Single Malt 18th Special Release 12YO (((Bottled 2018)))
⏳ Drinking Window
As a high-strength single malt Scotch whisky, this bottle is highly stable and does not expire; it is ready to drink now or can be collected and cellared indefinitely.
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
Oysters on the half shell, mature blue cheese, smoked wild salmon
✨ Technical Specifications
Lagavulin's 12 Year Old Cask Strength expressions, released annually as part of Diageo's Special Releases, are highly anticipated by whisky connoisseurs for representing the distillery's spirit in its most raw, unadulterated form. The 2018 bottling, marking the 18th release in this coveted series, was matured exclusively in refill American oak hogsheads, allowing the natural, fierce character of the Islay distillate to shine through without heavy wood influence. Historically, Lagavulin's location on the edge of Lagavulin Bay exposes its warehouses to the damp, salty Atlantic winds, which infuse the maturing spirit with a distinct maritime salinity. This 2018 release captures that coastal essence perfectly, offering a dramatic contrast to the sweeter, sherry-finished 16 Year Old flagship. It is a celebration of peat smoke, clean citrus, and intense sea spray, reflecting the rugged beauty of Islay's south coast.
🍾 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.