Single Malt Feis Ile 18YO (((Bottled 2016)))
⏳ Drinking Window
Ready to enjoy immediately upon release, this stable spirit does not age further in the bottle and can be preserved indefinitely if kept sealed and upright, though once opened, it is best consumed within 1 to 3 years to retain its vibrant aromatic profile.
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
Strong blue cheeses, dark chocolate, smoked wild game
✨ Technical Specifications
Released to celebrate the double milestone of the 2016 Fèis Ìle festival and Lagavulin's historic bicentenary, this exceptional 18-year-old single malt is a masterclass in Islay craftsmanship. Matured in a combination of refill American oak and European oak Bodega sherry casks, it captures the legendary distillery's signature peaty punch, beautifully rounded by decades of coastal maturation. The festival bottlings of Lagavulin are highly coveted, carrying tales of the rugged Islay shoreline, the slow distillation in pear-shaped stills, and the festive spirit of the islanders who gather annually to celebrate their liquid gold. This expression offers a sublime balance of intense peat smoke, maritime sea spray, dark dried fruits, and warming wood spice.
🍾 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.