Laphroaig Live 2015 is just around the corner and I am delighted to say that this year’s broadcast brings the show home to Islay www.laphroaig.com/live.

On Thursday 24th September 8:00pm (UK local time) our special ‘200th’ Laphroaig Live party will broadcast direct from the distillery – the upper malting floor to be precise! With over 80 guests joining us from far and wide plus a live link to Simon Brooking in New York, it’s going to be one big party. I really want everybody who possibly can, to share our celebrations with us so please make a note of the date in your diary.

On this Laphroaig Live you will not just be meeting one Laphroaig Distillery manager, you will be meeting 6! Yes – for the first time ever John MacDougall (1970-1974), Denis Nicol (1974-1980), Murdo Reed (1980-1987), Colin Ross (1987-1989), Iain Henderson (1989-2002) plus Robert Hicks (Master Blender 1972-2013) and myself will be gathered together under the roof we have all loved so much over so many years – and there’s more…

Our very special panel – including actor Sam Heughan! Whilst Laphroaig is enjoyed all round the World, Laphroaig embodies Scotland at its heart. Therefore I wanted a true Laphroaig loving Scotsman as my special guest for the evening. I am both proud and delighted that none other than Sam Heughan has agreed to join us on the 24th. Millions of you will already know Sam from his starring role in the wildly popular series Outlander, but he is also an avid fan of Laphroaig, with Quarter Cask as his favourite expression. Joining Sam on the panel from Germany shall be Bernard Schafer who knows more about Laphroaig than any other German I know and from Sweden, Emma Andersson, editor of Sweden’s leading whisky magazine Allt Om Whisky. We’ll also be joined by Simon Brooking with many special guests live from New York.

The special whiskies for the night The first one I laid down myself 12 years ago – it’s this year’s very special ‘small stills’ 200th Cairdeas 2015. The other whiskies tonight were distilled by my predecessors, including our famous 15 year old – brought back specially for this 200th year. We’ll also be tasting the 21 year old bottled to celebrate the 21 years of The Friends of Laphroaig. I am certain Iain Henderson will want to say a few words about The Friends of Laphroaig since he started it but he also made their birthday whisky! Then to round off, something amazingly rare and special we have a 32 year old that has been sleeping for all these years in the finest Olorosso Sherry hogsheads. To see the colour is extraordinary – to taste it, well I can’t wait!

Please join me in the World’s largest Laphroaig Toast. I wish to create the World’s largest Friends of Laphroaig toast – perhaps even the largest whisky toast ever (it does not matter which Laphroaig you are drinking on the night). I will be raising a glass to the Friends of Laphroaig and the next 200 years. On your screen will be a ‘cheers’ button you can click when I raise my glass. So please join me on 24th September to toast Laphroaig.

Send me your questions now. As always we will be answering your questions on the night – so please send them in now. I will send 200th anniversary nosing glasses to the best ones! Click here to send in your question now or live on the night. See you on the 24th!

If you want to know the correct time of the broadcast where you live please go to www.laphroaig.com/live where there is a special app that will do this for you.

Slàinte,

John Campbell Distillery Manager, Laphroaig