Lagavulin

The single malt whiskies from Lagavulin are amongt the world's smokiest with thick lapsang souchon enveloping the palate without remorse. One of the trio of Ìleach distilleries gracing the isle’s South-Easterly shore, each sharing a characteristic peat smoke as well as being Scotland’s most pungent and perhaps most revered. In 1816, the Lagavulin whisky distillery was founded by John Johnston.

Surrounded by dark peat bog and drawing...

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About Lagavulin Whisky Distillery

Distillery Number

01496 302749

Distillery Founded

1816

Distillery Capacity

2 250 000 litres

Distillery Status

Active

Distillery Owner

Diageo

Distillery Address

Near Port Ellen, Islay, Argyll

Distillery Website

www.malts.com

1816

John Johnston founds the distillery.

1825

John Johnston takes over the adjacent distillery Ardmore founded in 1817 by Archibald Campbell and closed in 1821.

1835

Production at Ardmore ceases.

1837

Both distilleries are merged and operated under the name Lagavulin by Donald Johnston.

1852

The brother of the wine and spirits dealer Alexander Graham, John Crawford Graham, purchases the distillery.

1867

The distillery is acquired by James Logan Mackie & Co. and refurbishment starts.

1878

Peter Mackie is employed.

1889

James Logan Mackie passes away and nephew Peter Mackie inherits the distillery.

1890

J. L. Mackie & Co. changes name to Mackie & Co. Peter Mackie launches White Horse onto the export market with Lagavulin included in the blend. White Horse blended is not available on the domestic market until 1901.

1908

Peter Mackie uses the old distillery buildings to build a new distillery, Malt Mill, on the site. Mackie had previously been agent for Laphroaig but the owners were not content and terminated the contract. Malt Mill was an attempt by Mackie to compete and force Laphroaig out of the market.

1924

Peter Mackie passes away and Mackie & Co. changes name to White Horse Distillers.

1927

White Horse Distillers becomes part of Distillers Company Limited (DCL).

1930

The distillery is administered under Scottish Malt Distillers (SMD).

1952

An explosive fire breaks out and causes considerable damage.

1960

Malt Mills distillery closes and today it houses Lagavulin’s visitor centre.

1974

Floor maltings are decommisioned and malt is bought from Port Ellen instead.

1988

Lagavulin 16 years becomes one of six Classic Malts.

1998

A Pedro Ximenez sherry finish is launched as a Distillers Edition.

2002

Two cask strengths (12 years and 25 years) are launched.

2006

A 30 year old is released.

2007

A 21 year old from 1985 and the sixth edition of the 12 year old are released.

2008

A new 12 year old is released.

Reproduced from the Malt Whisky Yearbook 2009 with the kind permission of Mr Ingvar Ronde

Malt Whisky Yearbook

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Glencairn Tasting Glass

Want to get the most out of your whisky? Why not use the official whisky glass... The Glencairn, now engraved with the Master of Malt label.

Set of Six Tasting Glasses

Buy a set of six Glencairn tasting glasses for just £19.95.

Sort by Popularity

Name Price

Lagavulin 16 Year Old (70cl, 43%)

Lagavulin

A much sought-after single malt with the massive peat-smoke that's typical of southern Islay - but also offering a dryness that turns it into a truly interesting dram. The 16 year old has become a benchmark Islay dram from the Lagavulin distillery. More info

£39.95

Lagavulin 15 Year Old - 1980s Bottling (White Horse Distillers) (75cl, 45%)

Lagavulin

A very, very rare ceramic decanter of 15 year old Lagavulin, this was released in the 1980s, and is quite a collectors' piece. In fact, Serge Valentin from WhiskyFun.com rated this with a whopping 94 points - very high indeed for Serge! More info

£624.95

Lagavulin 12 Year Old (2009 Release) (70cl, 57.90%)

Lagavulin

The hotly anticipated 2009 release of the cask-strength Lagavulin 12 year-old. Undoubtedly one of the best cask-strength whiskies. More info

Was: £57.95

Now: £52.95

Lagavulin 16 Year old with 2 Glasses (70cl, 43%)

Lagavulin

Superbly smoky malt, Lagavulin 16 is a Scotch legend in its own right. This presentation set features a bottle of the 16 year old with two Lagavulin branded Glencairn whisky tasting glasses. More info

£51.95

Lagavulin 1993 Pedro Ximénez Finish - Distillers Edition (70cl, 45.80%)

Lagavulin

Ever wondered what a deliciously smoky Lagavulin would taste like when coupled with the sweet, silken grace of Pedro Ximenez dessert sherry cask? Well here it is. A superb Distillers Edition, this is the 1993 release and it's one of our favourites. A perfect after dinner dram, lovely with a few squares of dark chocolate and a coffee. More info

£48.95

Lg1 - Elements of Islay (Speciality Drinks) (50cl, 56.80%)

Lagavulin

From Speciality Drinks' Elements of Islay range, originally packaged with a laboratory look. Each is a 50cl bottle of cask strength Islay malt, each are given Periodic Table style names, which hint at the distillery of origin. More info

Lg1 - Elements of Islay (Speciality Drinks)

£39.95

Lagavulin Distillery Only 2010 (70cl, 52.50%)

Lagavulin

This is for "educational" purposes only - not for sale, sorry!

A special Lagavulin single cask, available only at the distillery during the Islay Festival (Feis Ile) 2010. More info

£99.95

Lagavulin Feis Ile 2010 (70cl, 52.70%)

Lagavulin

This is for "educational" purposes only - not for sale, sorry!

A special release from the Lagavulin distillery, distilled in 1994 and filled into a European Oak Sherry cask (number 3210) on the 1st August 1994, and aged for 15 years before bottling in 2010. Each bottle is individually numbered and at cask strength. More info

£99.95

Lagavulin 21 Year Old (70cl, 56.50%)

Lagavulin

A cask strength 21 year old release from Lagavulin, just 6,642 bottles were released, distilled in 1985 and bottled in 2007. More info

£449.95

Lagavulin 1991 Pedro Ximénez Finish - Distillers Edition (70cl, 43%)

Lagavulin

When Lagavulin decided to produce a 'finished' whisky - The Distillers Edition, there were doubters who thought nothing could be a match for the pungent strength of Lagavulin. Those sceptics were unfamiliar with the might of Pedro-Ximenez. We love this 1991 distilled Lagavulin, a great digestif. More info

£54.95

Lagavulin 12 Year Old (2008 Release) (70cl, 56.40%)

Lagavulin

Third of a very limited series of special releases from the essential Islay distillery. Delightfully subtle differences compared to previous 12 year old releases. This is the 2008 edition, a cask strength whisky matured in refill bourbon casks. More info

£69.95