I hope you are enjoying the festive season, we will soon be putting up our Christmas tree from the old part of the ‘Friends’ plots. My feet have hardly touched the ground having visited both America and Germany for a series of tastings and Friends events. Firstly may I say a big thank you to the fantastic hospitality I received from all the ‘Friends of Laphroaig’ that I met on the way.

Online shopping deadlines. As every year, I have been asked to give you this year’s e-commerce shopping deadlines for parcels and presents to arrive before Christmas. They are: UK: 19th December Europe: 15th December

2014

Its been a fantastic year. Once again Laphroaig® has become even more popular and a record number of new Friends joining our club all over the world. Of course we launched our new expression Select this year and I am pleased to say it has been very well received around the World. Our ‘Laphroaig Live’ 2014 from Stockholm got an even bigger live audience than last year and I did give away some unsubtle hints at the end about what is to come for next year! – if you did not watch it live you can see the recorded version. Also thank you for so many warm words I received for this year’s Cairdeas that had enjoyed its secondary maturation in Amontillado sherry casks. Once again it sold out very quickly so apologies to those who did not manage to get one – but then there is always the special 2015 Cairdeas – that will be something I can tell you! We also launched our advertising campaign ‘Opinions Welcome’ which has been very well received, and of course it was inspired by you the friends when describing your impressions of ‘your first Laphroaig’ on the website.

2015

Or should I say 1815 – 2015! Yes of course it’s our 200th anniversary next year. The first thing you will notice is a ‘change’ to our No1 warehouse sea wall. The painter is ready to start. But throughout the year we have some fantastic events lined up. It is of course a double celebration as ‘The Friends of Laphroaig’ is also 21 years old. I will leave you to guess what whisky we have lined up for that later in the year. But first, there will be a one-off return of an old favourite that so many of you have been asking for over the last 5 years – I think you can guess. I can’t tell you about next year’s ‘Cairdeas’ but it will be one for ‘The traditionalists’ amongst you. (I have tasted it recently from a barrel and I think it’s wonderful). There will also be a final special expression later in the year at Laphroaig Live which of course will be held at the distillery. I won’t say what it is, other than to say that it was tasted a few years ago in one of the Laphroaig Live broadcasts when it was somewhat younger…

Returning to this Season of goodwill We have once again had some amazing local successes during 2014 and these include our double award winning visit experience here at the distillery. This is a fantastic achievement from our visitor centre staff and the whole site. We really hope that one day you are able to make it to Islay, so we can show you our award winning welcome here at Laphroaig®. We will, with the demand for our whisky, deliver another production record in alcohol and malt produced in our floor maltings in 2014. We are making it as fast as we can, but taking care to keep to the traditions of our past.

Thank you for your support, your emails and letters to us all at the site; it’s amazing to receive these personal accounts and what Laphroaig® means to you and the joy it brings. I get immense pleasure in being able to share them with the team at the distillery.

Distillery Choir We recently had a fantastic choir here singing some of the most popular ‘Opinions’ that you sent in after transforming them into Christmas Carols! It really sounds great, so thank you for everyone who has sent in their opinions. I will sign off with my own Seasons greetings to all of you, and look forward to writing again early in the New Year.

To sing me out please enjoy watching our Distillery Choir singing the opinions of Alberto Mora, Ted Murena, Kim Jeffers and James Mylett!

Slàinte,

John Campbell Distillery Manager, Laphroaig

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