Laphroaig Unveils The Wall Rope Edition—A 39-Year-Old Single Malt Honoring Islay’s Coastal Heritage
Renowned Scottish whisky distillery Laphroaig has announced the release of The Wall Rope Edition, a 39-year-old single malt whisky and the second installment in its The Wall series. Only 200 bottles have been produced globally, each one hand-painted, created to honor the distillery’s maritime heritage and the historic journey of sherry casks to Islay, with special recognition for the puffer boats that once transported essential supplies like coal and barley to the island.
This whisky was matured in Oloroso sherry-seasoned European oak casks and finished in Pedro Ximénez sherry European oak casks, perfectly embodying the deep connection between land and sea. Its flavor profile combines rich peat smoke, maritime salinity, and abundant sherry sweetness. Official tasting notes describe it as having a deep tea color, with aromas of toffee, cranberry, black cherry, polished leather, sweet treacle, and citrus; the palate offers soft smoke interwoven with flavors of treacle toffee, candied orange peel, and hazelnut, leading to a long, smooth finish with notes of smoky orange toffee, oak, and mixed spices.
Calum Fraser, Chief Blender at Suntory Global Spirits, stated that this release aims to capture the profound influence of sherry casks on Laphroaig, commemorating their story of cross-sea transport, enduring storms, and final arrival on Islay. After 39 years of maturation, the spirit is complex and distinctive, yet it retains the classic characteristics of Laphroaig.
Each bottle of The Wall Rope Edition is hand-painted and numbered by London-based illustrator and ceramicist Laura Carlin. Her inspiration was drawn from Islay’s rugged landscape and the tarred ropes historically used to secure vital cargo. She even used the same paint applied to Laphroaig’s legendary No. 1 warehouse for the illustrations, symbolically recreating the journey of the sherry casks.
Private Client Director Daryl Haldane noted that The Wall series offers connoisseurs a chance to experience a defining moment in Laphroaig’s history. The spirit for this edition was distilled during a period of significant renovation at the distillery in the 1980s. Although the pace of production slowed, the spirit of Laphroaig never wavered, ultimately yielding a whisky full of depth, character, and resilience, making it a true part of the brand’s legacy.
2025-08-22
Source - https://thewhiskeywash.com/whiskey-news/laphroaig-unveils-the-wall-rope-edition-a-tribute-to-islays-coastal-heritage/