Laphroaig

Laphroaig is a distillery whose malts are massively individual and utterly distinctive. The distillery was founded in 1810 by brothers Donald and Alexander Johnston on what was originally a family run farm in a small bay on the southernmost tip of Islay. Laphroaig’s unique flavour comes in part from its vicinity to the coast and the high moss content of its peat, which is processed in the distillery’s own floor maltings.

Until 1954, Laphroaig was owned by members of the Johnston family. In 1847, co-founder Donald Johnston died in dramatic circumstances - after falling into a scaulding kettle of burnt ale - and for the next decade Walter Graham, manager of neighbouring distillery Lagavulin, ran the company. Laphroaig returned to Johnston family hands in 1857 when Donald’s son Dugald gained ownership.

Recent owners have included Allied Domecq, who were proprietors from 1990 to 2005. Allied also included the distillery as one of the four single malt makers of Caledonian Malts. Laphroaig (pronounced ‘La-FROYg’) is currently run by the US company Fortune Brands Inc and from 2002 it has consistently been the best-selling Islay single malt whisky worldwide. Within those seven years sales have increased by 50%.

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About Laphroaig Whisky Distillery

Distillery Number

01496 302418

Distillery Founded

1810

Distillery Capacity

2 700 000 litres

Distillery Status

Active

Distillery Owner

Beam Global

Distillery Address

Near Port Ellen, Islay, Argyll

Distillery Website

www.laphroaig.com

1810

Brothers Alexander and Donald Johnston found Laphroaig.

1815

Official year of starting.

1836

Donald buys out Alexander and takes over operations.

1837

James and Andrew Gairdner found Ardenistiel a stone’s throw from Laphroaig.

1847

Donald Johnston is killed in an accident in the distillery when he falls into a kettle of boiling hot burnt ale. The Manager of neigh-bouring Lagavulin, Walter Graham, takes over.

1857

Operation is back in the hands of the Johnston family when Donald’s son Dugald takes over.

1877

Dugald, being without heirs, passes away and his sister Isabella, married to their cousin Alexander takes over.

1907

Alexander Johnston dies and the distillery is inherited by his two sisters Catherine Johnston and Mrs. William Hunter (Isabella Johnston).

1908

Ian Hunter arrives in Islay to assist his mother and aunt with the distillery.

1923

The two stills are increased to four.

1927

Catherine Johnston dies and Ian Hunter takes over.

1928

Isabella Johnston dies and Ian Hunter becomes sole owner.

1950

Ian Hunter forms D. Johnston & Company

1954

Ian Hunter passes away and management of the distillery is taken over by Elisabeth “Bessie” Williamson, who was previously Ian Hunters PA and secretary. She becomes Director of the Board and Managing Director.

1967

Seager Evans & Company buys the distillery through Long John Distillery, having already acquired part of Laphroaig in 1962.

1968

The number of stills is increased from four to six.

1972

Bessie Williamson retires. Another spirit still is installed bringing the total to seven.

1975

Whitbread & Co. buys Seager Evans (now renamed Long John International) from Schenley International.

1989

The spirits division of Whitbread is sold to Allied Distillers.

1991

Allied Distillers launches Caledonian Malts. Laphroaig is one of the four malts included.