Two and a half miles past the town of Port Ellen, nestled in the stony heather-covered hills, you'll discover one of Islay's oldest distillation sites, the picturesque Lagavulin Distillery. Situated on the shores of Lagavulin Bay, and the middle child of Islay's south-side-of-the-island trio, Lagavulin Distillery is a 15-20 min walk (1.2mi) past Laphroaig and a further 15-20 min walk (1.2mi) from Ardbeg.
Lagavulin whisky distillery, Isle of Islay, Scotland viewed from Dunyvaig Castle. Soft autumn-toned photograph.
How to Pronounce Lagavulin
How to pronounce Lagavulin (la·guh·voo·luhn), courtesy of Brian Cox ...
Lagavulin Whisky
While generally not as iodine-intense as its neighbouring distilleries Laphroaig and Ardbeg, the flavours of Lagavulin Whisky still pack a punch on the palate. "It's like drinking a campfire," says Nick Offerman when describing Lagavulin 16. The smooth, rich smokiness of a Lagavulin whisky is likened to 'a depth charge' by Brian Cox, and is considered "mothers milk" by some (myself included).
Per David Broom for Whisky Advocate "Lagavulin is a classic example of how smoke isn't a blunt instrument that covers everything in a fog, but an element that works with all the flavours produced in distillation and maturation." Lagavulin 16 is a dram I consider a 'gateway whisky' for those who are new to peat - it's sweet, rich and warming. The peat is more reminiscent of an open fire on a cold day than a smoke filled kick to the head; it lacks the raw medicinal qualities of nearby Ardbeg and Laphroaig. Lagavulin 16 pairs exceptionally well with caramel or chocolate desserts, and it is definitely one of my go-to drams.
Purple toned black and white photograph of the tasting room and library at Lagavulin Distillery.
Lagavulin Whisky at Lagavulin Distillery. From Left to Right, bottles and boxes of: Lagavulin 16, Lagavulin Distillers Edition, Lagavulin 12 and Lagavulin 8.
Ron Swanson / Nick Offerman & Lagavulin Whisky
Whether you're a fan of the TV programme 'Parks and Recreation' or not, if you're a fan of Lagavulin, there's a good chance you've seen Nick Offerman (or his Park's character Ron Swanson) espousing his joy for Lagavulin whisky. Diageo paired up with Nick for a series of on-brand/on-character promotions for Lagavulin that showcase the distillery and the whisky beautifully. My favourite is "Yule Log", a 45-minute video of Nick Offerman sitting in a cosy leather armchair, occasionally taking a sip of Lagavulin as the fire crackles beside him. It's not exactly edge of your seat entertainment, but I love its simplicity. It would make an excellent screen saver. If you'd like to see the key highlights rather than watch the full 45 minutes, there's a play by play in the first comment on youtube.
The series includes some excellent footage of Lagavulin Distillery, such as in the episode 'Message in a Bottle' (one method of acquiring Lagavulin Whisky).
Where is Lagavulin Distillery?
Lagavulin Distillery is located in the wee village of Lagavulin (it pretty much IS the village of Lagavulin), on the beautiful Isle of Islay, 2.6 miles from the Port Ellen Ferry Terminal. Nearby distilleries include Ardbeg and Laphroaig.
Lagavulin Whisky Gifts, Wall Art and Home Bar Decor, Made By Whisky Lovers For Whisky Lovers.
Our museum-quality maps, illustrations and photographs transform memories into masterpieces that you'll proudly display for years to come. Our posters and fine art prints will inspire future adventures, spark conversations, and transport you to legendary whisky distilleries with every glance.
Lagavulin Distillery Tours, Pricing & Bookings
Lagavulin Distillery is open 7 days from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm until the 17th October. From November to February they're open Monday to Saturday 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. The bar at Lagavulin is open 10.30 am to 4:00 pm during the distillery's opening hours. Last orders are at 3.30pm. It is highly recommended you book your tour and tasting experiences well in advance.
Lagavulin Classic Tour and Tasting
Available 7 days at 10:15 am and 3pm until 17th October, £22 per person and approximately 60 minutes duration. A guided tour of Lagavulin Distillery, and a three-dram tutored tasting (including a sample of a distillery exclusive bottling). Includes a Lagavulin branded glass for you to take home. Click here for more information or to book the Lagavulin Classic Tour. Children aged 8 years and over are welcome on the tour (childrens tickets are £11), and drivers drams (takeaway samples) are available.
