Single Malt 16th Special Release 12YO Bottled
⏳ Drinking Window & Cellar Guidance
Ready to drink upon release, this high-proof single malt does not mature further in the bottle and can be preserved and enjoyed over several decades if stored upright and away from direct sunlight.
🍽️ Culinary Pairings
Fresh oysters, smoked salmon, mature blue cheese
✨ Technical Specifications
The Lagavulin 12 Year Old Cask Strength, bottled in 2016 as the 16th installment of Diageo's highly anticipated annual Special Releases, represents the raw, untamed spirit of Islay. Unlike the distillery's flagship 16-year-old, which leans into rich sherry cask influence, this limited-edition 12-year-old is matured exclusively in refill American oak casks. This wood selection allows the pure, distillate-driven character of Lagavulin to shine through with piercing clarity. Born on the windswept shores of Lagavulin Bay, where distillation has taken place since at least 1816, this expression captures the essence of the island's peat bogs and maritime climate. The slow distillation in pear-shaped stills yields a spirit of immense complexity, balancing intense, clean peat smoke with bright citrus, sea spray, and a subtle, oily sweetness that has made this annual release a legend among whisky collectors.
🍾 About the Producer
Officially established in 1816 by John Johnston, Lagavulin is situated on the windswept southern coast of the Isle of Islay, Scotland, overlooking the dramatic ruins of Dunyvaig Castle. Today owned by Diageo, the historic distillery is celebrated for its uncompromising dedication to traditional methods, utilising heavily peated malt and remarkably slow distillation in distinctive pear-shaped pot stills. This meticulous process yields an intensely rich, oily, and complex spirit that embodies the quintessential maritime character of southern Islay. Renowned for balancing ferocious peat smoke, brine, and medicinal notes with deep dried-fruit sweetness, Lagavulin achieves its definitive expression in its legendary 16 Year Old single malt.