Single Malt 4th Special Release 12YO Bottled
⏳ Drinking Window & Cellar Guidance
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.
🍽️ Culinary 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
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.