Laphroaig Distillery

Located on the picturesque island of Islay, off the west coast of Scotland, Laphroaig Distillery stands as a testament to the time-honoured tradition of whisky production. Founded in 1815, this historic distillery has been crafting its renowned single malt Scotch whisky for over two centuries, drawing on the island's rich peat, crisp spring water, and seaweed-laden sea air to create its distinctive and revered flavour.

I visited Islay on the sailboat ‘Storm Dancer’ in April 2010 and spent an afternoon with my fellow sailors as we walked from the quay past some horny sheep and finally made it to the distillery. I can’t recall the name of the distillery guide at the time, but the trip was memorable for all of us. Since it was April, we were there alone and got access to some quite special places around the distillery. I’ve chosen to show these images in black and white as it conjures the overall mood and the sense of place and to try and conjure the peaty fug that we delightfully endured within the malting floor. The malting process involves drying the germinated grains of barley over a peat fire, which gives the whisky its distinctive smoky flavour. Peating the fire is a skill of the maltster, who knows the required amount of peat to be burned. The distillery dates to the early 19th century and has all the character you would expect - damp walls, peeling paint, old peat fireboxes, and ‘stuff’ lying around that seems to have been there for decades. Enjoy and …. Slainte Mhath!