Laphroaig
The whisky of peat smoke, iodine, and sea breeze that you either love or hate. Everything about its taste, varieties, how to drink it, and the glass to serve it in.
Islay’s boldest whisky
Laphroaig (pronounced: la-frojg) is a single malt whisky from the Scottish island of Islay, made since 1815 at a distillery by the sea near Port Ellen. The name means something like “the beautiful hollow by the broad bay.” Laphroaig still malts some of its barley itself and dries it over peat fires, giving the whisky its intense smoky flavor.
The result is a whisky unlike any other: peat smoke, iodine, tar, seaweed, and salt, with a surprising sweetness underneath. Laphroaig calls itself “the most richly flavored Scotch whisky in the world” and has held the Royal Warrant of Charles, then still Prince of Wales, since 1994. The brand is part of Beam Suntory.
In brief
What kinds of Laphroaig are there?
Laphroaig 10 Years
The icon. Ten years in ex-bourbon casks: peat smoke, iodine, seaweed, and a sweet, vanilla-like undertone.
Laphroaig Quarter Cask
Finishing in small quarter casks adds more oak, vanilla and coconut alongside the smoke. Bolder and fuller than the 10.
Laphroaig Select
A mix of five cask types, including sherry and new American oak. The smoothest, most approachable Laphroaig.
Laphroaig Lore
A blend of whiskies of different ages and from different casks, including oloroso sherry casks. Rich, smoky and with an almost endlessly long finish.
Laphroaig 10 Sherry Oak
The 10 Years finished in oloroso sherry casks. Dried fruit and toffee alongside the smoke.
Laphroaig 10 Cask Strength
The 10 Years undiluted, at cask strength. Intense, oily and explosively smoky. Dilute to taste with water.
Start with the 10 Years; if you find it too intense, Select is smoother.
Peat smoke, iodine and salt, with sweet vanilla underneath
Smoke & sea
Peat smoke, iodine, tar and seaweed, as if you're standing on the beach by the distillery. Beneath it, vanilla and a hint of sweetness.
Oily and full-bodied
Thick and rounded, with smoke, salt and pepper, and a surprising sweetness from bourbon casks. More vanilla and coconut in the Quarter Cask.
Long and smoky
The smoke lingers for minutes, with salt, licorice and a dry, medicinal note.
Flavor profile of Laphroaig 10 Years. Select is smoother, while Cask Strength is more intense and powerful.
Three ways to drink Laphroaig
Drink Laphroaig neat, at room temperature, from a glass that concentrates the aromas. A drop of water opens it up; ice closes it down.
Neat, with a drop of water
Pour 30 ml into a tulip-shaped tasting glass and let it sit for a few minutes. Then add a few drops of water: the smoke softens and the sweet vanilla comes through.
Glass: tasting glass →On the rocks
You can, but go easy: one large ice cube in a tumbler chills the whisky without diluting it too quickly. The ice softens the smoke, which some people actually prefer.
Glass: tumbler →Penicillin
50 ml blended Scotch, 20 ml lemon juice, 20 ml honey-ginger syrup, shaken, then topped with 10 ml Laphroaig as a smoky 'float'. The modern classic with Islay whisky.
To the recipe →Cocktails with Laphroaig
A splash of Laphroaig adds a smoky layer to any cocktail. It works best in these classics.
Penicillin
Blended Scotch, lemon, honey and ginger, topped with a float of Islay whisky. Smoky and warming.
Smoky Old Fashioned
The classic Old Fashioned with Laphroaig instead of bourbon. For those who love smoke.
Hot Toddy
Hot water, honey, lemon and whisky. Laphroaig gives it a smoky, almost medicinal note.
Whisky cocktails
All the whisky cocktails in one place, from Whiskey Sour to Rusty Nail.The right glass for Laphroaig
A tulip-shaped tasting glass to separate the smoke from the sweetness, or a heavy tumbler for on the rocks and an Old Fashioned. These are the glasses we recommend ourselves.
Everything you wanted to know about Laphroaig
Can't find your question? Browse our cocktail recipes or get in touch.
To the cocktail recipes →What percentage alcohol is in Laphroaig?
How do you pronounce Laphroaig?
Why does Laphroaig taste like smoke and a hospital?
What's the difference between Laphroaig 10 and Quarter Cask?
Is Laphroaig suitable for beginners?
Which Laphroaig is best as a gift?
Buy Laphroaig
Want the bottle delivered straight to your door? Order Laphroaig online from Gall & Gall. Gall & Gall has 7.
Prices as of November 3, 2026, as reported by Gall & Gall. You can see the current price and stock at Gall & Gall. Glazen.nl receives a small commission if you buy something through these links; you pay nothing extra. No under 18, no alcohol.
