Laphroaig 25 Year Old Bessie Williamson Story

Laphroaig

One of the most legendary Islay distilleries, Laphroaig began producing more than 200 years ago in 1815. The most popular peated whisky in the world, Laphroaig sells approximately 4 million bottles a year, making it Islay’s biggest seller. The distillery has changed hands quite a number of times throughout its history, spending much of the 1800s and till the 1950s in the possession of the Johnston family. The legendary Bessie Williamsom would take over the distillery in 1954, making her the first female distillery manager. Ownership would pass through companies such as Long John international, Schenley, Allied Distillers and Whitbread before Fortune Brands, later Beam Inc, would purchase Laphroaig in 2005. In 2014 Suntory and Beam merged, meaning today the distillery is owned by Beam-Suntory. 
 
Known for its peaty and punchy style of single malt, Laphroaig whisky is one of the most peated styles of spirit produced on Islay. Laphroaig is one of very few distilleries left in Scotland who utilise their own maltings, with in house malted making up roughly 15% of annual production. The in house malt is peated to roughly 60ppm, and the remaining 85% is purchased from the Port Ellen maltings and is usually peated between 45 and 60ppm. Laphroaig has made use of nearly every cask type but particularly favours the classic bourbon and sherry styles. Their “Friends Of Laphroaig” program launched in 1994 and inspired the Cairdeas series, a limited yearly offering from the distillery intended to show something different than their classic core range. These releases have included everything from fino sherry to port casks.