Single Malt Prima & Ultima Refill Hogshead 28YO (((Bottled 2019)))
⏳ Drinking Window
As a fully matured, ultra-premium single malt whisky, it is bottled at its absolute peak complexity and does not age further in glass. It can be enjoyed immediately or cellared indefinitely when kept upright in a cool, dark environment.
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
Blue cheese, dark chocolate, smoked oysters
✨ Technical Specifications
Part of Diageo's prestigious inaugural 'Prima & Ultima' collection, this incredibly rare 28-year-old single malt represents a historic moment in Lagavulin's legacy. Distilled in 1991 and matured in a single refill American oak hogshead, this expression showcases the sublime evolution of Islay peat over nearly three decades. The use of a refill hogshead is crucial; it prevents the active wood from overpowering the spirit, allowing the classic maritime brine, medicinal peat, and slow-distilled richness of Lagavulin to harmonize with delicate notes of wax, dried fruit, and soft spice. Resting quietly on the shores of Lagavulin Bay, the cask absorbed the salty sea air, imparting a distinct coastal character that defines this legendary distillery's 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.