Lagavulin 
Lagavulin is located between Laphraoig and Ardbeg on the southeast coast of Islay. The shop and visitor centre is an unexpected but pleasant surprise with its tongue-and-groove panelled walls and weathered look. The distillery celebrated its 200th anniversary in 2016.
The distillery currently produces about 3,000,000 litres of spirit a year. A tanker collects the new-make spirit three times a week for transfer to the mainland for maturing. 30% of Lagavulin's output goes into White Horse, a blended whisky. The remaining 70% goes to produce single malts under the Lagavulin name. Lagavulin currently produces its usual 16 year old and various other editions including a distiller's edition with 3-6 months finishing in sherry casks.
Water of Life Tasting Experience £45
This tasting was booked in February 2025 but was upgraded free of charge (saving £15) to the Warehouse 3 Cask Draw Experience, which had been launched subsequently. The tastings were hosted by Calum and comprised:
- Feis Ile 2025 15 year old that spent 13 years in refill Bourbon and 22 months in Moscatel de Malaga casks. 55.7%, 1586 bottles
- Islay matured 12 year old refill hogshead, 52.1%, distilled November 2012
- Mainland matured for 13 years in Bordeaux STR red wine casks, 54.4%. Peppery, sweet, some tannin
- Islay matured refill punchard 15 year old, 56.3%, distilled in March 2010. Light node, sweet
- Refill punchard, 54.3%, 18 year old, spent most of its life in a Port Ellen warehouse and brought back to Lagavulin in 2023
Spirit at Lagavulin was first made from surplus grain and used by doctors as a treatment for various ailments. The Lagavulin manager fell out with Laphroaig, for whom he was an agent, and started up the Malt Mill distillery on the Lagavulin site in attempt to replicate the Laphroaig spirit. The output from Malt Mill always went into blended spirits, such as White Horse, and there are no known bottles of Malt Mill single malt. Or are there? - have a look here. The Malt Mill distillery closed in 1962 and a bottle of new make spirit exists at Lagavulin, pictured here.
Purchases
