Lagavulin

Lagavulin Distillery

History The distillery of Lagavulin officially dates from 1816, when John Jonston and Archibald Campbell constructed two distilleries on the site. One of them became Lagavulin, taking over the other—which one is not exactly known. Records show illicit distillation in at least ten illegal distilleries on the site as far back as 1742, however. In the 19th century, several legal battles ensued with their neighbour Laphroaig, brought about after the distiller at Lagavulin, Sir Peter Mackie, leased the Laphroaig distillery. It is said that Mackie attempted to copy Laphroaig’s style. Since the water and peat at Lagavulin’s premises was different from that at Laphroaig’s, the result was different. The Lagavulin distillery is located in the village of the same name. Lagavulin is known for its producer’s use of a slow distillation speed and pear shaped pot stills. The two wash stills have a capacity of 11,000 Litres and the two spirit stills of 12,500 Litres each.

The Whiskyphiles tasting notes

Official Bottling
  • lagavulin-8-year-old-200th-anniversary-edition-whisky Lagavulin 8 Years Old 200th Anniversary Edition (2019) - Lagavulin 8 Years Old 200th Anniversary Limited Edition whisky review: It has taken me some time to finally get on board with this expression. I wouldn't say I was disappointed but whenever I sat to formulate some notes I seem to get stuck after the nose and hard to ascribe anything in particular. Perhaps sampling this side-by-side with the 9yo GOT edition really highlighted the differences. There is a freshness in here quite unlike anything else I have sampled from Lagavulin, perhaps it is New Make (I have some somewhere to test this theory) or I am more inclined to think it is the result of underactive (3rd/4th fill casks)? 85/100
  • house-lannister-and-lagavulin-9-year-old-game-of-thrones-single-malts-collection-whisky Lagavulin 9 Years Old House Lannister (2019) - House Lannister Lagavulin 9 Years Old whisky review: Much more of a classic Lagavulin than I found the 8 Year Old anniversary edition. Sweet and meaty with a dusty smoke, a nice bitterness to it that presents as chocolate. I suspect the colour is e150 - confirmed by the packaging. Compared to the 8 Year Old I suspect a few more refill barrels or older barrels have gone into this mix to shift the flavour-profile in a very positive way more towards the distillery character. Quite moreish. I like this a lot more than I like Lannister's - except Tyrion - I like this just as much as Tyrion. 86/100
  • Lagavulin 10 Years Old 2004 Single Cask 7746 (2014) - Lagavulin 10 Years Old 2004 Cask#7746 (Single Cask Sample) ~56% ABV Score: 88/100 What they say: Distilled in 2004 and matured for 10 years in a an ex-sherry cask What we say: […]
  • Lagavulin-12-Years-old-cask-strength-special-relese-2014 Lagavulin 12 Years Old Cask Strength (2015) - Lagavulin 12 Years Old Cask Strength 2014 Special Release 54.4% (Diageo) Single malt scotch whisky 54.4% ABV, £75 Score: 86/100 What they say: This is the thirteenth in a series of special […]
  • Lagavulin 13 Years Old Feis Ile 2021 (2021) - Soft and subtle, this drinks like a classic Lagavulin (e.g. 16yo) with just a hint of some extra cask char and vinous nature. Perhaps the natural sweetness/Sherry influence in standard Lagavulin makes it hard to see what the Port-seasoned cask has introduced that is different?
  • Lagavulin 16 Years Old Lagavulin 16 Years Old (2014) - Lagavulin 16 Years Old (43%, OB, 2014) Category: Islay single malt scotch whisky Origin: Lagavulin Distillery Bottling: Official – Diageo ABV: 43% Cost: £48.50 Score: 87/100 What they say: Above all, Islay […]
  • Lagavulin 16 Years Old 1998 Single Cask (2014) - Lagavulin 16 Years Old 1998 (Single Cask Sample) 52.4% ABV Score: 89/100 What they say: Lagavulin Distillery Warehouse Tasting Sample #2 What we say: Our second cask sample from the Warehouse Tasting […]
  • Lagavulin 18 Years Old Feis Ile 2016 (2016) - Lagavulin 18 Years Old Feis Ile  (49.5%, OB, 6000 Bottles, 2016) Category: Islay single malt scotch whisky Origin: Lagavulin Distillery Bottling: Diageo ABV: 49.5% Cost: £125 from Lagavulin Distillery [sold out] What […]
  • lagavulin-1986-distillers-edition Lagavulin 1986 Distillers Edition (2016) - Lagavulin 1986 Distillers Edition (43%,OB, lgv.4/490, 2002) Category: Islay single malt scotch whisky Origin: Lagavulin Distillery Bottling: Diageo ABV: 43% Cost: approx. £170-220 at auction (Bottled and released 2002) What they say: […]
