Lahroaig Flashcards
(14 cards)
What year was Laphroaig founded?
1815
Where is Laphroaig located?
On Islay, it is the furthest south and west of the Kildalton Trio.
What is Laphroaig’s water source?
The Kilbride stream (which flows from the Kilbride Dam).
Who owns Laphroaig?
Beam Suntory since 2005
What phenol level is Laphroaig barley Peated to?
Laphroaig’s in house malted barley is peated to between 50-60ppm and then is mixed with sourced malt peated at 45ppm before mashing.
On occasion Laphroaig has to source malt from the mainland that has a lower ppm than 45, they will peat their malt to 75-80ppm in these instances before mixing and mashing.
What is the fermentation length at Laphroaig?
Laphroaig used to have a fermentation time of 53 hours, but have recently increased this to 72 hours to increase ester profiles in the wash. (March 2023)
How many stills are there at Laphroaig, what kinds do they have and what is their capacity?
Laphroaig uses an unusual combination of 3 wash stills with a capacity of 10,400 litres each, One large spirit still (9,400 litres capacity) and 3 smaller spirit stills at 4,700 litres each. All stills are fitted with a descending line arm.
What is the protocol for cuts during distillation at Laphroaig?
Foreshots are very long at around 45 mins, the middle cut starts at 72% and goes down to 60%.
What size and type of Mashtun does Laphroaig use?
A 5.5 Ton stainless steel, full lauter Mash tun.
What kind and how many wash backs do Laphroaig use?
8 Stainless steel wash backs, two of them (both external) were added in March 2023 to increase length of fermentation from 53 -72 hours rather than to increase the capacity.
What is the Laphroaig Core Range including abv and cask maturation type?
Oak Select 40% abv (Oloroso sherry butts, first-fill ex-Bourbon quarter casks and Pedro Ximenez sherry hogsheads at different levels of maturation. Finished in virgin American oak).
10 year old 40% abv (Ex-Bourbon).
10 year cask strength 57.9% abv (Ex-Bourbon). 10 year Sherry Oak finish 48% abv (ex-bourbon until the final 12-18 months in oloroso casks).
Quarter Cask 48% abv (Ex-Bourbon and finished in Quarter casks).
Lore 48% abv (Ex-Bourbon, European oak and Oloroso sherry barrels, finished in quarter casks).
25 Year Cask Strength 47.3% abv (Ex-Bourbon cask)
Where does Laphroaig source its bourbon casks from?
Maker’s Mark in Kentucky.
Who is the woman who is said to have done more to grow Laphroig internationally than anyone else?
Bessie Williamson. Ian Hunter left the distillery to his secretary in 1954. She then spread the story of Laphroaig around the world.
What are the mashing waters at Laphroaig?
1st 37,000 liters @ 67C
2nd 16,000 liters @ 85C
3rd 32,000 liters @ 85C
