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Laphroaig is one of the most strongly flavoured of all Scotch whiskies, and is most frequently aged to 10 years, although the 15 and 18-year-old varieties are common. The company describes their whisky as the most distinctive of [[Scotch whisky]].

The ''Laphroaig Quarter Cask'' was introduced in 2004.  This expression is aged in smaller casks and is not chill filtered. The Quarter Cask Single Malt is inspired by the whiskies that were produced 200 years ago. Due to the smaller barrels used, the oak surface contact is 30% greater than with standard barrels. Quarter casks were preferred in the 18th century, when smuggling was rife, as the smaller barrels were easier for mules — a favoured means of cross-land transportation — to carry. The Quarter Cask is bottled at 48% ABV (96 proof), or 20% stronger than the minimum of 40%.

==History==
The Laphroaig distillery was established in 1815 by Donald  and Alexander Johnston. The Johnstons who founded Laphroaig were from the Clan Donald and are likely to be from the MacIain of Ardnamurchan branch of the clan. The family anglicized their name to Johnston.

Their descendants ran the distillery until 1887, when it passed to the Hunter family. They in turn ran the distillery until 1954, when Ian Hunter (who had no children) died and left the distillery to one of his managers, Bessie Williamson.

The distillery was sold to Long John International in the 1960s, and subsequently became part of Allied Domecq. The brand was in turn acquired by Fortune Brands in 2005, as one of the brands divested by Pernod Ricard in order to obtain regulatory approval for its takeover of Allied Domecq. Fortune Brands then split up its business product lines in 2011, forming its spirits business into Beam Inc.

Laphroaig has been the only whisky to carry the Royal Warrant of the Prince of Wales, which was awarded in person during a visit to the distillery in 1994. The 15-year-old is reportedly the prince's favourite Scotch whisky.