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