What Distillery Is SMWS Code 29? Laphroaig — All Bottlings & Tasting Notes
SMWS Code 29 = Laphroaig
SMWS code 29 is Laphroaig — the famous heavily peated single malt distillery on the south coast of Islay, Scotland. Laphroaig is one of the Scotch Malt Whisky Society's most prolific sources, with hundreds of casks released over more than four decades of bottling.
In the SMWS system, the number 29 identifies Laphroaig as a distillery. The number after the decimal point tells you which cask: SMWS 29.1 was the first Laphroaig cask ever bottled by the Society, and the numbers have been climbing ever since. A bottle labelled SMWS 29.345 means the 345th individual cask of Laphroaig the Society has released.
About Laphroaig (SMWS Code 29)
Laphroaig (pronounced "la-FROYG") is located at Port Ellen on Islay's southern shore. Founded in 1815, it is famous for its intensely peated, medicinal style — iodine, TCP, seaweed, bonfire smoke, and a briny maritime character that divides opinion sharply. You either love it or you don't. SMWS members who seek out code 29 tend to love it deeply.
Distillery facts:
- Location: Port Ellen, Islay, Scotland
- Region: Islay
- Founded: 1815
- Style: Heavily Peated
- SMWS Flavour Profiles most common: Heavily Peated, Oily & Coastal, Peated
Laphroaig is unusual in that it still uses traditional floor maltings — malting a portion of its own barley over peat fires — giving it a distinctive character that comes directly from the distillery's own process, not just the local peat.
What to Expect from SMWS 29 Bottlings
SMWS Laphroaig releases vary considerably by cask type and age, but common themes include:
- Nose: Iodine, seaweed, TCP, smoked fish, bonfire ash, often with vanilla or citrus lurking underneath
- Palate: Intense peat smoke, medicinal notes, sea salt, pepper, sometimes sweetened by bourbon cask influence
- Finish: Very long, with lingering peat smoke, dried seaweed, and a warming glow
Older SMWS 29 expressions (15+ years) often see the smoke integrate more, with waxy, fruity notes emerging. Younger casks are raw and assertive. Sherry-matured code 29 bottlings can show remarkable dried fruit depth behind the smoke.
How to Find SMWS Code 29 Bottlings
Use the SMWS code 29 page to see all Laphroaig bottlings in our collection, including any with published tasting reviews.
To look up any other SMWS distillery code, use the complete SMWS code reference — covering all 165+ single malt codes plus grain whisky, bourbon, rum, and more.