Single Malt 17th Special Release 12YO (((Bottled 2017)))
⏳ Drinking Window
As a high-strength single malt whisky, this bottle does not improve with age once packaged, but it will remain in pristine condition indefinitely when stored upright and away from direct sunlight.
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
blue cheese, smoked oysters, dark chocolate
✨ Technical Specifications
The Lagavulin 12 Year Old Special Release, bottled in 2017, represents the 17th installment of this highly anticipated annual cask-strength bottling from Diageo. Unlike the flagship 16 Year Old, which is known for its rich sherry-cask influence, the 12 Year Old Special Release is matured exclusively in refill American oak casks. This choice of wood allows the raw, powerful, and pristine character of Lagavulin's spirit to shine through. It delivers an intense sensory journey characterized by sharp peat smoke, coastal sea spray, lemon oil, and a distinct medicinal brine. The history of Lagavulin is deeply intertwined with the rugged southern coast of Islay, where the slow distillation in pear-shaped stills captures the essence of the wind-swept peat bogs and crashing Atlantic waves. This expression is celebrated by connoisseurs as a pure, unadulterated snapshot of the distillery's smoky soul.
🍾 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.