Single Malt Diageo Special Release 12YO (((Bottled 2022)))
⏳ Drinking Window
As a high-proof single malt Scotch whisky, this bottle will remain pristine indefinitely if stored unopened and upright away from direct sunlight; once opened, it is best enjoyed within 1 to 3 years.
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
Fresh raw oysters, mature blue cheese, high-quality dark chocolate
✨ Technical Specifications
The Lagavulin 12 Year Old Bottled 2022 is a standout release from Diageo's annual 'Elusive Expressions' Special Releases, themed as 'The Flame of the Phoenix'. This cask-strength single malt is a vibrant, smoky masterpiece that showcases the distillery's legendary Islay character in its most raw and energetic form. Matured in heavily peated American oak refill casks and finished in virgin oak, it strikes a dramatic balance between intense peat smoke, maritime sea spray, and an unexpected, crackling sweet spice. Distilled slowly in Lagavulin's iconic pear-shaped stills on the rocky shores of Lagavulin Bay, the spirit absorbs the rugged, wind-swept essence of the Islay coastline, offering a dramatic departure from the more mellow, sherry-influenced profile of the classic 16-year-old bottling.
🍾 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.