Regarding Laphroaig 10yo CS Batch 002 (58.3%, OB)

[Ardbeg311]

Greetings all,

I'm aware that the second batch is now available through the Laphroaig distillery website and that it was bottled in January 2010, but does anyone know when one might expect to see this bottle in the European market? Also, how was Batch 001 received? Not so much in terms of a comparison with the older 55.7% (where the general consensus may be that Batch 001 is very good but maybe not quite as good as the 55.7% has been), but I'm curious if anyone knows if Laphroaig has been pleased so far with the shift to batches? Finally, did I misunderstand that there were originally going to be two bottlings/batches per year?

Thanks

[MC5]

I don't know either but it seems that it's one batch per year.
I would also be interested how different batch 1 and 2 are.
I only konw the Red Stripe version which I liked very much. So I'm wondering if to buy the "the good old" version, try the - as they say, less fruitier but smokier - batch 1 or the unknown batch 2 (I only saw it in the Laphroaig online shop til now).
Tough choice....

[Ardbeg311]

I think you're right MC5, I think it was the old 10yo CS (55.7%) that was being bottled twice a year.

Which 'Red Stripe' version did you try, 57.3% or 55.7%? Both were incredible whiskies with a slight nod given to the 57.3%. Batch 001 has not shown so far to be on par with either of them. The two seemed better integrated (at least without water) than the newer one. Of course, I will have to buy Batch 002 when it finds its way here. Let us know what you think of Batch #1 if and when you try it.

Cheers