Single Malt Casks Of Distinction Hogshead Cask No 13182 18YO (((Bottled 2018)))
⏳ Drinking Window
As a premium single malt whisky bottled at peak maturity, it does not age further in glass and can be enjoyed immediately or cellared indefinitely for decades if kept away from direct light and temperature fluctuations.
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
Blue cheese, dark chocolate, smoked duck
✨ Technical Specifications
Hailing from the wind-swept southern coast of Islay, Lagavulin is legendary for its slow distillation and deeply peated character. This incredibly rare bottling comes from Diageo's ultra-exclusive 'Casks of Distinction' program, which selects only the most exceptional individual casks from their vast reserves for private acquisition. Distilled in 2000 and matured for 18 years in a single hogshead (Cask No. 13182) before being bottled in 2018, this expression represents the pinnacle of Lagavulin's craftsmanship. The slow, patient interaction between the spirit and the oak has tempered the distillery's signature intense peat smoke, weaving it with rich dried fruits, coastal brine, and deep oak spices, resulting in a complex, harmonious masterpiece of Islay heritage.
🍾 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.