  • Lagavulin-Distillers-Edition-1994 Lagavulin 1994 Distillers Edition (2013) - Yes! this is a perfect balance between the deep smoke Lagavulin and sweet sherry from the PX casks.  Although these are released yearly with some batch to batch variation, more recent versions have been met with as much good [and similar] reviews. 90/100
  • lagavulin-1997-bottled-2013-pedro-ximenez-cask-finish-distillers-edition-whisky Lagavulin 1997 Distillers Edition (2016) - Lagavulin 1997 Distillers Edition (43%, OB, lgv.4/502, 2013) Category: Islay single malt scotch whisky Origin: Lagavulin Distillery Bottling: Diageo ABV: 43% Cost: £73.26 What they say: Double matured in Pedro Ximinez cask […]
  • lagavulin-1999-bottled-2015-pedro-ximenez-cask-finish-distillers-edition-whisky Lagavulin 1999 Distillers Edition (2019) - Lagavulin 1999 Distillers Edition whisky review: A very "Classic" Lagavulin Distillers Edition with a great balance between hugely smoky Lagavulin and sweet dried sherry fruits and cocoa from the PX casks. Plenty of depth on the nose and palate and a finish that persists. 85/100
  • lagavulin-2000-bottled-2016-pedro-ximenez-cask-finish-distillers-edition-whisky (1) Lagavulin 2000 Distillers Edition (2019) - Lagavulin 2000 Distillers Edition whisky review: Softer and less smoky both on the nose and palate than the 1999 vintage. More fruity in nature and much more vanilla influence. Slightly more sugary and nutty too. It is hard to ascribe why this is distinctly less smoky and slightly lighter in texture, however differences in the maturation/finishing casks more than justify the alterations in flavour profile, more fruit and nut than chocolate and tobacco. Still very pleasant. 84/100
  • lagavulin-2001-bottled-2017-pedro-ximenez-cask-finish-distillers-edition-whisky (1) Lagavulin 2001 Distillers Edition (2019) - Lagavulin 2001 Distillers Edition whisky review: Despite overall revealing similar flavours this one seems different again, a little less well integrated, cracks are beginning to show here, the smoke is muted and also a little more menthol crystal accompaniment makes it less well suited to what is essentially less sweet, more dry nut and saltier - if any malt is present it is more in the Custard cream biscuit range than the thick, heavy malt extract I'm used to from Lagavulin. 83/100
  • distillery-only-2010-whisky Lagavulin 2010 Distillery Only (2017) - Lagavulin 2010 Distillery Only (52.5%, OB, 2010) Category: Islay single malt scotch whisky Origin: Lagavulin Distillery Bottling: Diageo ABV: 52.5% Cost: £sold out may be available at auction? What they say: A […]
  • Lagavulin Lagavulin 21 Years Old 1993 Single Cask (2014) - Lagavulin 21 Years Old 1993 (Single Cask Sample) 48.4% ABV Score: 92/100 What they say: Lagavulin Distillery Warehouse Tasting Sample #3 What we say: Finally we get to grips with the Valinch […]
  • Lagavulin 32 Years Old 1982 Lagavulin 32 Years Old 1982 Single Cask (2014) - Lagavulin 32 Years Old 1982 (Single Cask Sample) Score: 93/100 What they say: Lagavulin Distillery Warehouse Tasting Sample #4 What we say: A full 32 years old, this sample was distilled in […]
  • lagavulin-1991-feis-ile-2015-whisky Lagavulin Feis Ile 2015 (2016) - Lagavulin 1991 Triple Matured Feis Ile 2015 (59.9%, OB, 3500 Bottles, 2015) Whisky Review: Category: Islay single malt scotch whisky Origin: Lagavulin Distillery Bottling: Diageo ABV: 59.9% Cost: £128 What they say: […]
  • Lagavulin Triple Matured FOCM Lagavulin Triple Matured (2014) - Lagavulin Triple Matured – Exclusive to Friends of the Classic Malts (Official Bottling) 48% ABV, £100-115 for 70cl Score: 87/100 What they say: Originally released exclusively for the Friends of the Classic Malts, this is […]
Independent Bottling
Scotch Malt Whisky Society
  • Longmorn 1976 Thosop & SMWS 111.16 SMWS 111.16 (2016) - Lagavulin 14 Years Old 1987 111.16 (55.8%, SMWS, 2001) Category: Islay single malt scotch whisky Origin: Lagavulin Distillery Bottling: Scotch Malt Whisky Society Cask 111.16 ABV: 55.8% Cost: £14.95 per dram at […]
The Spirit Still
  • Like-A-Villain-9-Year-Old-The-Spirit-Still Like A Villain 9 Years Old 2008 (2018) - The Spirit Still Like A Villain 9 Years Old 2008 Single Malt Scotch Whisky Review: A remarkably mature tasting 9 year old Lagavulin, sweetened and oaked by its maturation in an ex Cote du Rhone French oak butt. The combination of Islay whisky and French oak and wine deliver a veritable Thai cookbook of flavours! 88/100