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New Islay Malts from Laphroaig & Bowmore

April 2, 2013 – Laphroaig is releasing the second in a three-part series of Islay malts exclusively for the travel retail market. Laphroaig QA is matured in ex-Bourbon casks from Maker’s Mark, then finished in new, un-charred American white oak casks. It’s bottled at 40% ABV, and will be available through World Duty Free (UK and elsewhere), Heinemann (Germany), and Aelia (Paris) travel retail stores at a suggested retail price of €55 ($70.50 USD).

Laphroaig QA follows last year’s introduction of the Laphroaig PX Cask, and the third expression in the series, Laphroaig An Cuan Mor, will be released later this year.

A few miles north of Laphroaig on Islay, Bowmore is preparing to unleash the fourth edition of  its 10-year-old Tempest single malt next month. Look for it to be available in time for the Islay Festival of Malt & Music (Feis Ile) at the end of May. This edition of Tempest is bottled at 55.1% ABV, and just 12,000 bottles will be available.

There’s no word from Morrison Bowmore on whether this edition will be released in the U.S. under the Dorus Mor label.  Bowmore selected that name for Tempest following a consumer vote in 2012, since it was unable to reach an agreement with a U.S. winery that holds U.S. trademark rights for “Tempest”.

Links: Laphroaig | Bowmore