17
Expressions
17
With Tasting Notes
100%
Completeness
About
One of Islay's most revered distilleries, producing richly peated, deeply complex single malt with a signature dry, smoky finish. The Lagavulin 16 Year Old is widely considered one of the greatest single malts ever made and anchors Diageo's Classic Malts series. Nestled in a bay between Laphroaig and Ardbeg on the south coast of Islay. 4 pear-shaped stills with extremely slow distillation (the slowest on Islay). The distillery's association with the White Horse blend dates to founder Peter Mackie. Ron Swanson's whisky of choice in Parks and Recreation brought it mainstream American fame.
Production Details
Owner
Diageo
Parent Company
Diageo
Status
Active
Founded
1816
Still Type
Pot
Stills
4
Capacity
2.5M LPA
Water Source
Solan Lochs
Core Range3
Lagavulin 16 Year OldCore
1643% ABV37 PPM$85-120
Ex-bourbon and ex-sherry oak casks
4/4 Tasting
View tasting notes
Sight
Deep amber-gold with rich copper highlights; full body with slow, oily legs — the darkest of the core Islay trio
Smell
The definitive Lagavulin experience. Dry, elegant peat smoke — ashy and smoldering rather than medicinal or tarry. Rich toffee and butterscotch sweetness. Dried fruit (fig, date, raisin) from long sherry cask maturation. Sea salt, kelp, and gentle iodine — present but more restrained than Laphroaig. Leather, old oak, and a faint whiff of cigar box. The overall impression is of a lit fireplace in a well-appointed study — warm, civilized, and deeply complex
Sip
Remarkably balanced and elegant despite the heavy peat. Dry ashy smoke leads, followed by rich caramel, toffee, and a wave of dark dried fruit. The 16 years of maturation have integrated the peat into the whisky rather than sitting on top of it — this is the key Lagavulin distinction. Sea salt and gentle maritime brine. Dark chocolate and espresso notes emerge mid-palate. Leather and wood tannins provide structure. Full-bodied, oily mouthfeel with a velvety texture
Savor
Exceptionally long, warming finish — one of the longest in Scotch whisky. Dry peat smoke, sea salt, and toffee persist for minutes. Gentle leather, cigar ash, and dark chocolate on the tail. The finish is where Lagavulin's elegance is most apparent: no harshness, no medicinal burn, just an endlessly unfolding tapestry of smoke, sweetness, and maritime character. The benchmark Islay whisky for balance
View flavor map
Smoke House: Peat (dry, ashy, smoldering — elegant), Campfire (cigar ash, smoldering embers); Sweet Shop: toffee, butterscotch, caramel; Greengrocer: Dried (fig, date, raisin); Walk to Lighthouse: Sea (sea salt, kelp, gentle iodine), Maritime (brine); Furniture Maker: Leather (old leather), Wood (old oak, cigar box); Coffee Shop: espresso; Sweet Shop: dark chocolate; Pub/Bar: Wine (sherry influence)
Lagavulin 8 Year OldCore
848% ABV201637 PPM$55-75
Ex-bourbon refill casks
4/4 Tasting
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Sight
Pale gold to light amber; lighter than the 16yo, with medium-weight legs — the youthful energy is visible
Smell
Created for Lagavulin's 200th anniversary and retained due to demand. A dramatically different beast from the 16yo — younger, more vigorous, and more assertively peated. The peat is brighter and more immediate: campfire, charred wood, and a mineral quality not found in the 16. Less dried fruit, more citrus (lemon, green apple). Vanilla and coconut from bourbon casks. Sea spray and rockpool. Less sherry influence means the raw distillery character shines through
Sip
Muscular and energetic. The peat is more forward and less integrated than the 16yo — showing its youth in a positive way. Charcoal, bonfire, and ashy smoke. Vanilla, coconut, and honey from the bourbon casks. Lemon zest and green apple provide tartness. Sea salt and maritime minerals. The 48% ABV adds intensity without harshness. A stripped-back Lagavulin that reveals the distillery's core DNA before decades of sherry cask maturation soften it
Savor
Medium-long finish with assertive peat smoke and sea salt. Vanilla and lemon zest linger. More abrupt than the 16yo's endless finish, but with a clean, invigorating quality. The perfect complement to the 16 — together they demonstrate how age and cask type transform the same spirit
