Laphroaig Distillery is one of few distilleries in Scotland who still malt some of their barley on site, and even rarer again, they continue to hand cut their own peat.
Laphroaig is also the only whisky distillery awarded a Royal Warrant by HRH Prince Charles, issued during his first visit to the distillery in 1994. He followed up with a repeat visit in 2008 as part of his 60th birthday celebrations.
You'll find Laphroaig Distillery nestled in woodland, 1.8 miles from Port Ellen, the first of three distilleries on Islay's south east-coast line (the other two being Lagavulin and Ardbeg) it is well worth a tour if you're visiting Islay.
Laphroaig Whisky Distillery, Islay, Scotland. Photograph available as Fine Art Print or Poster.
How Do You Pronounce Laphroaig?
How to pronounce Laphroaig (/ləˈfrɔɪɡ/ lə-FROYG) courtesy of Brian Cox ...
Laphroaig Whisky
Laphroaig (and Ardbeg) can be quite polarising, even for peat freaks. Laphroaig have skillfully utilised the love/hate relationship people tend to have with their whisky in a campaign that goes by the tag "Opinions Welcome" (#OpinionsWelcome).
Wall tiles at the Laphroaig Distillery entrance, printed with the many and varied opinions of Laphroaig: "Burnt Tyres" | "Like Licking A Peat Stove's Ashtray" | "Unapologetically Impolite, Undeniably Luscious"
My family have prohibited me from opening Laphroaig 10 in the house - the vapours seem to encroach upon their personal space, and they strongly disapprove of it! Laphroaig was the first Scotch single malt I ever tried, and I almost didn't try another single malt whisky after that.
Laphroaig vs Lagavulin
The taste of whisky is very personal - what is mother's milk to one person might be bile to another, and this is probably the best way to preface the difference between Laphroaig 10 yo and Lagavulin 16. Lagavulin 16 doesn't have quite the same kick to the head that you'll get with Laphroaig 10. Both whiskies are peated, originate from the same side of the Islay (the distilleries are neighbours), and both are chillfiltered and have spirit caramel/colour added. Bottled at 43% abv, Lagavulin 16 has a slightly higher abv than Laphroaig 10 at 40% abv. Lagavulin 16 has also had a further six years to mature and 'soften' and lacks the raw medicinal ashtray/burning tyres you often get with Laphroaig.
Laphroaig 10 Year Old
Ralfy has reviewed Laphroaig 10 more than most other bottlings - 5 times in 8 years (see reviews 30, 272, 501 and 575 in addition to 686 below) - partly because he considers it a benchmark peated single malt whisky, but also because of the changes to peat intensity over time. The variation can partly be attributed to the evolution of his palate, but is mostly due to factors such as yield from the malted barley grains ("which distillers are ever trying to increase") as well as the age of the whisky relative to the quality of the casks used in the maturation process (first fill vs refill).
He notes that "the prominent feature of Laphroaig is a seashore coastal mineral note, hard to pin down as it's not a specific flavour - it's part of a range of flavour sensations like sweet, sour, salt, bitter and savoury/umami. This umami/savoury sensation is really quite discernible/prominent in Laphroaig; it's one of its main feature characteristics ... particularly at a young age."
In 2017 he described the Laphroaig 10 as having a "raw, vegetal, twiggy, smoke-infused peaty-ness" with "old sultanas that have been in the jar for quite a while".
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"Seashore coastal mineral ... raw, vegetal, twiggy, smoke-infused peaty-ness ... old sultanas that have been in the jar for quite a while". - Ralfy, Review 686 (Laphroaig 10, 2017 release)
Where is Laphroaig Distillery?
Laphroaig is the first of three distilleries (Lagavulin and Ardbeg being the other two) on Islay's southeast coastline. It's a short drive (1.8 miles / 2.9 km) or a 30-40 min walk from Port Ellen. On a fine day, it's a superb walk as there is a well-maintained bicycle path from Port Ellen to Ardbeg.
You can also hire a bike from Islay Cycles (based in Port Ellen) or perhaps consider procuring the services of the Islay Tuk Tuk. For more information, see our post on Visiting Islay Without a Car.
