As the days get darker and colder on Islay, it reminds us that another year is drawing to a close. And we find ourselves reflecting on what 2022 has meant for Laphroaig and our community of Friends around the world.
We have a lot to celebrate from the past year, and we want to thank each and every Friend for making it so memorable. Below, we invite you to look back on some highlights from 2022 with us as we reminisce on what has passed, before looking to future.
We said hello to a new Distillery Manager.
In March this year, we announced Barry MacAffer as our new Distillery Manager.
As a long-serving Friend of Laphroaig and as an Ileach who grew up a stone’s from the throw distillery grounds, we knew our iconic Islay whisky would be in good hands with Barry. At the time, Barry said: âI recognise the responsibility I have to continue building upon the Laphroaig legacy and to match the near peerless dedication of John, Ian and Bessie, and my other incredible predecessors.
“You have my unswerving commitment that Iâll continue to craft our renowned, peated, single malt and its ongoing story for you and our team here with dedication and honesty.”
And, as youâll see below, it has been an eventful and successful first year for Barry; one filled with Friendship (both old and new), dedication and, of course, that renowned Islay whisky.
We welcomed our Friends back to Islay.
As many of you know, Fèis Ăle (“The Islay Festival”) is a 10-day gathering of whisky fans from across the globe to celebrate Islay, its culture and, of course, whisky. And, after two years of virtual-only entertainment, we were delighted to welcome Friends back to Islay for Fèis Ăle 2022, for in person singing, dancing, eating, and most importantly, whisky tastings.
To all those who made the pilgrimage: you did not disappoint! You brought Islay to life and didn’t let the rain stop the laughter, the dancing and the drams. It was emotional to catch up with old Friends and, equally important, it was a pleasure to make new Friends.
We hope to see you all there next year. But if you can’t wait until then, learn about our Visitor Centre and tours at the link below.
Visit us
We celebrated our iconic Warehouse 1.
âThis yearâs CĂ irdeas wasnât made for the Friends of Laphroaig, it was made by the Friends of Laphroaig. By you asking for all of these flavours in one glass,â said Distillery Manager Barry Macaffer.
As long-time Friends will know, each year our Distillery Manager crafts a limited-edition malt to celebrate friendship and our treasured Friends of Laphroaig. This whisky, named CĂ irdeas (Gaelic for “friendship”), is available exclusively to the Friends of Laphroaig, and our 2022 instalment told a very special story.
CĂ irdeas 2022 was named Warehouse 1 to honour where it was aged to perfection, and it embodies all of your favourite classic Laphroaig flavours, amplified. Warehouse 1 is the iconic building with âLAPHROAIGâ painted on the side which sits right on the shoreline, imparting a stronger influence of sea air, while its varying levels of temperature and humidity tease out incredible flavours.
Are you already looking forward to next year’s CĂ irdeas?
We made new Friends.
In September, we proudly unveiled Taste Trailblazers; a global celebration of pioneers who push the boundaries of flavour. Known for his mastery of open fire cooking, we welcomed Fire Chef Francis Mallman to Islay as our first Global Taste Trailblazer, capturing his visit in a documentary film featured on Laphroaig.com.
The film highlights Mallmann and Laphroaigâs shared mastery of smoke as well as stories of peat, salt and fire – the elements of Islayâs unique geographical location that are reflected in every drop of Laphroaig.
While on Islay, Francis also became a Friend of Laphroaig, planting a flag on his square foot of land. Becoming a Friend of Laphroaig is much more than having a small piece of Islayâs soil, though. At its heart, itâs about becoming a part of a worldwide community.
watch the film
We hope you enjoyed that trip down memory lane with us and, once again, thank you for making 2022 such a special year.
Now, let’s get to work on making 2023 even better.
SlĂ inte!
