Single Malt 1st Special Release 12YO Bottled
⏳ Drinking Window & Cellar Guidance
As a high-proof distilled spirit, this bottle does not mature further in glass and is ready to enjoy immediately. It will remain in pristine condition indefinitely if stored upright and away from direct sunlight.
🍽️ Culinary Pairings
Roquefort blue cheese, smoked wild salmon, dark chocolate with sea salt
✨ Technical Specifications
The inaugural 2002 bottling of the Lagavulin 12 Year Old Cask Strength marked the beginning of a legendary annual tradition within Diageo's Special Releases. Unlike the distillery's flagship 16-year-old, which is known for its rich sherry-cask influence, this first Special Release was matured in refill American oak casks, offering an unadulterated, high-proof look at the raw power of Islay. Distilled on the shores of Lagavulin Bay, where illicit distilling dates back to the 18th century before John Johnston officially established the site in 1816, this expression captures the fierce maritime character of the island. The slow distillation in pear-shaped stills coaxes out a spirit that is intensely smoky, oily, and coastal, balanced by a surprising, vibrant citrus and malt sweetness that defines the younger Lagavulin profile.
🍾 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.