Laphroaig

Introduction:

Laphroaig distillery in Islay offers an extensive range of official bottlings with different flavors and ages. Their lineup includes the 10 – year – old, select bottling, cask strength, quarter cask, 15 – year – old, 18 – year – old, 25 – year – old, Triple Wood, PX cask, QZ cask, An Cuan, and Laphroaig Cairdeas 2014. These bottlings showcase the distinct and strong flavor for which Laphroaig is known. Independent bottlers like Douglas Laing, Duncan Taylor, and Signatory Vintage have also released their own versions.

Production:

Laphroaig is renowned for being the most strongly flavored Scottish whisky. The distillery has a production capacity of 2.7 million liters and uses water from the Kilbride dam, sourced from the Kilbride stream.

Pot Stills:

Unlike most distilleries, Laphroaig has three wash stills and four spirit stills. The wash stills have a capacity of 10,900 liters, while the spirit stills range from 3,640 to 7,280 liters. The unique shape of the stills, with tall conical necks and narrow constrictions, contributes to the intense interaction between the spirit and copper, resulting in Laphroaig’s distinctive taste.

Maltings:

Laphroaig has its own maltings floor, a rarity for a distillery of its size. They use peat from a moor on Islay to dry the malt. While they produce some malt in-house, about 80% is sourced from the Port Ellen maltings. The malts used are heavily peated, earning Laphroaig the nickname “peat monster.”

Warehouses:

Laphroaig primarily uses American white oak first-fill bourbon barrels, a tradition dating back to the 1930s. They also utilize quarter casks and Spanish Oloroso and Pedro Ximenez casks for unique expressions. The distillery has dunnage and racked warehouses located near the sea, aging the casks for up to 30 years before bottling.

History:

Laphroaig distillery was officially founded in 1815, but it was likely operational several years prior. Ownership passed through the Johnston family until 1908 when Ian Hunter became involved, shaping the distillery’s future. After various ownership changes, including Whitbread & Co and Allied Distillers, Laphroaig is now managed by Suntory Holdings since their acquisition of Jim Beam Brands in 2014. In 1994, Laphroaig received the Royal Warrant from Prince Charles, a significant recognition.

Visitor’s Centre:

Laphroaig’s visitor’s centre offers tours, a gift shop, and a café, providing a memorable experience for whisky enthusiasts.

Visitor information:

The Laphroaig Distillery
Port Ellen
Isle of Islay PA42 7DU
Tel: 01496-302418
Fax: 01496-302496