Single Malt 20th Special Release 12YO (((Bottled 2020)))
⏳ Drinking Window
As a high-proof distilled spirit, this bottling does not mature further in glass and is ready to drink immediately; it will remain in peak condition indefinitely if stored upright in a cool, dark place.
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
blue cheese, raw oysters, smoked salmon
✨ Technical Specifications
The Lagavulin 12 Year Old Cask Strength is a legendary annual highlight of Diageo's Special Releases, with the 2020 bottling marking the 20th year of this highly anticipated series. Unlike the distillery's flagship 16-year-old, which sees sherry cask influence, this 12-year-old expression is matured exclusively in refill American oak hogsheads. This minimalist wood treatment allows the raw, untamed character of Lagavulin's distillate to shine. Born on the windswept shores of Islay, it captures the essence of the distillery's exceptionally slow distillation in pear-shaped stills. The result is a dramatic sensory journey of intense peat smoke, clean maritime sea spray, fresh lemon zest, and a fierce, warming bonfire finish that pays homage to the historic distilling heritage of Lagavulin Bay.
🍾 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.