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FOCUS ON: TORABHAIG

Torabhaig’s Peat Elite Membership makes a dram fine Christmas gift for your whisky-loving relatives

Give loved ones the gift that keeps on giving with Isle of Skye distillery Torabhaig’s Peat Elite members’ club. Discovering new single malts is one of life’s great pleasures, so why not give that joy this festive season? The Peat Elite is the perfect gift for those who enjoy peated whisky and are looking to expand their knowledge.

This club is more than just a mailing list: it’s a full immersion into the intricacies of Torabhaig’s elegantly rugged, smoky island single malt. The Peat Elite is a society dedicated to exploring the beauty of Torabhaig’s peated spirit, for the peat fanatics and those unafraid to get their fingers smoky. If this sounds like someone you know, they’re already among the ranks of the Peat Elite, so why not make it official?

JOIN THE PEAT ELITE

Exclusive bottlings for members

The Spring and Autumn Club Reserve bottlings are without a doubt the high points of the Peat Elite calendar. Each one will be from a single cask, bottled at cask strength, sent out to Peat Elite members and available to nobody else. That’s right – only a Peat Elite member will be able to have access to these exclusive bottlings.

Every whisky that’s sent will also be accompanied by an online tasting with the whisky team, as well as a question and answer session. This membership is perfect for exploring the new whisky classics and it keeps on giving long after Christmas is over.

To learn more about Torabhaig Distillery and its smoky house style, look no further than Whisky Magazine’s recent distillery focus article, now available to read online at whiskymag.com.

READ

Whisky wisdom

Members of Torabhaig’s Peat Elite will receive some very special and wholly exclusive spirits during the membership – whiskies that simply can’t be found anywhere else. By sharing the Torabhaig knowledge, members will learn everything there is to know about well-tempered peat.

There are many faces and moods to peat, and there is more to it than can be captured in a single linear chart of in-grain PPM values. For example, there is a lot to be learned through more in-depth analysis: by looking at the full spectrum of phenolic compounds and how they evolve as the spirit ages. This understanding is just one of the ways Torabhaig hopes to bring Elite members along their journey of exploration with distillers and whisky makers.

Learn more about Torabhaig’s smoky spirit at the link below.

LEARN MORE

Shaped by Skye

Skye is a uniquely awe-inspiring place. The island informs and shapes everything Torabhaig does, from the wilful climate that governs the rhythms of the distillery, the two burns that feed it with the purest island spring water, to the inspiration drawn from the rugged beauty of the wild landscape that surrounds it, the whisky is just one more expression of Skye. It’s Torabhaig’s muse as much as its home.

This is not the easiest place to get to, so this club was created to bring members closer to whisky-making on Skye. Torabhaig hopes to give Peat Elite members an exclusive window into the inner workings of the distillery at Torabhaig and an inside track on the development of peated spirit. Members are always welcome to visit the distillery in person and are guaranteed the warmest of welcomes.

Learn more about visiting Torabhaig at the link below.

LEARN MORE

Community

Simply speaking, Torabhaig is the people who make it and for most, the opportunities to have direct contact with distillers and whisky makers are rare at best. This club is a window into the distillery, an opportunity to connect with the people who make the whisky, as well as with fellow Peat Elite members. Through regular guided tasting sessions and Q&As with the whisky makers, members will be part of the discussion and have the opportunity to go as deep as they want. Short of working at Torabhaig, there’s no way of getting closer to the action.

Building a legacy

This Christmas, get your loved ones the best whisky present of all time to discover and plot what Torabhaig Single Malt can become. Legacy is at the beating heart of the brand, because that is what will be built over the coming years. The Peat Elite Membership fee is £200 for members with a United Kingdom address and £250 for other countries that Torabhaig can offer membership to.

BUY MEMBERSHIP

New Releases from Chorlton Whisky

Check out the latest releases from Chorlton Whisky, including a Christmassy Highland 19 Year Old and a 19 Year Old from the Orkney distillery that isn’t Scapa.

Undisclosed Highland 19YO

A proper Mystery Malt for you here. All they can say for certain is it’s a lightly-peated Highland single malt, with a strange history that saw it accidentally reracked into a marsala hogshead. Oh, and it’s very Christmassy!

£124.00 >

Undisclosed Orkney 19YO

A lovely cask from the Orkney distillery that isn’t Scapa for you! The nose is beautifully soft, coastal and lightly honeyed, with lime leaves, tangerine, banana and a little thread of smoke and brine. The palate has sea water, butterscotch, candied lemon and eucalyptus, with a clean, citrussy finish with traces of smoke and honeydew melon.

Only £115.00 >

Christmas gifts for any budget

Count on us to take care of Christmas. From gift sets to advent calendars, whisky baubles and more: we’ve got your festive spirits sorted. Below we have featured a range of gift ideas for any budget. Have a browse and see if anything takes your fancy!

