🥃 Laphroaig 10 Year Old
The core ten-year-old Laphroaig, a peated single malt from Islay; 40% ABV according to Difford's Guide.
Laphroaig 10 Year Old is the core ten-year-old single malt whisky from Laphroaig on the Scottish island of Islay. According to the brand, it was created more than 75 years ago and became the basis of the rest of the range. It is a peated whisky with smoke, seaweed notes and a sweet finish; Difford's Guide lists 40% ABV.
Production. As the distillery explains, this is a single malt matured in ex-bourbon barrels and made much as it has been for a century. Laphroaig is one of the few distilleries that still malt some of their own barley; the malt is dried over local peat smoke. The age on the label refers to the youngest whisky in the bottle, and this version has no extra finish.
Why it matters to you. This version is a convenient starting point for getting to know the brand: it shows Laphroaig's core character of smoke, iodine, salt and a touch of sweetness. Compared with Quarter Cask, Select or Triple Wood, its maturation is simpler. Check the strength on the label. The WHO reminds us that there is no safe level of alcohol consumption.
Facts
| Year founded | Laphroaig distillery, 1815, Islay |
|---|---|
| Legal basis | Scotch Whisky Regulations 2009 (SI 2009/2890) (Single Malt Scotch Whisky) |
| EU category | 2 — whisky/whiskey |
| Raw material | barley malt dried over the smoke of Islay peat |
| Cask type | ex-bourbon barrels, according to the brand |
| Minimum maturation | 10 years (age of the youngest whisky) |
| Alcohol (% vol.) | 40% ABV (per Difford's Guide) |
How it connects to Spirits
🥃 Laphroaig 10 Year Old → packed in → 🍷 Oak barrel ← packed in ← 🥃 Spirits
Links
- Packed in
- 🍷 Oak barrel
- What it affects
- 🍷 Alcohol and health, 🍷 Drunk driving
- Part of
- 🥃 Laphroaig, 🥃 Single Malt Scotch Whisky
- Related to
- 🥃 Islay whisky
- Similar and different
- 🥃 Laphroaig Lore, 🥃 Laphroaig Quarter Cask, 🥃 Laphroaig Select, 🥃 Laphroaig Triple Wood, 🥃 Laphroaig Lore, 🥃 Laphroaig Quarter Cask, 🥃 Laphroaig Select, 🥃 Laphroaig Triple Wood, 🥃 Peated whisky, 🥃 Lagavulin, 🥃 Connemara 12 Year, 🥃 Connemara Original
Frequently asked questions
Is it true that the '10' in the name is the age of the whole whisky in the bottle?
Not quite: the number shows the age of the youngest whisky in the blend, so older components may also be in the bottle.
What is the strength of Laphroaig 10 Year Old?
Difford's Guide gives 40% ABV; always check the final figure against the label.
How does it differ from Quarter Cask?
Quarter Cask matures further in small American oak quarter casks after bourbon barrels, so it has a creamier, richer flavour.
What to read next
- 🥃 Laphroaig Lore — A Laphroaig line blended from single malt whiskies aged 7 to 21 years from casks of different types; the brand describes smoke, sea spray and bitter chocolate.
- 🍷 Alcohol and health — Alcohol in any drink is harmful in large amounts, and the risks grow with the quantity.
- 🍷 Oak barrel — A wooden barrel of oak staves in which wine matures and breathes.
- 🥃 Islay whisky — Protected locality of Scotch whisky: the name Islay may appear only on Scotch distilled on the island of Islay, which has 10 distilleries.
- 🥃 Lagavulin — Distillery and brand of peated single malt whisky on the island of Islay, founded in 1816; the flagship is the 16-year-old, 43% ABV; owned by Diageo.
Similar
🥃 Laphroaig Quarter Cask · 🥃 Laphroaig Select · 🥃 Laphroaig Triple Wood · 🥃 Laphroaig Lore · 🥃 Lagavulin 16 Year Old · 🥃 Caol Ila 18 Year Old
⚠️ Spirit drinks contain alcohol and are for adults only. Alcohol harms health. Do not drink during pregnancy or before driving; check the label for ingredients and possible allergens.
Sources
- Difford's Guide: Laphroaig 10 Year Old Islay Single Malt (entry-level bottling, 40 %, Islay, smoky style)
- Laphroaig: Laphroaig's Distinctive Whisky Range (10 Year Old, Sherry Oak, Select, Quarter Cask)
- Laphroaig: Differences between Laphroaig 10 and Quarter Cask (ex-bourbon barrels; American oak quarter casks)
- The Scotch Whisky Regulations 2009 (SI 2009/2890), reg. 3: Scotch Whisky and its categories (Scotland, oak up to 700 l, min. 3 years, min. 40 % ABV)
- Regulation (EU) 2019/787 on spirit drinks (OJ L 130, 17.5.2019), Annex I (whisky; liqueur)
- WHO/Europe: No level of alcohol consumption is safe for our health (04.01.2023)