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Strong Characters Chapter 2
has arrived
Published 20th August 2026 · 3 min read
Strong Characters Chapter 2 joins Chapter 1 in our series honouring the individuals who shaped Laphroaig’s history - and is now available to buy on Laphroaig.com in our current shipping markets. Availability in Germany will follow in September.
The story began with Donald Johnston, who co-founded Laphroaig with his brother Alexander in 1815 and helped establish the distinctive character of our Islay single malt. We honoured his legacy with Strong Characters Chapter 1.
Now, the story continues with his son, Dugald Johnston - honoured in Strong Characters Chapter 2, a rare 35 Year Old Laphroaig.
The Legacy Dugald Carried Forward
In 1847, an 11-year-old Dugald Johnston inherited responsibility for Laphroaig following the sudden death of his father, Donald.
For the next ten years, Walter Graham - a distiller at a neighbouring distillery - managed the business. Under his guidance, Dugald learned the craft of both distilling and farming, preparing him for the responsibility that lay ahead. In 1857, on his 21st birthday, Dugald formally took the lease of Laphroaig.
What followed was two decades of steady, careful growth. By 1871, Dugald had more than doubled the distillery’s output while remaining true to Laphroaig’s distinctive character. His patient, steadfast approach helped shape the distillery for generations to come.
Strong Characters Chapter 2 reflects that same patience and resolve.
35 Years In The Making
This rare 35 Year Old Islay single malt has spent thirty-five years in American white oak ex-bourbon barrels, transforming Laphroaig’s signature peat smoke into something remarkably creamy and complex.
Sweet pastry and bright fruit give way to warming spice, gentle smoke and delicate peat, with the long maturation bringing depth and balance while preserving the bold character at the heart of Laphroaig.
