Laphroaig Products - World Of Whisky

Laphroaig History

Named after its location, Laphroaig was founded in 1815 by brothers, Donald and Alexander Johnston and was family run for 139 years. The last member to run the distillery was Ian Hunter, son and nephew of Catherine and Isabella Johnston, who left the distillery to his manager Bessie Williamson.

The distillery was sold to Long John International in 1960s which was then later acquired by Whitbread in 1972. The distillery then become part of Allied Domecq in 1989. As of 2014, the distillery has been purchased by Suntory Holdings.

Laphroaig has been the only whisky to carry the Royal Warrant of the Prince of Wales. This was awarded during a visit to the distillery in 1994 by Prince Charles, whose favourite Laphroaig expression is said to be the 15 year old.

In 1999, Laphroig won six awards from the International Wine and Spirit Competition and the International Spirits Challenge.

Laphroaig Production

Laphroaig proudly presents itself as "the most richly flavoured of all Scotch whiskies"and its production process of the distilleries are arranged for this reason. Using water from the Kilbride dam, the site has a 2.7 million liters production capacity.

Despite most distillery having an equal number of wash and spirit stills, Laphroaig differentiates itself by having 3 wash stills and 4 spirit stills. Further the wash stills have tall conical necks while maintaining an onion shape at its base. The tall necks increase the amount of reflux in the stills. Laiphroaig's spirit stills also have a strange shape to increase the intensity of the interaction between the spirit and the copper of the still.

Meanwhile to dry the malt, Laphroaig uses the peat taken from a moor of Islay itself. Laphroig sources 80% of its malt from the Port Ellen maltings and its very heavily peated.

Over 90% of the barrels used at Laphroaig are American white oak first fill Bourbon barrels. Introduced in 1930, it was discovered American White Oak barrels created the distinctive flavour which complimented Laphroaig Single Malt.

Malting and Taste

Known as the "most richly flavoured of all Scotch whiskys", it is most frequently aged to 10, 15 30 and 40 years old. The whisky itself is smoky. Despite the various expressions, they are all peated. Hand harvested, and sourced locally, the flagship 10 year expression is the declared one of the distilleries' finest malts.