peaty malty
4.3
(26)
€120Scotland, Islay, Single Malt

Flavours

Whisky character

Fresh
Warm
Mild
Full
Smooth
Spicy

Taste mentions

Facts

Lagavulin sits between Ardbeg and Laphroaig on Islay's south coast, where peat and sea air shape every cask. The distillery runs some of the island's longest still times, often exceeding nine hours on the second pass. That slow work rounds the edges without dulling the smoke. This annual cask-strength release turns the dial up on the house style. Peat smoke hits first, then brine, lemon, and a thread of honey and vanilla. Medicinal iodine notes flicker beneath the ash and oak. It reads malty and sweet at the edges, smoky at the core. Pour it neat and let the heat settle before the layers unfold.

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ShopType Price
Drankdozijn
Drankdozijn
700mlOut of stock
€119.95
700mlOut of stock
€144.95

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About the distillery

Distillery

Lagavulin

Lagavulin is a Scottish whisky distillery that was founded in 1816 on the Isle of Islay. The distillery is known for producing a rich, peaty single malt whisky that has become one of the most highly regarded whiskies in the world. Lagavulin produces its whisky using traditional methods, including using copper pot stills, peating the barley to give the whisky its signature smoky flavor, and aging the spirit in oak casks. The distillery offers a range of whisky blends, including the Lagavulin 16 Year Old, Lagavulin Distillers Edition, and the Lagavulin 8 Year Old. One interesting fact about Lagavulin is that the distillery has a long history of producing whisky, and the techniques used in its whisky-making process have changed little since the distillery was first founded nearly 200 years ago. The distillery is also renowned for the quality of its casks, which are carefully selected to ensure that the whisky develops a rich, complex flavor over time.

3.9Average rating

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About the Lagavulin 12 years

Lagavulin 12 years is a cask-strength single malt Scotch whisky from Islay in Scotland. Lagavulin makes it on the shore of Lagavulin Bay, between Ardbeg and Laphroaig on the island's south coast. This annual Special Release bottling shows the distillery's peaty character at full strength. Bottled at natural cask strength, it delivers the raw power peat fans hunt for each year. It is matured in new oak and bottled without dilution for collectors and peat lovers alike. John Johnston founded the distillery in 1816, though illicit stills likely ran here long before that date. Diageo now owns Lagavulin and has released this cask-strength twelve-year-old almost every year since 2002. The programme began when demand for the famous sixteen-year-old regularly outpaced supply. Four stills work slowly here, with second distillations running longer than nine hours on Islay. That patience adds roundness to the famously intense coastal smoke. Peat smoke and brine arrive first, giving way to butterscotch, honey, and vanilla sweetness. Fresh fruit and lemon add citrus brightness against medicinal iodine and a faint ash note. White pepper and seaweed carry the coastal setting deep into the finish. Ashy oak frames a malty core that stays smoky throughout each sip. The sweetness never fully hides the fire; it simply gives the smoke somewhere to land. Compared with the softer, sherried sixteen-year-old, Lagavulin 12 years feels more direct and muscular on the tongue. It suits drinkers who already love bold Islay single malts and want raw intensity. Enjoy it neat to feel the full weight of peat smoke, brine, and oak. A single drop of water can open citrus and honey notes if you prefer a gentler read.