View flavor map
Smoke House: Peat (assertive, bright, campfire), Campfire (charcoal, bonfire, charred wood); Sweet Shop: vanilla, coconut, honey; Greengrocer: Citrus (lemon zest, green apple); Walk to Lighthouse: Sea (sea spray, rockpool, sea salt), Maritime (minerals); Bakery: Sweet (coconut, vanilla)
Lagavulin Distillers EditionCore
1643% ABV37 PPM$100-140
Ex-bourbon and ex-sherry casks, finished in Pedro Ximenez sherry casks
4/4 Tasting
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Sight
Deep mahogany-amber with reddish-brown highlights; the PX finish gives it the darkest color of any Lagavulin — rich and inviting
Smell
The 16yo DNA amplified and sweetened by Pedro Ximenez sherry cask finishing. All the classic Lagavulin — dry peat smoke, sea salt, leather — but with a luxurious extra layer of PX sweetness. Dark treacle, Christmas pudding, candied orange peel, figs, and dates. Dark chocolate intensified. A touch of raisin and prune. The peat is present but wrapped in a velvet blanket of sherry sweetness. Opulent and warming
Sip
The PX finish transforms the 16yo into something darker and richer. Sweet dried fruit leads — figs, dates, raisins, candied citrus peel — followed by the classic Lagavulin dry peat smoke, now gentled and sweetened. Dark chocolate and espresso. Rich toffee elevated to treacle and molasses territory. Sea salt provides counterpoint to the sweetness. Full-bodied and velvety with remarkable integration between peat and PX sherry
Savor
Long, luxurious finish. PX sweetness and peat smoke intertwine beautifully. Dark fruit, treacle, and chocolate persist alongside gentle ashy smoke and sea salt. The finish is sweeter and richer than the standard 16yo but retains Lagavulin's signature elegance. A masterful sherry-peat fusion
View flavor map
Smoke House: Peat (dry, elegant — softened by PX), Campfire (gentle embers); Sweet Shop: dark chocolate, treacle, toffee, molasses; Greengrocer: Dried (fig, date, raisin, prune, candied orange peel), Citrus (candied citrus); Pub/Bar: Wine (Pedro Ximenez sherry — dominant influence); Walk to Lighthouse: Sea (sea salt), Maritime (gentle); Furniture Maker: Leather (old leather); Bakery: Sweet (Christmas pudding); Coffee Shop: espresso
Limited / Special Releases14
Lagavulin 12 Year Old Cask Strength (2019 Special Release)
1256.5% ABV201937 PPM$110-170
Refill American oak casks
4/4 Tasting
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Sight
Bright pale gold; classic refill American oak appearance — clean and vibrant
Smell
A highly regarded vintage in the annual series. This one emphasizes the sweet-smoke balance Lagavulin does so well. Rich honey, vanilla, and coconut from the bourbon wood. Dry ashy peat smoke is powerful but beautifully integrated. Lemon meringue and lime zest. Sea salt and ozone. Smoked honey is the defining aroma — sweet, smoky, and instantly appealing. One of the more approachable CS12 releases despite the strength
Sip
Cask strength at 56.5% but remarkably smooth. The sweet-smoke marriage is exemplary: smoked honey, vanilla, coconut, and lemon meringue provide sweetness while dry ashy peat, charcoal, and sea salt provide depth and structure. Lime zest adds brightness. A creamy, almost buttery mouthfeel. The bourbon cask influence is at its most generous in this vintage. Water opens up tropical fruit notes and gentle floral heather. Balanced, rewarding, and dangerously drinkable for cask strength
Savor
Long, sweet-smoky finish. Smoked honey, peat, and sea salt persist. Vanilla and lemon on the tail. One of the more generous and approachable CS12 finishes, with a honeyed warmth that lingers
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Smoke House: Peat (dry, ashy — powerful but integrated), Campfire (charcoal); Sweet Shop: smoked honey, vanilla, coconut; Greengrocer: Citrus (lemon meringue, lime zest), Tropical (tropical fruit — with water); Walk to Lighthouse: Sea (sea salt, ozone), Maritime (present); Bakery: Sweet (buttery, creamy); Florist: heather (with water)
Lagavulin 12 Year Old Cask Strength (2020 Special Release)
