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Archive 38-Year-Old
The second instalment in our prestigious Archive Collection
We’re proud to introduce The Archive Collection 38-Year-Old, the second instalment in our prestigious Archive Collection. This sought after series is made up of some of the rarest and most precious Laphroaig whiskies in existence, anywhere in the world.
When we started the collection at the start of 2024, we set out to pay homage to the commitment and craft of our master distillers by giving our Friends the chance to experience the very best of aged Laphroaig single malt whisky. This highly limited edition second release does just that.
Decades in the making
After decades in the making, it beautifully captures a full spectrum of our flavour evolution, with our signature peaty profile receding ever so slightly to make way for a satisfying flourish of fruity flavours. With only a highly limited number of bottles made for this one-off instalment, we are opening a ballot system to our Friends to be in with a chance of purchasing a unique slice of Laphroaig’s history that was first distilled in 1985.
Archive 38-Year-Old


Sweet, spiced and subtly smoked
While the signature Laphroaig peat remains present in The Archive Collection 38-Year-Old, it’s dialled back to allow fruit flavours to shine through, offering a bold yet beautifully balanced flavour profile that enlivens the palate and lives long in the memory.
The nose opens up on bright orange zest that deepens into layers of dried apricot and sultana. On the palate, waves of spice and salted caramel emerge, with subtle hints of crystallised ginger adding a spicy edge. Of course, our smokiness is never truly absent, and that unmistakably Laphroaig peat returns for a lasting finish alongside a mellow sweetness. Matured first in ex-bourbon American oak barrels and then in second-fill Oloroso sherry-seasoned European oak butts, this rare release has been shaped by our history, and crafted to be treasured long into the future.


Guardians of the cask
The Archive 38-Year-Old has been watched over for almost four decades by seven of our distinguished Distillery Managers – making it a worthy testament to the skills of those, past and present, who have poured their hearts into their craft here at Laphroaig. It all began with Murdo Reed, who ensured the early stages of maturation went undisturbed, setting the spirit on its course to becoming a truly special collector’s item.
Murdo was followed by Colin Ross, Iain Henderson, Robin Shields, John Campbell, Barry McAffer, and most recently, George Campbell – each a custodian of quality, doing their part to guide the spirit from cask to bottle. Though separated by time, they worked in concert to create this unique release, handing the baton from one generation of distillers to the next. Together, their combined legacy makes this rare bottling one of our best yet. That’s some good teamwork.
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