Single Malt 16 Special Release 12YO (((Bottled 2016)))
⏳ Drinking Window
As a high-proof single malt Scotch whisky, it will remain pristine indefinitely if stored unopened away from direct sunlight; once opened, it is best enjoyed within 1 to 3 years.
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
Blue cheese, smoked oysters, dark chocolate
✨ Technical Specifications
Nestled on the rocky southern coast of Islay, Lagavulin is legendary for its slow, deliberate distillation process in pear-shaped stills, which coaxes out a deeply complex, oily, and heavily peated spirit. The 12 Year Old Special Release, bottled in 2016 as part of Diageo's annual series, is a celebrated departure from the flagship 16-year-old. Matured exclusively in refill American oak casks and bottled at natural cask strength, this expression strips away any heavy sherry influence to showcase the raw, elemental power of Lagavulin. It sings of maritime brine, intense peat smoke, clean citrus, and green apple notes, capturing the wild, windswept essence of Lagavulin Bay.
🍾 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.