1256.4% ABV202037 PPM$120-180
Refill American oak casks
4/4 Tasting
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Sight
Pale to mid gold; light and clean appearance typical of refill American oak maturation
Smell
Another vintage in the annual series. This one shows a particularly clean, precise peat character — the distillery's elegance at its most refined. Dry peat smoke, sea salt, lemon sherbet, vanilla. Less maritime than the 2021, more classically balanced. Toasted almonds and marzipan emerge alongside the standard peat-vanilla axis. Gentle beeswax and honey
Sip
Cask strength at 56.4%. Clean, elegant peat — more refined and less maritime than the 2021 vintage. Lemon sherbet sweetness, vanilla, toasted almonds, and marzipan. The almond/marzipan note is distinctive to this vintage and adds a nutty dimension. Dry ashy peat provides the backbone. Sea salt present but supporting. Beeswax and honey mouthfeel. Water opens gentle floral notes and white chocolate
Savor
Long, clean finish with dry peat, lemon, and toasted almonds. The marzipan note persists uniquely. Sea salt and vanilla on the tail. One of the more refined and nuanced vintages in the series
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Smoke House: Peat (dry, ashy — refined and precise), Campfire (gentle embers); Sweet Shop: vanilla, lemon sherbet, beeswax, honey, white chocolate (with water); Bakery: Toasted (toasted almonds, marzipan); Walk to Lighthouse: Sea (sea salt — supporting), Maritime (gentle); Greengrocer: Citrus (lemon); Florist: Fresh Flowers (floral — with water)
Lagavulin 12 Year Old Cask Strength (2021 Special Release)
1256.5% ABV202137 PPM$130-190
Refill American oak casks
4/4 Tasting
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Sight
Bright gold; medium weight with clean legs — consistent with the refill American oak profile
Smell
Same annual release template as the 2022 — 12 years, cask strength, refill American oak — but each vintage varies due to specific cask selection. This vintage shows slightly more maritime character: seaweed, rockpool, and ozone alongside the standard dry peat, vanilla, and lemon. A whiff of smoked fish and beach bonfire. Less coconut than some vintages, more saline and mineral
Sip
Cask strength delivery at 56.5%. Dry ashy peat, sea salt, and iodine — this vintage leans more maritime than some. Vanilla and lemon provide sweetness. Smoked fish and kelp notes add savory complexity. Malt and cereal backbone. The balance tilts slightly toward Walk to Lighthouse territory compared to the sweeter 2022 vintage. Still unmistakably elegant — the Lagavulin composure is present. Water brings out honey, heather, and white pepper
Savor
Long maritime-smoky finish. Sea salt, dry peat, and iodine persist. A saline, mineral quality that evokes standing on the Lagavulin bay shoreline. Vanilla and lemon on the tail. This vintage's maritime emphasis makes it particularly food-friendly
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Smoke House: Peat (dry, ashy — intense), Campfire (beach bonfire); Walk to Lighthouse: Sea (sea salt, ozone, iodine, seaweed, rockpool — dominant this vintage), Maritime (saline, mineral); Sweet Shop: vanilla, honey (with water); Greengrocer: Citrus (lemon — supporting); Smoke House: Smoked (smoked fish); Florist: heather (with water); Natural Foods: Spices (white pepper — with water); Bakery: Toasted (malt, cereal)
Lagavulin 12 Year Old Cask Strength (2022 Special Release)
1257.3% ABV202237 PPM$140-200
Refill American oak casks
4/4 Tasting
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Sight
Bright gold with pale straw highlights; lighter color than the 16yo due to refill American oak — clarity and vibrancy
Smell
The annual Diageo Special Releases Lagavulin — always 12 years old, always cask strength, always refill American oak. This is Lagavulin stripped to its essence: no sherry richness, no decades of integration, just pure distillery character at full power. Intense dry peat smoke — more assertive than the 16yo. Lemon, vanilla, and coconut from bourbon wood. Sea salt and ozone. Toasted barley and cereal. A raw, powerful expression that reveals Lagavulin's naked DNA
