Country of Origin: Scotland
Style: Islay Peated Single Malt Scotch Whisky
ABV: 40%
Bottle Size: 70cl

Description

Laphroaig 10-Year-Old Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky is one of Scotland’s most distinctive and uncompromising whiskies — famous for its powerful peat smoke, maritime character, and unmistakable Islay personality.

Founded in 1815 by brothers Donald and Alexander Johnston, Laphroaig was born on the rugged south coast of the Isle of Islay. Originally connected to farming, the Johnston brothers discovered that transforming barley into whisky created something far more valuable — beginning a legacy that continues more than two centuries later.

The name Laphroaig is often translated as “the beautiful hollow by the broad bay”, reflecting its dramatic coastal location. The distillery’s character is shaped by Islay’s natural environment — peat bogs, Atlantic sea air, and the soft waters of the Kilbride Stream.

The classic 10-Year-Old expression owes much of its identity to Ian Hunter, who led the distillery during the early 20th century. Hunter helped define the Laphroaig style, championing maturation in American oak ex-bourbon barrels to balance the whisky’s intense peat smoke with sweeter notes of vanilla, coconut, and oak.

Laphroaig’s bold flavour also created one of whisky’s most unusual stories during American Prohibition, when its powerful medicinal aromas allowed it to maintain a presence in the United States as a medicinal spirit.

The distillery’s history was further shaped by Bessie Williamson, who took over management in the 1950s and became one of the most influential women in Scotch whisky history. Her dedication helped preserve Laphroaig’s traditional methods while introducing the whisky to a wider global audience.

Awarded a Royal Warrant by the then Prince of Wales in 1994, Laphroaig remains a whisky loved for refusing to compromise — intense, smoky, and proudly different.

Tasting Notes

Nose: Powerful peat smoke, seaweed, coastal air, vanilla sweetness, oak, and distinctive medicinal notes.

Palate: Full-bodied and smoky with layers of peat, charred oak, iodine character, sweet malt, vanilla, and warming spice.

Finish: Long, intense, and memorable with lingering smoke, sea salt, oak, and Islay peat.

Perfect Serve

Best enjoyed:
• Neat to experience its full Islay character
• With a few drops of water to open the smoke and sweetness
• Alongside rich foods such as smoked meats or strong cheeses
• As an introduction to classic heavily peated whisky