Islay Maps and Photographic Prints
Whisky Gifts, Wall Art and Man Cave Decor. Made By Whisky Lovers For Whisky Lovers
Laphroaig Distillery Tours, Pricing & Bookings
Children under 12 years of age are welcome at the distillery (visitor centre) but must be 12 years or older to go on a tour (free with a paying adult). Children are only permitted on the Experience Tour, and may not attend any of the tastings or the Uisge Tour.
Experience Tour and Tasting
Guided tour of Laphroaig Distillery, and a tutored tasting of one (1) Laphroaig whisky plus a souvenir tasting glass and lanyard to take home at the end of your tour. £18.00 per person, approximately 90 minutes duration. Online bookings highly recommended - maximum 12 persons per tour. Chilren over 12 years of age may go on this tour (tickets are free with a paying accompanying adult).
Distiller's Wares Tour and Tasting
Extensive guided tour of Laphroaig Distillery, and a tutored tasting of several Laphroaig whiskies straight from the cask, then pick your favourite and handfill a 250ml bottle to take home. Maximum 4 persons per session, £90.00 per person, approximately 2.5 hours duration. Online bookings essential.
Warehouse 1 Tasting
Tasting Only: sample 3 Laphroaig whiskies straight from the cask inside Warehouse 1. Once you've explored the flavours and character of all three, pick your favourite and handfill a 250ml bottle to take home. Maximum 4 persons per tasting, £70.00 per person, approximately 90 minutes duration. Online bookings essential.
Uisge - A Day With Laphroaig
The ultimate experience for a Laphroaig Whisky Fan : start your journey with an extensive tour through the full production of the distillery beginning with the malting floors.Gather your picnic lunch and walking boots and hike out to explore the surrounding landscape, visiting the Kilbride water source, an essential element in making Laphroaig. Appreciate the view from this beautiful setting while you enjoy your delicious lunch. Hike back to the distillery to sample a selection of handpicked single casks in Warehouse No.1, pick your favourite and hand bottle it to take home. Maximum 6 persons per session, £150.00 per person, approximately 4.5 hours duration. Online bookings essential.
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If it all seems to hard to organise, why not sign up to a Rabbie's organised tour, and let them take care of all the planning (and the driving!) for you? This tour departs Edinburgh and spends 2 days on Islay, which gets you to Bruichladdich or Bunnahabhain (depending on the day you travel), Kilchoman, Ardnahoe, Bowmore, Laphroaig, Lagavulin and Ardbeg.
Entrance to the Laphroaig Visitor Centre (Warehouse 1 is on the left)
Laphroaig whisky distillery, Isle of Islay, Scotland. Photograph available as Fine Art Print or Poster.
Laphroaig Distillery Images
Warehouse 1, Laphroaig Whisky Distillery, Islay, Scotland. Photograph available as Fine Art Print or Poster.
Laphroaig steep their barley for three days, with three separtae lots of water changed daily
Barley grains are soaked in water for three days. The water is drained and replaced three times a day.
Tiny little shoots are visible in the germinating barley on the Laphroaig Malt Floor
One of the conveyors used to drive the malt through the distillery.
Lauter Mash Tun at Laphroaig Distillery, Islay, Scotland
Inside Laphroaig's Lauter Mash Tun
The beautiful fat bottoms of spirit stills no. 1 and no. 2 at Laphroaig, with the condenser of no. 1 in the middle background. Photograph available as Fine Art Print or Poster.
The spirit and wash stills (minus no.1 spirit still) at Laphroaig Distillery. Photograph available as Fine Art Print or Poster.
Three of the four spirit stills at Laphroaig Distillery, and the Spirit Safe on the right.
The full complement of spirit and wash stills at Laphroaig Distillery
The low wines receiver bowl from Wash Still No. 1 in the Low Wines safe at Laphroaig Distillery. Black and white photograph
The low wines receiver bowl from Wash Still No. 2, in the spirit safe at Laphroaig Distillery.
