Lagavulin vs Laphroaig
Barely a mile of coast separates them, and both are heavily peated — but the published production facts point to two quite different approaches.
Side by side
| Lagavulin | Laphroaig | |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 1816 | 1815 |
| Location | Lagavulin Bay, south coast | Port Ellen, south coast |
| Owner | Diageo | Beam Suntory |
| Stated malt peating | Around 35 ppm phenols | Around 40–45 ppm phenols |
| Malting | Buys in malt; formerly supplied by Port Ellen Maltings | Operates its own floor maltings alongside bought-in malt |
| Core expression | Lagavulin 16 Year Old | Laphroaig 10 Year Old |
| Distillation | Long fermentation and notably slow distillation | Tall and short stills used together, with a distinctive spirit cut |
| Visitor centre | Yes | Yes, including maltings visits |
What the differences mean
Lagavulin's malt carries a lower stated phenol specification than Laphroaig's, yet its flagship is rarely described as the lighter of the two. The distillery is known for unusually long fermentations and slow distillation, and its best known bottling carries sixteen years of maturation — both of which round the smoke out rather than sharpen it.
Laphroaig's core bottling is released at ten years and leans on its own floor-malted, locally cut peat. Age policy alone accounts for much of the difference people notice between the two standard expressions.
Visiting both
The two distilleries are close enough to walk between along the coast, and Ardbeg is a short further drive east. See planning your days and the Islay whisky map.
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Whisky Deals & Distillery Specials