Laphroaig 36 Years Old The Archive Collection 0.70 ltr 40.2%

Visitors to the beaches of Islay are sometimes lucky enough to find pieces of sea glass among the stones and pebbles. Sea glass is glass from items like bottles or jars that has found its way into the ocean and spent months or even years being buffeted around by the waves and eroded by the salt water. This wear and tear eventually turns shards of abandoned glass into smooth, beautifully colored pieces of sea glass that wash up along with the tides.

It takes time and patience to turn plain, abandoned glass into something new and exciting. That same process is needed to make something as rich and delicious as The Archive Collection 36 Year Old.

During its 36 years, many have guarded over the maturation of this exceptional whisky. In fact, six different Distillery Managers have joined this whiskey on its journey since it first began in the mid-1980s, with Murdo Reed leading the way, followed by Colin Ross, Iain Henderson, Robin Shields, John Campbell and Barry MacAffer.

As they and our Master Blender only know too well, preserving the peat and smokiness of a 36-year-old is a singular challenge that requires years of patience and intuition. From deciding which casks to use, to considering the weather and climate, a lot of thought and effort goes into the making of a whiskey as special as The Archive 36 Year Old – it's as much a science as it is an art.

The surprising fruity flavor beneath our signature, peaty style is perfectly balanced from maturation first in ex-bourbon American oak casks, then resting in a second fill Oloroso hogshead. This sherry seasoning adds layers of subtlety, complexity and depth to a classically Laphroaig taste.