couple of months!

Awesome. If you need someone to carry your bags during the trip, I'm your man![emoji2]

[VT Mike]

I think the Aberlour 10 is no longer being distributed in the US but can still be had in the UK and perhaps elsewhere.

The 10 year Aberlour is still available in Quebec. It's basically a liquor control state up there, but covering the entire province. Looking at the online inventory they show it in 227 stores with quantities ranging from one bottle to more than forty. So I'd say they have at least 4000 bottles, and maybe more squirreled away in a warehouse. The ones I've seen have all been the older style, taller, thinner bottles though. Maybe they bought up the last of the 10 year and are just moving it slowly.

[unclebunk]

The 10 year Aberlour is still available in Quebec. It's basically a liquor control state up there, but covering the entire province. Looking at the online inventory they show it in 227 stores with quantities ranging from one bottle to more than forty. So I'd say they have at least 4000 bottles, and maybe more squirreled away in a warehouse. The ones I've seen have all been the older style, taller, thinner bottles though. Maybe they bought up the last of the 10 year and are just moving it slowly.

That's interesting. If the price is right, it'd be worth buying a few, especially the older style bottles which I prefer.

[VT Mike]

That's interesting. If the price is right, it'd be worth buying a few, especially the older style bottles which I prefer.

The taxes are pretty high in Quebec, it was a little more than $50.