Sip
Full cask strength delivery at 57.3% — powerful and warming. Intense dry ashy peat dominates initially, then vanilla, lemon zest, and coconut emerge. The refill American oak allows the spirit to speak without sherry masking. Sea salt and brine are more pronounced than in the 16yo. Toasted malt and cereal notes add breadth. Despite the high ABV, there is an underlying elegance — the Lagavulin poise is present even at full strength. Water opens honey, green apple, and smoked bacon
Savor
Long, intensely smoky finish. Dry peat, sea salt, and vanilla persist. Lemon zest provides brightness. The cask strength amplifies Lagavulin's signature long finish to extraordinary duration. Clean and drying with no harshness — pure peat elegance at volume
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Smoke House: Peat (intense, dry, ashy — full power), Campfire (bonfire, ash); Sweet Shop: vanilla, coconut, honey (with water); Greengrocer: Citrus (lemon zest, green apple — with water); Walk to Lighthouse: Sea (sea salt, ozone, brine — prominent), Maritime (intense); Bakery: Toasted (toasted barley, cereal); Smoke House: Smoked (smoked bacon — with water)
Lagavulin 12 Year Old Cask Strength (2023 Special Release)
1256.4% ABV202337 PPM$150-210
Refill American oak casks
4/4 Tasting
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Sight
Mid gold with straw highlights; consistent with the series' refill American oak profile
Smell
The latest vintage in the beloved annual series. This release shows a slightly more assertive, drier peat character. Bonfire smoke, charcoal, and ash. Sea salt and kelp are prominent. Vanilla and lemon are present but take a back seat to the smoke and maritime elements. Dried herbs and white pepper add complexity. Less overtly sweet than the 2019 and 2020 vintages — this one leans into Lagavulin's savory, austere side
Sip
Cask strength at 56.4%. This vintage tilts toward the savory end of the Lagavulin spectrum. Assertive dry peat smoke, charcoal, and sea salt lead. White pepper and dried herbs add spiciness. Vanilla and lemon provide underlying sweetness but don't dominate. Kelp and seaweed notes are more prominent than most vintages. A more austere, coastal expression that will particularly appeal to peat purists. Water softens and opens smoked bacon, honey, and gentle oak
Savor
Long, dry, smoky finish. Peat, sea salt, and white pepper persist. Kelp and seaweed on the tail. This is the most savory vintage in the recent CS12 series — a coastal Lagavulin that stands apart from sweeter vintages
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Smoke House: Peat (dry, assertive, bonfire), Campfire (charcoal, ash), Smoked (smoked bacon — with water); Walk to Lighthouse: Sea (sea salt, kelp, seaweed — prominent), Maritime (coastal, savory); Sweet Shop: vanilla; Greengrocer: Citrus (lemon — supporting); Natural Foods: Spices (white pepper, dried herbs); Florist: Dried (dried herbs)
Lagavulin 21 Year Old (2007 Release)
2156.5% ABV200737 PPM$800-1400
Oloroso sherry casks
4/4 Tasting
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Sight
Deep amber with copper and mahogany tones; the two decades of sherry cask have produced a richly colored whisky
Smell
A rare aged cask strength Lagavulin from sherry wood. 21 years has produced remarkable integration between peat and sherry. The peat has evolved from assertive to graceful — smoldering embers, incense, and gentle woodsmoke. Rich oloroso sherry delivers dark fruit, dark chocolate, and Christmas pudding. Old leather and polished oak. Sea salt is subtle but persistent — a mineral backbone rather than overt brine. Dried roses and gentle tobacco. Profoundly complex
Sip
Cask strength delivery at 56.5% with two decades of integration behind it. The peat-sherry marriage is seamless: dry elegant smoke, dark dried fruit, dark chocolate, and leather intertwine without any single element dominating. The maritime character has become atmospheric — salinity and mineral depth rather than literal seaweed. Espresso and dark treacle. Oak tannins provide structure without astringency. A dignified, noble whisky that rewards slow contemplation. Water reveals honey, candied citrus, and aromatic herbs