The three low wines receiver bowls, from the three Wash Stills, at Laphroaig Distillery
Thermometers in the Low Wines Safe at Laphroaig Distillery for Wash Stills 1 and 2. The Stillman can determine the concentration of alcohol in liquid passing through using a combination of the liquid's temperature and its density (measured with a hydrometer, not pictured). The Wash Stills at Laphroiag run for roughly 5.5 hours, producing low wines at ~35%.
Valve Knobs for the No. 3 Wash Still on the Laphroaig Distillery Spirit Safe.
Thermometer close up in the Spirit Safe at Laphroaig Distillery. The Stillman can determine the concentration of alcohol in liquid passing through the spirit safe using a combination of the liquid's temperature and its density (measured with a hydrometer, not pictured). Full colour photograph
Other Distilleries Near Laphroaig
There are presently nine distilleries on Islay, so you have another eight to visit should you wish to! Ardbeg and Lagavulin are the closest and within walking distance of Laphroaig, and Bowmore is a short drive or bus trip away. Caol Ila, Ardnahoe and Bunnahabhain are near Port Askaig and a good group of distilleries to visit together (and you get some stunning views of Jura - or even catch the ferry across the sound and visit Jura Distillery). Bruichladdich and Kilchoman also make an excellent pair.
Where To Stay Near Laphroaig Distillery
There are a small number of hotel options near Laphroaig, specifically in Port Ellen, one of the main towns on Islay, though you'll find the broadest accommodation selection via Airbnb. Port Ellen is easy to get around on foot, and there are several restaurants and cafes. There is also a supermarket and a post office, which makes it a convenient location for families or those reliant on public transport. Laphroaig Distillery is 1.8 miles/2.9 km from Port Ellen, and there is a wide asphalted footpath, should you wish to walk or cycle to the distillery.
The Trout Fly Guest House is conveniently located in the heart of Port Ellen, making it a great option if you're public transport dependent, or just not wanting to drive everywhere. It is a short walk to the ferry terminal, and several restaurants, including the newly refurbished Islay Hotel.
The family-run Glenegedale House is a beautifully appointed bed and breakfast that has won numerous awards for their hospitality, including the Most Hospitable B&B / Guesthouse for Visit Scotland Thistle Award 2019/20. Located near Glenegedale Airport and the Machrie Golf course, there are four bedrooms available, all with large comfortable beds made up with crisp white Egyptian cotton linens. Each room has an ensuite shower room. And if you follow their social media channels (as I do) you'll see that their meals (breakfast and dinner) look incredibly mouth watering. Glenegedale House would be our choice of accommodation if you have a car or plan to organise a taxi for tours.
References & Further Reading
One of Amanda's favourite books. Around 1885, Alfred Barnard was secretary of Harper's Weekly Gazette, a journal dedicated to the wine and spirit trade. In order to provide his readers with the history and descriptions of the whisky-making process, Barnard decided to visit all distilleries in Scotland, England and Ireland. Accompanied by friends, he visited and sketched over 150 distilleries. This is a wonderful step back in time and a must have book for a whisky history geek.
Whiskies Galore is not your average whisky book. It is not simply a catalogue of distilleries, but a story of discovery and adventure. Join Ian Buxton on a personal journey across Scotland's islands, combining his expert knowledge of whisky with his fondness for anecdote, as he provides a special treat for all who love Scotland's islands and their drams.
In Whisky Island, by Andrew Jefford, Islay's fascinating story is uncovered: from its history and stories of the many shipwrecks which litter its shores, to the beautiful wildlife, landscape and topography of the island revealed through intimate descriptions of the austerely beautiful and remote countryside. Interleaved through these different narrative strands comes the story of the whiskies themselves, traced from a distant past of bothies and illegal stills to present-day legality and prosperity. The flavour of each spirit is analysed and the differences between them teased out, as are the stories of the notable men and women who have played such a integral part in their creation.
Island Whisky Trail by Neil Wilson, features Bruichladdich, Bunnahabhain, Bowmore, Ardbeg, Caol Ila, Lagavulin, Laphroaig, Jura, Mull, Talisker and Oban. There is also a thorough look at the major role that women played in the history of illicit distilling in the County of Argyll with maps of known sites of distilling and appendices of the distillers and where and when they lived. I found it to be a very informative read.