Ardbeg vs Laphroaig
Founded in the same year, a mile apart on the same stretch of coast, and both heavily peated — yet they are made in noticeably different ways.
Side by side
| Ardbeg | Laphroaig | |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 1815 | 1815 |
| Location | Kildalton coast, east of Port Ellen | Kildalton coast, east of Port Ellen |
| Owner | The Glenmorangie Company (LVMH) | Beam Suntory |
| Stated malt peating | Around 55 ppm phenols | Around 40–45 ppm phenols |
| Malting | Buys in malt from commercial maltings | Operates its own floor maltings and cuts peat from its own beds |
| Core expression | Ardbeg 10 Year Old | Laphroaig 10 Year Old |
| Maturation emphasis | Predominantly ex-bourbon casks in the core range | Predominantly ex-bourbon, including quarter casks in the wider range |
| Visitor centre | Yes | Yes, including maltings visits |
What the differences mean
On paper Ardbeg's malt carries the higher phenol specification, but the two whiskies are not simply more and less smoky versions of each other. Laphroaig still malts a portion of its own barley over peat cut from beds close to the distillery, and that peat — with a high proportion of moss and sphagnum — is the usual explanation given for its distinctive medicinal, iodine-like character.
Ardbeg buys commercially malted barley at a higher specification and uses a purifier on its spirit still, which returns heavier vapours to the still for redistillation. The result is a spirit that carries its smoke with a lighter, more citric body.
Visiting both
They are close enough to combine easily: Ardbeg is around a mile further along the coast road from Laphroaig, with Lagavulin between them. Booking two tours in one day here is comfortable — see how to group your days and current tour prices.
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Whisky Deals & Distillery Specials