Savor
Very long, dignified finish. Peat, sherry, leather, and dark chocolate unfold slowly. Maritime salt provides the framework. Tobacco and old books on the very end. A whisky that finishes as elegantly as it begins — the Lagavulin hallmark amplified by age and quality casks
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Smoke House: Peat (graceful, evolved — smoldering embers, incense); Sweet Shop: dark chocolate, dark treacle, honey (with water); Greengrocer: Dried (dark dried fruit, candied citrus — with water), Christmas pudding; Pub/Bar: Wine (oloroso sherry — deep integration); Furniture Maker: Leather (old leather), Wood (polished oak); Tobacco Shop: gentle tobacco; Library: old books; Walk to Lighthouse: Sea (mineral, salinity — atmospheric); Coffee Shop: espresso; Florist: Dried (dried roses, aromatic herbs — with water)
Lagavulin 25 Year Old (2002 Cask Strength)
2557.2% ABV200237 PPM$1200-2000
Oloroso sherry casks
4/4 Tasting
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Sight
Deep mahogany with dark amber edges; exceptional depth and richness — 25 years in sherry wood has produced extraordinary color
Smell
One of Lagavulin's most revered releases. A quarter century has transformed the peat from assertive to ethereal — smoldering incense, sandalwood, and old church. Rich oloroso sherry delivers dark fruit (fig, date, prune), dark chocolate, and Christmas cake. Old leather, antique furniture, and cigar humidor. The maritime character has evolved into something abstract and oceanic rather than literal. Beeswax, furniture polish, and library dust. Extraordinary complexity
Sip
Magnificent depth and integration. The peat has become spiritual — incense, myrrh, smoldering embers rather than campfire. Oloroso sherry delivers waves of dark dried fruit, dark chocolate, and treacle. Old leather and polished mahogany. The maritime influence is subtle — a salt-mineral backbone rather than overt brine. At 57.2% cask strength the delivery is powerful but controlled. Every sip reveals new layers: cigar tobacco, dried herbs, old books, dark honey. One of the great Scotch whiskies
Savor
Extraordinarily long finish — possibly the longest of any Lagavulin expression. Ethereal peat smoke, dark fruit, leather, and dark chocolate unfold over many minutes. The maritime salt provides structure to the very end. Cigar tobacco and old library on the final breath. A transcendent whisky that demonstrates how time transforms great spirit into art
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Smoke House: Peat (ethereal, incense-like, sandalwood, myrrh — transformed by age); Sweet Shop: dark chocolate, treacle, dark honey; Greengrocer: Dried (fig, date, prune); Furniture Maker: Leather (old leather), Wood (polished mahogany, antique furniture); Library: old books, library dust; Tobacco Shop: cigar humidor, cigar tobacco; Pub/Bar: Wine (oloroso sherry — deep); Walk to Lighthouse: Sea (abstract oceanic, salt-mineral); Bakery: Sweet (Christmas cake); Florist: Dried (dried herbs)
Lagavulin 26 Year Old (2021 Special Release)
2644.2% ABV202137 PPM$1400-2200
Ex-bourbon and Pedro Ximenez sherry casks
4/4 Tasting
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Sight
Deep amber-copper with bronze highlights; rich and lustrous — the PX influence adds warmth to the color
Smell
A rare aged Lagavulin from the Diageo Special Releases. 26 years have produced extraordinary evolution. The peat has become wispy and ethereal — incense, dried heather, and gentle woodsmoke. PX sherry adds dark treacle, fig jam, and candied orange. Old leather and cedar cigar box. Maritime influence is subtle and refined — sea spray filtered through old oak. Dried roses and pot pourri. A whisky that smells like a grand old library with a fire burning
Sip
Elegant and refined at 44.2% — no need for cask strength when the complexity is this deep. Ethereal peat smoke weaves through layers of PX sweetness: dark treacle, fig jam, dates, candied ginger. Old leather and cedar. The maritime backbone provides gentle salinity that prevents the sweetness from cloying. Dark chocolate and espresso. Dried herbs and gentle tobacco. The mouthfeel is silk — velvety and enveloping. Every element is in perfect proportion
