Laphroaig 1997 20 Year Old Hunter Laing Old & Rare Platinum Selection | Hunter Laing

A Rare Mature Islay Release

Distilled at Laphroaig in October 1997 and matured for two decades in a refill hogshead, this 20 year old release was bottled in September 2018 by Hunter Laing for their prestigious Old & Rare Platinum Selection series. Drawn from a single cask and bottled at natural cask strength without chill filtration or added colouring, this limited release captures an elegant and mature interpretation of Laphroaig’s unmistakable Islay character. Only 123 bottles were produced, with this bottle numbered 114/123.

Tasting Notes

• Nose: Maritime peat smoke, iodine, old leather, damp oak, citrus oils, medicinal notes, and subtle earthy sweetness.
• Palate: Rich and mature with smoked barley, tar, sea salt, ash, dried citrus peel, gentle vanilla, and restrained oak spice.
• Finish: Long, dry, and coastal with lingering peat smoke, medicinal herbs, soft oak tannins, and warming maritime salinity.

Specifications

• Classification: Scotch Whisky
• Style: Single Malt
• Region: Islay, Scotland
• Distillery: Laphroaig
• Bottler: Hunter Laing
• Series: Old & Rare Platinum Selection
• Distilled: October 1997
• Bottled: September 2018
• Age: 20 Years
• ABV: 44%
• Cask Type: Refill Hogshead
• Colouring: Natural Colour
• Filtration: Non-Chill Filtered
• Volume: 700ml
• Style of Bottling: Single Cask / Natural Cask Strength
• Bottle Number: 114/123
• Presentation: Includes Original Presentation Case

About the Distillery

Laphroaig remains one of Islay’s most recognisable distilleries, revered for its intensely medicinal peat profile, maritime influence, and unmistakably smoky character. Older independently bottled Laphroaig releases, particularly those matured for extended periods in refill wood, have become increasingly sought after for revealing a more restrained, complex, and spirit-driven side of the distillery.

About the Bottling

Hunter Laing’s Old & Rare Platinum Selection series focuses on mature single cask whiskies bottled in extremely limited quantities with an emphasis on individuality, age character, and natural presentation. Long-aged Laphroaig releases from the series are rarely encountered, particularly examples retaining full original presentation and bottled from a single refill cask where the distillery character remains central to the experience.

Archive Notes

Please review all product images carefully. Minor cosmetic wear to labels, capsules, cartons, or presentation cases may be present due to age, long-term storage, or secondary-market sourcing.

This release is noted as having minor marks to the presentation case.

Natural variation in fill level, packaging condition, and label ageing can occur in older releases and forms part of the character of mature collectible whisky.

Archive Release

Privately sourced and released in strictly limited quantities. Availability is finite and unlikely to be repeated once sold.

Not every bottle is meant to be found.