Lagavulin 12 Year Natural Cask Strength 2018 Limited Edition Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky 750ml

Lagavulin 12 Year Natural Cask Strength 2018 is the 18th incarnation of one of the most celebrated annual releases in all of Scotch whisky, part of the Diageo Special Releases program and considered by many serious peat drinkers to be the single most reliably excellent cask strength expression in the entire Diageo portfolio. Drawn from the legendary Lagavulin Distillery on the southern shore of the Isle of Islay, founded in 1816 and one of the most heavily peated and historically revered names in single malt scotch, this 2018 vintage was distilled, aged for twelve years in refill American oak hogsheads, and bottled at its natural cask strength of 57.8% ABV on March 13, 2018. The Lagavulin 12 Year Cask Strength has been part of the Diageo Special Releases program since 2003, missing only the very first 2002 edition, and remains the only Diageo Special Release that stays roughly consistent year over year in age, cask type, and outturn style, with the ABV varying within a narrow window of about four points. The 2018 release is widely regarded as slightly sweeter and brighter than the 2017 vintage, with classic Lagavulin power and smoke layered over citrus, sea brine, and warm pastry notes. Natural color, non chill filtered, and now discontinued by vintage as each annual release closes after its production year. Rated 93 points by critics.

ABV / Proof

Tasting Notes

Color: Pale gold to very pale straw, with the bright translucent character of refill American oak hogsheads.

Nose: Light pipe smoke, soapstone minerals, lemons, tar, ocean spray, sugar peat, toffee chips, floral white peaches, raspberry, freshly cut grass, earthy peat, hard candy boiled sweets, sea air, sweet pastry, toast, and fennel. Adding water releases lemon poppyseed muffins and softer maritime aromas.

Palate: Thick and oily textured, smoother than expected at natural strength, with icing sugar sweetness, lemon zest, liquorice tea, grapefruit, crushed seashells, pipe tobacco, yellow fruits, star anise, lemon candy, salted caramel, burned marshmallows, dark chocolate, cigar smoke, and a bright tart lemon and salt midground supported by dried thyme, mint leaf, and cocoa.

Finish: Long and powerfully smoky, with hazelnuts and Brazil nuts, more lemon zest and grapefruit zest, wet rocks, more crushed seashells, sea salt, drying smoke, bitter orange, and a lightly drying salty aftertaste.

FAQ

What are the Diageo Special Releases? The Diageo Special Releases are an annual collection of limited edition single malts and grain whiskies from across the Diageo portfolio, launched in 2001 and revealed each autumn. Each release is a one off vintage, never repeated in exactly the same form, with each bottle drawn from a discrete cask selection. The Lagavulin 12 Year Cask Strength is a fixture of the Special Releases lineup, present every year since 2003 with consistent age and cask type, making it one of the most collected and tracked annual releases in scotch.

How does this differ from the standard Lagavulin 16? The flagship Lagavulin 16 is bottled at 43% ABV, chill filtered, and built around extended sherry tinged complexity. This 12 Year Cask Strength is bottled at 57.8% ABV, non chill filtered, with natural color and built around brighter, more vibrant refill American oak character. The cask strength delivery means greater intensity and rewards a few drops of water, while the younger age statement preserves more of the bright distillery character.

How rare is this 2018 release now? The 2018 release was produced in limited quantities for the autumn 2018 Special Releases reveal at original SRP around $100 USD, and the vintage closed once stocks shipped through. Each subsequent year's Lagavulin 12 Cask Strength has been a distinct release. The 2018 vintage now trades on the secondary market in the $160 to $180 range, with sealed bottles in original presentation cases increasingly scarce.

What does "natural cask strength" mean? Natural cask strength means the whisky is bottled at the proof it reaches in the cask at the moment of bottling, with no water added to bring the ABV down to a standard 40% to 46%. For this release that means 57.8% ABV (115.6 proof), preserving the full concentrated flavor of the spirit. Most cask strength whiskies are bottled between 50% and 65% ABV. Many drinkers add a few drops of water to open up the aromatics.

Where can I buy Lagavulin 12 Year 2018 Cask Strength online? Available here at Liquor On Broadway while stock lasts, with fast insured shipping nationwide.