Single Malt 18th Special Release 12YO Bottled
⏳ Drinking Window & Cellar Guidance
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.
🍽️ Culinary 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
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.