Laphroaig 
Established in 1815, Laphroaig is now owned by Beam Suntory and shared its 200th anniversary with Ardbeg in 2015. The distillery produces 3,200,000 litres each year. It has four wash stills and three spirit stills. It makes 15% of its own malted barley, the remaining 85% coming from Port Ellen maltings. Although the specifications are the same, the malted barley produced on site may be less consistent and so barley from the two sources are mixed for each mash. The distillery uses one ton of peat for each seven tons of grain.
The distillery can be found on the south coast of Islay and is the nearest to Port Ellen. The visitor centre is impressive and includes a whisky museum and a new lounge. There is no cafe but free vending drinks are available. The Friends of Laphroaig scheme encourages you to sign up whence you will be allocated a square foot plot of land that you can visit. Laphroaig will pay you rental each year of a Laphroaig 10 miniature.
There is inside and outside seating and the views out across the sea are excellent.
Distillers Wares £90
The Distillers Wares is a 2½ hour tour and tasting and comprises a production tour with more detailed description of the processes involved, followed by tastings in Warehouse 4 and an opportunity to bottle 20cl of your favourite. The whiskies were
Single cask 2022 filled 2016, 7 year old 59% full maturation in European virgin oak. Matured in Warehouse No 8.
Single cask 4751 filled 2016, 7 year old 58.4% full maturation in first fill Bourbon cask. Matured in Warehouse No 8.
Single cask 904 filled 2017, 6 years old 59.1% full maturation in Fino cask. Matured in rack Warehouse No 10A.
Purchases
