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Next Auction starts Friday 29 March. Bottle Deadline: 18 March.

Laphroaig 14 Year Old bottled 1952-1953 / US Import

Lot: 237234

Laphroaig 14 Year Old bottled 1952-1953 / US Import

Winning Bid: £7,600
(Reserve has been met) This lot currently has: 13 bids

Currency Estimate

Important: Currency exchange rates are constantly changing; this feature is to be used as a guide price only. All final transactions occur in British Pounds (£).
Lot:
Distillery: 
Laphroaig
Age: 
14 Year Old
Vintage: 
n/a
Region: 
Islay
Bottler: 
Official
Cask Type: 
N/A
Bottled Strength: 
91.4 US proof
Bottle Size: 
4/5 QUART
Distillery Status: 
Operational
product Details

Laphroaig 14 Year Old bottled 1952-1953 / US Import

Laphroaig is the largest of the three heavyweight Islay distilleries in Kildalton, out-stripping the production capacity of neighbours, Ardbeg and Lagavulin, by over 1 million litres per annum. Despite its traditional appearance, Laphroaig was always a forward-thinking distillery. It was bottled as a single malt as early as the 1920s, an unfashionable option at the time, especially for a peated whisky. They were also shrewd in capitalising on post-Prohibition America to add trademark sweetness to their spirit through the use of imported ex-bourbon casks, and hired Scotland’s first ever female distillery manager, Bessie Williamson, in 1954. Laphroaig is one of only a handful of distilleries in Scotland to still use in-house maltings, providing them with 20% of their annual requirements, and contributing to the distillery’s unique flavour profile. 

There is an oft-claimed story that Laphroaig was one of the only Scotch whiskies permitted during Prohibition times as lawmakers in the US did not believe anybody would imbibe its unusual flavour profile for anything other than medicinal reasons. Sadly, there is little evidence to back this up. What is true however, is that the Laphroaig connections with the US in the post-repeal decades saw a number of bottles of their single malt exported there.

Likely bottled in either 1952 or 1953, this historic 14 year old was produced from pre-war distillate, and was destined for America, however this particular bottle never left the country, ending up back on the Island the spirit originated from.

Important Notice

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Please note: Due to the various ages of bottles and their seals, condition of liquid is at the buyer's discretion and no claim can be lodged against failure/leakage in transit.