Single Malt 15th Special Release 12YO (((Bottled 2015)))
⏳ Drinking Window
As a distilled spirit, this bottle does not mature further in glass and can be kept indefinitely if stored upright in a cool, dark place. Once opened, it is best enjoyed within 1 to 3 years to experience its full aromatic intensity.
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
Freshly shucked oysters, mature blue cheese, dark chocolate with sea salt
✨ Technical Specifications
The Lagavulin 12 Year Old Cask Strength is a celebrated annual highlight of Diageo's Special Releases, with the 2015 bottling marking the milestone 15th release in this highly coveted series. Unlike the distillery's flagship 16 Year Old, this expression is bottled at natural cask strength and matured exclusively in refill American oak casks. This minimalist wood treatment allows the raw, powerful character of the Lagavulin distillate to take center stage. The result is a dramatic sensory journey defined by intense, clean peat smoke, coastal sea spray, sharp lemon zest, and a sweet, malty core. The slow distillation in Lagavulin's signature pear-shaped stills, combined with years of maturation in warehouses open to the damp, salty breezes of Islay's south coast, infuses this spirit with an unmistakable maritime identity and a fiery, untamed elegance.
🍾 About the Producer
Perched on the rugged southern coastline of Islay, Lagavulin was officially established in 1816 by John Johnston, formalising centuries of illicit distilling along the sheltered cove beneath Dunyvaig Castle. Operating within an unforgiving maritime microclimate, the distillery draws peaty, mineral-rich process water from the upland Solum Lochs. Production relies on heavily peated barley and exceptionally deliberate methods: lengthy fermentations in larch washbacks precede distillation across four distinctive pear-shaped pot stills. Lagavulin famously executes one of the slowest double distillations in Scotland with wide middle cuts and high fill levels, maximizing copper interaction to sculpt a rich, oily spirit imbued with phenolic depth, smoked lapsang souchong, and iodine. Matured extensively in dunnage warehouses washed by sea spray, the resulting single malt balances pungent maritime brine and sweet oak tannins. Benchmark expressions include the iconic 16 Year Old, the cask-strength 12 Year Old annual releases, and sought-after mature parcels within Diageo's Prima & Ultima collection.