Gifts by budget →

Elijah Craig “Small Batch” Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey (750ml) $24.99 View

The Good Dram Show – Episode 490 ‘Tomatin’

This week’s episode of Good Dram Show features the new Potuguese collection from Tomatin Distillery along with a couple of oldies!

BOWMORE TRIO TAKES HONOURS AT BONHAMS FINE WHISKY AND SPIRITS SALE IN PARIS

View Catalogue

Bowmore-35 year old-1964. Sold for €20,740.

Paris –Three bottles of Bowmore were among the highlights of Bonhams Cornette de Saint Cyr’s Whisky et Spiritueux d’Exception sale in Paris on Tuesday 6^th December.

• A bottle of Bowmore-35 year old-1964 sold for €20,740 (estimate: €16,000-20,000). 

• A bottle of Bowmore-1964 sold for €10,980 (estimate: €7,000-9,000). 

• A bottle of Bowmore-1956 sold for €10,370 (estimate: €8,000-10,000)

The sale, which consisted of 227 lots, also featured at bottle of Aberfeldy the Gold of Pitilie-28 year old-1985. One of the oldest and rarest malts to be released by Aberfeldy, it is named after the stream from which the distillery draws its water. The Pitilie Burn is also known for its alluvial deposits of Scottish gold. Encased in an ornately cast 22-carat gold collar, this extraordinary bottle was just one of 10 ever released (two of which have been retained by the distillery), and even contained flakes of Scottish gold in the stopper. Sold for €15,860 (Estimate: €15,000-20,000).

Diego Lanza, Bonhams Senior Whisky Specialist, said: “The Bowmore-35 year old 1964 was very rare and special so it was not surprising that it became the most sought-after bottle of the day. Collectors were also eager to snap up the chance to acquire a bottle of Aberfeldy the Gold of Pitilie-28 year old-1985 which is very rarely available at auction.”

Sale: Whisky et Spiritueux d’ExceptionLocation: 4 rue de la PaixDate: Tuesday 6 December 2022

Link to catalogue

Bonhams, founded in 1793, is one of the world’s largest and most renowned auctioneers, offering fine art and collectables, motor cars and a luxury division, including jewellery, watches, wine and whisky. The main salerooms are in London, New York, Los Angeles, Paris and Hong Kong, with auctions also held in Knightsbridge, Edinburgh, and Sydney. With a worldwide network of offices and regional representatives in 22 countries, Bonhams offers advice and valuation services in 53 specialist areas. For a full list of forthcoming auctions, plus details of Bonhams specialist departments, please visit bonhams.com

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: “I 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 I’ll continue to craft our renowned, peated, single malt and its ongoing story for you and our team here with dedication and honesty.”

And, as you’ll 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 Ìle (“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 Ìle 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.

“This year’s Càirdeas wasn’t 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,” 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 Càirdeas (Gaelic for “friendship”), is available exclusively to the Friends of Laphroaig, and our 2022 instalment told a very special story.

Càirdeas 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 ‘LAPHROAIG’ 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 Càirdeas?

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 Laphroaig’s shared mastery of smoke as well as stories of peat, salt and fire – the elements of Islay’s 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 Islay’s soil, though. At its heart, it’s 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.

Slàinte!

Golden Dram Giveaway

Win a VIP tour of the Balvenie Distillery in Keith, Scotland!

Your personal guide will direct you and a group of friends through the home of Balvenie to see where your favourite expressions are crafted and matured. You’ll also get to nosey around their famous warehouse 24 and spill the secrets of the five rare crafts of whisky-making that the distillery proudly maintain. You’ll finish up with a special whisky tasting and lunch at the neighbouring Glenfiddich restaurant.

To be in with a chance of winning, purchase a bottle of The Balvenie 25 Year Old between now and 22nd December 2022. and you will be entered into our Golden Dram draw where we will randomly select one winner to receive this incredible prize.

Balvenie 25 Year Old Rare Marriages

Showcases the Speyside distillery’s signature characteristics of decadent runny honey and rich oak undertones with layers of fresh fruit, marshmallow and cinnamon.

£600.00
BUY NOW

New Releases from Chorlton Whisky

Check out the latest releases from Chorlton Whisky

Blair Athol 12YO

The palate is big and nutty, with walnut liqueur, dark plum jam, tea-soaked raisins and maple syrup leading to a slightly salty and herbal finish. It swims particularly well, with water bringing out cakey softness and plenty of stone fruits. Lovely stuff!

£69.00 >

Ardmore 12YO

The palate is quite peaty at first, with a thick mouthfeel, then develops on toast with honey and salted butter, smoked rye, dark chocolate and orange, and liquorice root. Lots going on here, with the sherry adding just enough sweetness and richness to round things off nicely.

£68.00 >