Savor
Very long, graceful finish. Ethereal peat, fig jam, leather, and dark chocolate recede slowly. Sea salt provides structure. Cedar and tobacco linger. The finish is a meditation — quiet, complex, and deeply satisfying. This is Lagavulin at its most poised and civilized
View flavor map
Smoke House: Peat (ethereal, wispy, incense — graceful aged character); Sweet Shop: dark treacle, dark chocolate, candied ginger; Greengrocer: Dried (fig jam, dates, candied orange); Furniture Maker: Leather (old leather), Wood (cedar, cigar box); Library: grand library atmosphere; Tobacco Shop: gentle tobacco; Pub/Bar: Wine (Pedro Ximenez sherry); Walk to Lighthouse: Sea (sea spray, salinity — subtle); Coffee Shop: espresso; Florist: Dried (dried roses, pot pourri, dried heather, dried herbs)
Lagavulin 30 Year Old
3049.8% ABV200637 PPM$3500-5500
Oloroso sherry casks and ex-bourbon casks
4/4 Tasting
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Sight
Very deep mahogany with dark copper edges; three decades of maturation have produced an extraordinarily rich appearance
Smell
Among the rarest and most revered Lagavulins ever produced. Three decades have transformed the whisky into something transcendent. The peat has become spiritual — incense, myrrh, old church, sandalwood. Deep oloroso sherry delivers dark fruit compote, Christmas cake, and bitter dark chocolate. Ancient leather and antique mahogany furniture. The maritime character has evolved into something oceanic and abstract — the memory of the sea rather than the sea itself. Dried flowers, old parchment, and cedar cigar box. A whisky that tells its entire life story on the nose
Sip
Transcendent. The peat at 30 years is no longer smoke — it is atmosphere, a warmth that pervades everything without announcing itself. The sherry delivers layer upon layer of dark fruit, chocolate, and treacle. Old leather, mahogany, and cigar tobacco create a grand study atmosphere. Maritime salt is architectural — it holds the sweetness and smoke in perfect tension. At 49.8% there is still considerable presence. Dried herbs, old spices, and a beeswax-furniture-polish quality. Each sip is a journey through decades of transformation
Savor
One of the longest finishes in all of Scotch whisky. Peat, sherry, leather, chocolate, and maritime salt continue to evolve for many minutes after the last sip. Old books, incense, and cedar on the final exhale. The finish is where the 30yo's superiority over younger expressions is most evident — it simply never ends, and each moment reveals something new. A masterwork
View flavor map
Smoke House: Peat (spiritual, transcendent — incense, myrrh, sandalwood); Sweet Shop: dark chocolate (bitter), treacle, beeswax; Greengrocer: Dried (dark fruit compote); Bakery: Sweet (Christmas cake); Furniture Maker: Leather (ancient leather), Wood (antique mahogany, cedar, furniture polish); Tobacco Shop: cigar tobacco; Library: old parchment, old books; Pub/Bar: Wine (deep oloroso sherry); Walk to Lighthouse: Sea (oceanic, abstract, architectural salt); Florist: Dried (dried flowers, old spices); Natural Foods: Spices (old spices, dried herbs)
Lagavulin Feis Ile 2022
1256.4% ABV202237 PPM$200-350
Refill bourbon hogsheads and European oak sherry butts
4/4 Tasting
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Sight
Mid amber-gold with warm copper hints; the sherry butt influence adds warmth compared to pure refill bourbon CS12s
Smell
Released exclusively at Lagavulin's Feis Ile open day — always a mixed-cask variant that shows a different side of the distillery than the standard CS12. This release combines refill bourbon and European oak sherry — marrying the CS12's bright peat with darker sherry fruit. Dry peat, dark fruit (fig, prune), dark chocolate, and sea salt. Vanilla and citrus from bourbon balanced by toffee and dried fruit from sherry. Rich and complex
Sip
