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Laphroaig
Founded
1815
Region
Islay
Status
Operational
Company
Production type
Single Malt
Production capacity
3,300,000 litres per year
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Laphroaig is a globally-renowned Islay malt distillery, famous for the unique and distinctive character of its heavily-peated single malt. It achieves this in part by being one of the few distilleries in Scotland to still use its own in-house floor maltings, providing it with around 20% of its annual requirements.
The distillery was built in 1815 by brothers, Alexander and Donald Johnston, and as of 2014 has been part of the Beam Suntory group. A forward-thinking distillery despite its traditional approach to whisky-making, Laphroaig has one of the earliest single malt brands and is also noted for being the first distillery to employ a female distillery manager, Bessie Williamson.
The Laphroaig single malt brand is one of the oldest in the world, dating back to at least the 1920s. Part of its success was its appeal in the American market and it quickly gained a foothold there following the repeal of Prohibition in 1933. The brand is synonymous with its clean white label design and green glass bottles, the latter of which was introduced around the 1950s.
In the early years, the distillery bottled a range of different whiskies at 10-, 12- and 14-years-old before settling on the former as its proprietary age statement in the 1960s. A 15-year-old was added to its range in 1985 and an 18-year-old in 2009, however both have since been discontinued.
Today the distillery core range is still headlined by the long-serving and much-loved 10-year-old. It is joined by a sherry cask-finished 10-year-old, a 25-year-old and the non-age statement Lore, Select, Triple Wood and Quarter Cask. Batch of cask strength 10-year-old and instalment in the Càirdeas range are also released annually.
2014-present
2011-2014
2005-2011
1994-2005
1989-1994
1975-1989
1967-1975
1815-1967
Laphroaig Distillery
Laphroaig
Isle of Islay
PA42 7DU
Scotland
1815
1994
2024
Distillery is founded by brothers, Alexander and Donald Johnston.
The Friends of Laphroaig society is founded.
Plans are announced to expand distillery - increasing still from 7 to 11, installing 12 new washback, a new mash house and the restoration of the original ground floor maltings.
Active brands
Single Malt
