Single Malt 16 Years Old
⏳ Drinking Window
As a distilled spirit, it is bottled at its peak maturity and does not age further in glass. It can be enjoyed immediately upon release and will remain stable indefinitely if stored upright in a cool, dark place.
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
blue cheese, smoked salmon, dark chocolate
✨ Technical Specifications
Lagavulin 16 Year Old is the quintessential Islay single malt, celebrated worldwide for its intense peat smoke, maritime character, and deep, dried-fruit sweetness. Established in 1816 on the rugged southern coast of Islay, the distillery utilizes an exceptionally slow distillation process in pear-shaped stills, which maximizes copper contact and imparts a rich, oily texture to the spirit. Aged for sixteen long years in oak casks, this expression absorbs the salty sea air of Lagavulin Bay, resulting in a complex profile where medicinal peat smoke harmonizes beautifully with rich sherry notes, vanilla, and a warming, spicy finish.
🍾 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.