The mixed cask approach creates a fascinating bridge between the bourbon-only CS12 and the DE's full PX treatment. Dry ashy peat smoke, dark dried fruit, dark chocolate, and sea salt. Vanilla and lemon from bourbon casks. Toffee and figs from sherry butts. The two cask types create beautiful tension — brightness vs darkness, citrus vs dried fruit. Cask strength delivers full power. More complete than a single-cask-type expression
Savor
Long finish with interwoven peat, dark fruit, and sea salt. The bourbon brightness and sherry richness alternate through the finish. Dark chocolate and vanilla on the tail. A festival exclusive that showcases Lagavulin's full range in a single glass
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Smoke House: Peat (dry, ashy — powerful), Campfire (embers); Sweet Shop: dark chocolate, toffee, vanilla; Greengrocer: Dried (fig, prune), Citrus (lemon — from bourbon); Pub/Bar: Wine (sherry influence); Walk to Lighthouse: Sea (sea salt), Maritime (present)
Lagavulin Feis Ile 2023
1656.2% ABV202337 PPM$250-400
Oloroso sherry casks (cask strength)
4/4 Tasting
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Sight
Deep amber-mahogany; the oloroso sherry casks at 16 years create rich, dark color — deeper even than the standard 16yo
Smell
A cask strength version of the 16yo profile but exclusively from oloroso sherry casks — essentially the definitive sherry-peated Lagavulin. Deep, dark, and magnificent. Rich oloroso sherry: dark fruit, Christmas cake, dark chocolate. Dry elegant peat smoke layered with leather, cigar box, and old furniture. Sea salt and iodine. The cask strength (56.2%) amplifies everything. Extraordinary nose — like the standard 16yo with the volume turned to maximum
Sip
A supercharged version of the classic 16yo DNA. All sherry cask, all cask strength — the result is breathtaking. Waves of dark dried fruit (fig, date, raisin, prune), dark chocolate, espresso, and oloroso wine alongside Lagavulin's signature dry elegant peat. Leather and cigar tobacco. Sea salt and maritime brine provide essential ballast. The 56.2% ABV delivers enormous intensity but the 16 years of maturation keep everything integrated and elegant. Water opens Christmas spice, candied ginger, and orange peel
Savor
Exceptionally long, multi-layered finish. Peat, sherry, leather, and sea salt unfold in waves. Dark chocolate and espresso on the tail. The finish rivals the 25yo for duration and complexity. A festival bottling that stands among the finest Lagavulins ever released
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Smoke House: Peat (dry, elegant — amplified to cask strength), Campfire (smoldering); Sweet Shop: dark chocolate; Greengrocer: Dried (fig, date, raisin, prune, candied ginger, orange peel — with water); Pub/Bar: Wine (oloroso sherry — dominant); Furniture Maker: Leather (leather), Wood (cigar box, old furniture); Tobacco Shop: cigar tobacco; Walk to Lighthouse: Sea (sea salt, iodine), Maritime (brine); Coffee Shop: espresso; Natural Foods: Spices (Christmas spice — with water)
Lagavulin Nick Offerman Edition
1146% ABV202037 PPM$75-100
Ex-bourbon casks, finished in Guinness beer casks (extra stout)
4/4 Tasting
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Sight
Mid amber with golden highlights; the Guinness cask finish adds a subtle warmth to the color
Smell
A collaboration between Lagavulin and actor Nick Offerman (Parks and Recreation's Ron Swanson) — finished in Guinness Extra Stout casks. The beer cask adds an unexpected dimension: roasted barley, dark malt, coffee, and a creamy, stout-like quality alongside classic Lagavulin peat. Dry smoky peat, sea salt, vanilla. Then chocolate stout, roasted grain, and bitter coffee. Unique and playful while remaining unmistakably Lagavulin
Sip
The Guinness cask finish is immediately evident. Roasted barley and dark malt create a stout-like richness alongside Lagavulin's dry peat smoke. Coffee, dark chocolate, and a creamy mouthfeel. Sea salt and gentle maritime notes. Vanilla and caramel from the bourbon base. The 46% ABV and the beer cask add body and texture. Less dried fruit than the standard 16yo, more roasted grain and coffee character. Surprising, delicious, and genuinely different
Savor
