Single Malt 4th Special Release 12YO (((Bottled 2004)))
⏳ Drinking Window
As a high-proof distilled spirit, this bottle will remain in peak condition indefinitely if stored upright and away from direct sunlight. Once opened, it is best enjoyed within 1 to 3 years to preserve its complex, volatile aromas.
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
Smoked salmon, blue cheese, dark chocolate
✨ Technical Specifications
The Lagavulin 12 Year Old Cask Strength, bottled in 2004 as the 4th Special Release, represents the distillery's spirit in its most raw, powerful, and unadulterated form. Unlike the iconic 16 Year Old, this limited annual release is matured exclusively in refill American oak casks and bottled at natural cask strength without chill-filtration. This minimalist maturation allows the pristine, intense character of Lagavulin's slow-distilled spirit to shine. Established in 1816 by John Johnston on the rocky shores of Islay, Lagavulin is legendary for its pear-shaped stills and exceptionally slow distillation process. This 2004 bottling captures a historic era of the Special Releases, showcasing a vibrant, pale gold spirit defined by intense peat smoke, coastal brine, bonfire ash, and a surprising, clean citrus sweetness driven by the maritime climate 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.