Laphroaig 34 Year Old 'The Ian Hunter Story' Book 4: Malt Master
Laphroaig 34 Year Old 'The Ian Hunter Story' Book 4: Malt Master is a 46.2% ABV 34-year-old single malt Scotch whisky in a 750mL bottle — vintage 1987, drawn from American white-oak bourbon barrels and finished in first-fill European oak Oloroso sherry casks, released in 2021 as the fourth chapter of Laphroaig's Ian Hunter tribute series. Book 4 honors the man who founded Laphroaig's own maltings and insisted on floor-malted barley — the craft behind the distillery's unmistakable Islay character. Order it online at Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.
- ABV: 46.2% — 750mL, natural presentation
- Age / vintage: 34 years old; vintage 1987, bottled October 2021
- Casks: American white-oak bourbon barrels, finished in first-fill European oak Oloroso sherry casks
- Story: Book 4 of 'The Ian Hunter Story' — honoring the founder of Laphroaig's maltings and the floor-malted barley tradition
- Origin: Laphroaig Distillery, Isle of Islay, Scotland
Book 4: The Malt Master
'The Ian Hunter Story' is Laphroaig's limited series honoring the last of the Johnston family owners — the man who kept the distillery's idiosyncratic methods alive. Book 4, the Malt Master chapter, is dedicated to his founding of Laphroaig's own maltings: 34 years in bourbon wood plus an Oloroso sherry finish, built on floor-malted barley and 1987-distilled spirit. It's the oldest chapter in the series — a distillery-defining bottle. See more from Laphroaig or browse Del Mesa's Scotch whisky collection.
Tasting Notes
Decades of peat mellowed into medicinal smoke and sea air, layered with Oloroso depth — dark chocolate, dried figs, walnuts, and polished leather — over Laphroaig's signature iodine and salt. The sherry finish adds roundness without taming the smoke; the finish is immense and lingering.
How to Enjoy
Neat, in a proper nosing glass, with time and no rush — a bottle for the collector's cabinet and the slowest of evenings.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is 'The Ian Hunter Story' series?
Laphroaig's limited tribute series honoring Ian Hunter, the distillery's last family owner — each Book marks a chapter of his legacy.
What does Book 4 honor?
The founding of Laphroaig's own maltings and the floor-malted barley tradition Hunter insisted on.
What casks were used?
American white-oak bourbon barrels with a first-fill European oak Oloroso sherry finish.
When was it bottled?
October 2021, from 1987-vintage spirit.
The oldest chapter of Laphroaig's tribute series — order this 34-year-old Islay malt online from Del Mesa Liquor in San Diego, CA.