Single Malt 20th Special Release 12YO Bottled
⏳ Drinking Window & Cellar Guidance
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.
🍽️ Culinary 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
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.