Laphroaig 18 year old Islay Single Malt Whisky 48%

Eighteen years is a long time to sit still in a warehouse on the edge of the Atlantic. The tide has rolled in and out along Islay's south coast more than 12,000 times while the casks lay in the dark and let the smoke settle. It never left. It just made some new friends.

Expert's Description

Laphroaig 18 Year Old is an Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured for 18 years in ex-bourbon American oak barrels and bottled at 48%.

This bottle has had a bumpy ride. It first appeared in 2009, replacing the old 15 Year Old that the then Prince Charles was famously fond of. Around 2015 Laphroaig simply ran short of old enough stock, and the 18 was quietly pulled from the range. Collectors cleared the shelves of whatever was left. Almost ten years later it came back, now in a white carton with Distillery Manager Barry MacAffer's signature on the back.

It all starts on Laphroaig's own malting floor, where part of the barley is still turned by hand and dried over fires of Islay peat. The spirit is double distilled and filled into barrels that once held American bourbon. Then it stays put. No sherry, no finish, no detours. The same kind of cask from the first day to the last.

The cask explains most of what's in the glass. American oak pulls out vanilla, honey and ripe fruit and takes the edge off the peat, so it no longer kicks the door in the way it does in the 10 Year Old. Laphroaig's own words on the box promise sweetness, gooseberry and apple, leather, seaweed and intense peat. It's unmistakably Laphroaig. Just a more patient one.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Sweet peat smoke, like a campfire burning down to embers, with soft vanilla and toffee underneath. Gooseberry, freshly cut leather and seaweed left to dry in the sun on the beach.

Palate

Full and slightly oily. Cinnamon and warm apple tart arrive first, followed by orange, honey and ginger. Tobacco and smoke sit underneath as a foundation rather than a lid.

Finish

Long. The fruit lingers, then fresh mint and a woody, spicy peat smoke with a faintly salty edge that hangs around for quite a while.

Specifications

Name: Laphroaig 18 Year Old
Distillery: Laphroaig
Region/Country: Islay, Scotland
Type: Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 18 years
ABV: 48%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Ex-bourbon American oak barrels
Distillation method: Double distilled
EAN no.: 5010019001061

Flavour Profile

Smoky · Peaty · Vanilla · Fruity · Maritime · Herbal

Did You Know?

When Bessie Williamson arrived at Laphroaig in 1932, it was as temporary help in the office. She never left. She inherited the distillery from its owner Ian Hunter in 1954 and went on to run it herself, and she is widely regarded as the first woman in the 20th century to manage a Scotch whisky distillery.

See our full range of Laphroaig

Listen to our podcast:

Frequently Asked Questions about Laphroaig 18 Year Old

Is Laphroaig 18 Year Old worth it?

Yes, if you like smoke but want more than just smoke. You get 18 years in oak, 48% ABV and one of the most distinctive distilleries on Islay. It was withdrawn in the first place because old stock was hard to come by, so this isn't a whisky that gets made easily. The new release took Gold at the International Wine and Spirit Competition in 2025.

What's the difference between Laphroaig 18 Year Old and Laphroaig 10 Year Old?

The peat is the same, but the 18 has spent eight more years in cask. The 10 is sharp and medicinal with the smoke right up front. In the 18 the smoke has stepped back a little, leaving room for vanilla, ripe fruit and honey.

Is the new Laphroaig 18 Year Old the same as the old one?

It's close, but it's a new release. Age, strength and cask type are unchanged: 18 years in ex-bourbon barrels, bottled at 48%. The old version came in a white tin, the new one in a rectangular carton, and the whisky inside was of course filled into cask many years after the original edition.

How should you drink Laphroaig 18 Year Old?

Neat, in a tulip-shaped glass, and give it a few minutes to breathe. A few drops of water can bring out more fruit and vanilla, so try it both ways. Ice dulls many of the aromas built up over 18 years. If you need the right glass, have a look at our whisky glasses.

What food goes with Laphroaig 18 Year Old?

Smoked fish and shellfish are the obvious match, as the seaweed and smoke in the glass meet the smoke on the plate. Smoked salmon, grilled scallops and oysters all work well. For dessert, try dark chocolate or a mature blue cheese, where the sweetness from the bourbon casks has something to push against.

Is Laphroaig 18 Year Old a good gift?

Yes, especially for someone who already enjoys Laphroaig 10 Year Old and wants to take the next step. It comes in a gift box, and the age statement makes it an easy choice for an 18th birthday or an anniversary. Unopened, stored upright and away from light and heat, it will keep for many years.

Where is the Laphroaig distillery?

Laphroaig sits on the south coast of Islay, just outside Port Ellen and not far from Lagavulin and Ardbeg. It was founded in 1815 by the brothers Donald and Alexander Johnston and is owned today by Suntory Global Spirits. Explore more smoky classics from the island in our Islay Whisky range.