Single Malt 200th Anniversary 12YO (((Bottled 2016)))
⏳ Drinking Window
As a premium cask-strength single malt whisky, this bottling is fully matured and ready to be enjoyed immediately, but it will preserve its exceptional character indefinitely when stored upright in a cool, dark place.
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
Blue cheese, smoked oysters, dark, oysters, chocolate
✨ Technical Specifications
Released in 2016 to commemorate two centuries of legendary distilling on the rugged south coast of Islay, the Lagavulin 12 Year Old 200th Anniversary Edition is a masterclass in cask-strength single malt. Established officially in 1816, Lagavulin's history is steeped in the lore of illicit distilling and fierce island pride. This special bottling, drawn from refill American oak casks, showcases the distillery's signature slow-distillation style in its purest, most vibrant form. The maritime terroir of Lagavulin Bay heavily influences the spirit, infusing it with intense peat smoke, coastal brine, and a sharp, clean citrus sweetness. It stands as a historic tribute to the generations of distillers who have guarded Lagavulin's uncompromisingly smoky character.
🍾 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.