Lagavulin : 12 Year Old Natural Cask Strength Special Release 2025

Tasting notes and characteristics of Lagavulin 12 Year Old Natural Cask Strength Special Release 2025

Tasting

Nose
The nose is powerful and assertive, dominated by intense phenolic notes. The peat asserts itself immediately, accompanied by aromas of wood ash and sharp iodine. Maritime notes come through strongly, with hints evoking dry oyster shells, shellfish, and salty sea spray. The maturation in Pedro Ximénez and Oloroso casks contributes subtly, with nuances of roasted hazelnut caramel in the background. Gingerbread and damp moss notes are also detectable.

Palate
The texture is smooth and slightly oily despite a vigorous character. Dried fruits dominate (figs, dates, raisins), mingling with pronounced smoke, salted caramel, and malt. A pronounced salinity combines with savory spices and a gentle spicy heat. As it develops, the peat smoke gradually reveals itself, tightening its grip. The addition of water softens the whole, unveiling extra layers of spiced oak and a hint of chili.

Food pairings and serving occasions
This exceptional whisky, bottled at natural cask strength at 56.5%, deserves to be enjoyed neat to fully appreciate its complexity. Adding a few drops of water can, however, reveal additional aromas and temper the alcoholic strength.

Other characteristics
This single malt stands out for its highly peated profile, an emblematic hallmark of the island of Islay.

An intensely peated, maritime Islay single malt

Lagavulin, an iconic Islay distillery
Lagavulin, the first distillery to produce whisky legally on the island of Islay, was officially founded in 1816 by John Johnston, although production on the site is documented as early as 1742. In 1889, Peter Mackie took the helm of the distillery and expanded its reach, creating the famous White Horse blend in 1890. Located on the south coast between Ardbeg and Laphroaig, the distillery now belongs to the Diageo group. Its Lagavulin 16 Year Old embodies the excellence of peated Scotch whisky, combining smoky power with the elegance brought by maturation, notably in sherry casks.

The 12 Year Old Natural Cask Strength Special Release 2025, an exceptional limited edition
Lagavulin 12 Year Old Natural Cask Strength Special Release 2025 is part of the limited Diageo Special Releases 2025 range, marked by the theme "Horizons Unbound." This exclusive expression benefits from 12 years of aging combining refill casks and a final finish in European oak casks that previously held Pedro Ximénez and Oloroso. This dual maturation adds an extra dimension to Lagavulin’s signature peated profile, enriching the maritime smoke with fruity and spicy notes. Bottled at natural cask strength at 56.5%, this Scotch whisky, non-chill filtered and of natural color, preserves the full integrity of its aromas and texture. Presented in a case, this exceptional single malt showcases the distillery’s expertise in the art of marrying peaty power with aromatic finesse.