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The smoky legend of Islay
For over two centuries, Laphroaig has stood as one of the most powerful and distinctive expressions of Scotch whisky. On the southern coast of Islay, the distillery crafts peated single malts with an unmistakable character, known for their aromatic intensity and unwavering commitment to island tradition.
A distinct identity
Islay, an emblematic island off Scotland’s west coast, is renowned for whiskies shaped by smoke and sea air. Within this landscape, Laphroaig holds a unique position. Intense peat, coastal salt spray, notes of burnt wood and seaweed: its pronounced aromatic profile reflects a deep connection to the raw maritime environment. A bold expression of a wild, windswept terroir.
Far removed from conventional profiles, Laphroaig nurtures a taste signature that remains true to traditional techniques, carefully preserved and passed down through generations.
For over two centuries, Laphroaig has stood as one of the most powerful and distinctive expressions of Scotch whisky. On the southern coast of Islay, the distillery crafts peated single malts with an unmistakable character, known for their aromatic intensity and unwavering commitment to island tradition.
A distinct identity
Islay, an emblematic island off Scotland’s west coast, is renowned for whiskies shaped by smoke and sea air. Within this landscape, Laphroaig holds a unique position. Intense peat, coastal salt spray, notes of burnt wood and seaweed: its pronounced aromatic profile reflects a deep connection to the raw maritime environment. A bold expression of a wild, windswept terroir.
Far removed from conventional profiles, Laphroaig nurtures a taste signature that remains true to traditional techniques, carefully preserved and passed down through generations.
A new visual identity, true to the spirit of Laphroaig
Marking a new chapter in its history, the distillery unveils a refined design that is more minimalist, more legible, and more sustainable. The updated labels highlight key information while reaffirming the island provenance of Islay. All within an eco-conscious approach, with lighter, more easily recyclable packaging.
A new visual identity, true to the spirit of Laphroaig
Marking a new chapter in its history, the distillery unveils a refined design that is more minimalist, more legible, and more sustainable. The updated labels highlight key information while reaffirming the island provenance of Islay. All within an eco-conscious approach, with lighter, more easily recyclable packaging.
The signature range
Beyond the renowned Laphroaig 10 Year Old, often seen as a benchmark for peated whisky, lies a broad array of complementary expressions.
The Cask Strength 10 Year Old offers a more concentrated, undiluted experience, revealing the full depth of Laphroaig’s powerful peat. The Quarter Cask expression, matured in smaller bourbon barrels, brings a balance of soft vanilla notes, bold smoke, and structured oak.
Each bottling explores a distinct facet of Laphroaig’s style, shaped by precise blending and a raw expression of place — one forged by sea, wind, and peat.
Laphroaig & Islay: origins of a myth
Since 1815, Laphroaig Distillery has carried forward an island-born legacy shaped by peat, brine and sea spray. Nestled on Islay’s southern coast, it stands as a singular reference among Scotland’s iconic single malts, defined by its bold character and the richness imparted by distinctive cask maturations.
Yet behind the legendary name lies a lineage of visionary figures. Chief among them, Ian Hunter remains the most influential. As the final Johnston family member to oversee the distillery founded by his ancestors, Hunter was also its most daring architect. In the early 20th century, he propelled Laphroaig into a new era. An explorer of both flavour and opportunity, he was among the first to introduce single malt to the United States—decades before the category gained true recognition beyond the Highlands. His instinctive grasp of aromatic structure, paired with a keen understanding of global markets, helped position Laphroaig as a torchbearer for peated Scotch at its most intense and intricate. He was also the first to systematically import ex-bourbon casks from Kentucky, a decision that would shape the distillery’s house style for generations. His personal journal, still preserved, chronicles an unrelenting pursuit of precision and invention, where science meets sensory intuition.
After him, other influential voices furthered his vision. Bessie Williamson, the first woman to manage a Scotch distillery, left an indelible mark in the post-war period. A protégé and successor to Hunter, she guided Laphroaig with both strength and nuance, continuing its journey from Islay icon to global ambassador of peated whisky. More recently, figures such as John Campbell have preserved the spirit of Laphroaig while embracing modern demands for transparency, raw material traceability and refined complexity.
It is within this legacy of mastery that the Elements of Islay range finds its place. Conceived as a sensory atlas of the island, the series maps Islay’s diverse flavour landscapes—ranging from robust smoke and maritime minerality to creamy textures and cask-born richness. Each expression, labelled with codes reminiscent of chemical symbols, unveils a distinct facet of the island’s identity. Some convey the sharp, smoky tension of the south; others reflect the herbal roundness or roasted depth of the north. The range is composed through meticulous small-batch blending, largely non-chill filtered, enhancing the natural texture and complexity of Islay malts. Far from anecdotal, each bottle in this series is crafted as an essential note in the grand composition of peated Scotch.