Medium-long finish with roasted barley, coffee, peat smoke, and sea salt. The stout character lingers alongside the classic Lagavulin smoke. Dark chocolate and vanilla on the tail. A fun, successful experiment that bridges craft beer and Islay whisky
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Smoke House: Peat (dry, ashy — classic Lagavulin), Campfire (gentle); Coffee Shop: coffee (dark, roasted), espresso; Bakery: Toasted (roasted barley, dark malt, roasted grain); Sweet Shop: dark chocolate, vanilla, caramel; Walk to Lighthouse: Sea (sea salt), Maritime (gentle); Pub/Bar: Beer (Guinness stout influence — creamy, malty)
Lagavulin Nick Offerman Edition Charred Oak Cask
1146% ABV202137 PPM$80-110
Ex-bourbon casks, finished in charred new American oak casks
4/4 Tasting
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Sight
Deeper amber than the Guinness edition; the charred new oak adds warmth and darkness to the color
Smell
The second Offerman collaboration — this time finished in heavily charred new American oak rather than beer casks. The charred wood adds intense vanilla, caramel, char, and a bourbon-like sweetness that marries beautifully with Lagavulin peat. Campfire smoke meets barbecue — charred wood, smoked meat, and maple syrup alongside classic Lagavulin ashy peat. Sea salt and gentle maritime. Cinnamon and baking spices from the new oak
Sip
The charred new oak finish amplifies Lagavulin's smoky character in a new direction. Intense char, vanilla, and caramel create an almost bourbon-like sweetness that pairs with the dry ashy peat. Smoked meat and barbecue notes. Cinnamon, nutmeg, and baking spices add complexity. Sea salt and maritime brine. The new oak tannins add structure and grip. At 46% it delivers satisfying intensity. More assertive and spicy than the standard Lagavulin profile
Savor
Medium-long finish with char, peat smoke, vanilla, and baking spices. Sea salt lingers. The charred oak gives a drying, tannic quality on the close. Barbecue and campfire smoke on the tail. Bold and satisfying — Lagavulin dressed in American oak
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Smoke House: Peat (dry, ashy — amplified by char), Campfire (charred wood, barbecue), Smoked (smoked meat); Sweet Shop: vanilla, caramel, maple syrup; Natural Foods: Spices (cinnamon, nutmeg, baking spices); Walk to Lighthouse: Sea (sea salt), Maritime (brine); Furniture Maker: Wood (charred new American oak — intense)
Lagavulin Offerman Edition Aged 11 Years Caribbean Rum Cask Finish
1146% ABV202237 PPM$80-110
Ex-bourbon casks, finished in Caribbean rum casks
4/4 Tasting
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Sight
Golden amber with warm highlights; the rum cask finish adds a subtle tropical warmth
Smell
The third and final Offerman collaboration — Caribbean rum cask finish. Tropical sweetness meets Islay peat: pineapple, banana, and coconut alongside dry smoky peat and sea salt. Brown sugar, molasses, and rum-soaked raisins. Vanilla and caramel from the bourbon base amplified by rum cask sweetness. The combination is surprisingly harmonious — the rum cask's tropical fruit melds with Lagavulin's elegance rather than fighting it
Sip
The rum cask brings tropical warmth: pineapple, banana, coconut, and brown sugar dance with classic Lagavulin dry peat smoke. Molasses and rum-soaked raisins add dark sweetness. Sea salt and maritime brine provide essential balance against the tropical sweetness. Vanilla and caramel backbone. The peat is gentled but present — providing the smoky foundation that prevents the whisky from becoming too sweet. At 46% it has good presence and weight
Savor
Medium finish with tropical fruit, peat smoke, and brown sugar. Sea salt and coconut linger. The rum cask influence fades gradually, leaving classic Lagavulin dry peat and maritime notes on the tail. A crowd-pleasing expression that introduces the distillery to a wider audience
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Smoke House: Peat (dry, ashy — gentled by rum sweetness); Sweet Shop: brown sugar, molasses, vanilla, caramel, coconut; Greengrocer: Tropical (pineapple, banana), Dried (rum-soaked raisins); Walk to Lighthouse: Sea (sea salt), Maritime (brine); Pub/Bar: Spirits (Caribbean rum influence)