Laphroaig Elements 2.0 Cask Strength Islay Single Malt Whisky 59,6%

On the south coast of Islay, kelp piles up on the rocks and smoke from the kiln drifts out across the bay. Laphroaig has made whisky here since 1815, and the recipe hasn't moved much. Then someone let the fermentation run for almost five days instead of two. What came out was a Laphroaig that tastes of fruit.

Expert's Description

Laphroaig Elements 2.0 Cask Strength is an Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured exclusively in 1st fill bourbon barrels and bottled at cask strength, 59.6%.

It's the second release in the Elements series, where Laphroaig changes one step of production at a time and sees what ends up in the glass. The first edition played with Islay-grown barley and different mash tuns. This time it's fermentation. A normal Laphroaig wash ferments for around 55 hours. For Elements 2.0 it was left for up to 115 hours and aerated along the way, an old-school technique the distillery dusted off for the occasion. The spirit was distilled in January, deep in the island's cold winter.

Somewhere around the 65-hour mark a secondary fermentation kicks in, and that's where the tropical fruit comes from. Everything else is classic Laphroaig: peated malt, double distilled, with the seaweed, iodine and medicinal edge that makes people either love or hate the place. Distillery Manager Barry MacAffer calls it an unexpectedly fruity whisky with the same peaty character fans already know.

The maturation is kept simple on purpose. No finish, no wine casks. The 1st fill bourbon barrels add vanilla and a soft honeyed sweetness, then step back and let the spirit do the talking. There's no age statement, and the whisky is non-chill filtered. Whisky Advocate named it Whisky of the Year 2024 with a score of 95 points.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Fruit leads. Stewed apples and orange zest, then vanilla custard. Peat sits low in the background with a whiff of seaweed and something faintly medicinal.

Palate

Green apple, runny honey and a touch of cream soda. It's powerful at 59.6% without being harsh. Midway through, beach bonfire smoke and smoked shellfish roll in, with baked peach and apricot hiding underneath.

Finish

Sweet and medium in length. Vanilla and toffee slowly let go, leaving a dry, warming smoke that keeps building.

Specifications

Name: Laphroaig Elements 2.0 Cask Strength
Distillery: Laphroaig
Region/Country: Islay, Scotland
Type: Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky
ABV: 59.6%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: 1st fill bourbon barrels
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Distillation method: Double distilled
Bottled: 2024
Edition: Elements series, release 2.0
EAN no.: 5010019000873

Flavour Profile

Fruity · Smoky · Maritime · Vanilla · Medicinal

Did You Know?

Join Friends of Laphroaig and you get a lifetime lease on one square foot of peat bog on Islay. The rent is paid in whisky, and you collect it at the distillery yourself, wellies optional but recommended.

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Frequently Asked Questions about Laphroaig Elements 2.0 Cask Strength

How is Laphroaig Elements 2.0 different from a regular Laphroaig?

Fermentation. The wash fermented for up to 115 hours instead of the usual 55, and that long fermentation brings apple, orange and peach notes you don't normally find in Laphroaig. The smoke and sea air are still there, they've just got company.

Is Laphroaig Elements 2.0 worth it?

For the curious Islay fan, yes. You get a cask strength Laphroaig from 1st fill bourbon barrels, made as a real production experiment, and it was named Whisky Advocate's Whisky of the Year 2024. It's a limited release, and the next one in the series will be something completely different.

How smoky is Laphroaig Elements 2.0?

Less than Laphroaig 10 Year Old, most people would say. The peat is clear, but fruit and vanilla pull harder, and the smoke only really shows itself on the finish. If you like peated whisky but not the heaviest hitters, this is a good pick.

Should you add water to Laphroaig Elements 2.0?

Taste it neat first, then add a few drops of water. At 59.6%, water opens up more of the fruit and takes the edge off the alcohol. We'd skip the ice, it shuts down exactly what makes this bottle interesting.

Which glass suits it?

A tulip-shaped glass such as the Glencairn gathers the aroma and makes it easier to pull fruit and smoke apart. See our range of whisky glasses.

What food goes with Laphroaig Elements 2.0?

Smoked salmon, grilled scallops or a crème brûlée. The maritime side meets the seafood, and the vanilla and caramelised sweetness find each other in the dessert.

What is Laphroaig's Elements series?

A run of experiments where the distillery changes one thing in production per release. Elements 1.0 was about Islay barley and different mash tuns, 2.0 about long fermentation. If you want to compare with the island's other distilleries, we carry a wide range of Islay Whisky.