Lagavulin Distillery Exclusive Tasting Experience
Available 7 days at 10:45 am and 2:00pm until 17 October, £115 per person, approximately 2 hours duration. An elevated whisky experience tasting of five (5) Lagavulin Distillery exclusive whiskies, including one single cask sample, and you will get to take home your own hand-filled 200 ml bottle of single cask Lagavulin. Click here for more information or to book the Lagavulin Distillery Exclusive Tasting. Persons aged 18 years and over only. Drivers drams are available.
Other tasting experiences are available at various times throughout the year.
Lagavulin Distillery Images
Purple toned photograph of the Lagavulin Visitor Centre Branded Merchandise/Gift Room
Lagavulin's Porteus Patent Malt Mill, Machine No. MM-RB-15, Date: 16-3-1963. Maintained by Ronnie Lee
Lagavulin's Porteus Patent Malt Mill, Machine No. MM-RB-15, Date: 16-3-1963. Maintained by Ronnie Lee
Purple toned photograph of the Lagavulin Distillery Mash Tun
Malted barley, ground into grist, then add to hot water in the Mash Tun at Lagavulin Distillery.
Six of the ten washbacks at Lagavulin Distillery, Islay, Scotland. Soft colour photograph.
Six of the ten washbacks at Lagavulin Distillery, Islay, Scotland. Golden toned soft colour photograph.
Lagavulin Distillery Wash Stills. They measure almost 7m in height. 10,800 litres of wort/wash is used to charge each wash stills per cycle. The charge for the wash stills less than that for the spirit stills (typically it's the other way around).
Lagavulin Distillery Wash Stills. They measure almost 7m in height. 10,800 litres of wort/wash is used to charge each wash stills per cycle. The charge for the wash stills less than that for the spirit stills (typically it's the other way around).
The pear shaped spirit stills at Lagavulin Distillery
The Lagavulin Spirit Safe Low Wines/Wash Still Bowls.
Sepia toned black and white photograph of Lagavulin Distillery, Islay, Scotland. photograph which shows the front of the distillery, the Lagavulin sign and the post box.
Accommodation Near Lagavulin Distillery
There are a small number of
Right on the shoreline, No. 1 Charlotte St is centrally located in Port Ellen for dining out, picking up a few things at the Co-op, catching the ferry, or walking to all three of the Port Ellen distilleries (Ardbeg, Lagavulin and Laphroaig). Rooms have private bathrooms.
The Machrie Hotel is an 18th century converted farmhouse that sits in the middle of a golf course, alongside 7 miles of pristine beach. The Machrie is a short drive from Port Ellen and has 47 stylish rooms to choose from, many with stunning views across the fairway towards the ocean.
For more recommendations, see our guide to Islay Accommodation: The Best Hotels, B&Bs and Holiday Cottages.
References & Further Reading
In A Passion for Whisky Ian Wisniewski provides an excellent education on the processes involved in making whisky, and details Islay's whisky heritage. Ian profiles of each of Islay's ten open distilleries and their different styles of whisky, and even includes an introduction to three Islay distilleries that are currently under construction (Laggan Bay, Portintruan and Ili). A Passion for Whisky will suit whisky fans and novices alike (as there is a lot of educational content for all levels), and was selected as one of Waterstones Best Books of 2023: Food & Drink and featured in Forbes: Whisky Books That Whisky Lovers Will Actually Read. Available in paperback and Kindle.
Ingvar Ronde's annual guide to all things Scotch whisky, The Malt Whisky Yearbook is your go-to guide for distillery facts and stats. With comprehensive and up-to-date distillery summaries, editorials on the state of world whisky, profiles on global whisky trail blazers (the people having the most impact on the industry), the Malt Whisky Yearbook packs in a lot of facts and figures and is an essential Almanac for whisky fans.
One of Amanda's favourite books. Around 1885, Alfred Barnard was secretary of Harper's Weekly Gazette, a journal dedicated to the wine and spirit trade. In order to provide his readers with the history and descriptions of the whisky-making process, Barnard decided to visit all distilleries in Scotland, England and Ireland. Accompanied by friends, he visited and sketched over 150 distilleries. This is a wonderful step back in time and a must have book for a whisky history geek. Last printed in 2023, copies of Whisky Distilleries of the United Kingdom are disappearing from retailers, so get yours while you still can.
Whiskies Galore is not your average whisky book. It is not simply a catalogue of distilleries, but a story of discovery and adventure. Join Ian Buxton on a personal journey across Scotland's islands, combining his expert knowledge of whisky with his fondness for anecdote, as he provides a special treat for all who love Scotland's islands and their drams.
Treating Scotland as eight distinct regions (splitting the Highlands into Central, North, East, and West, plus the usual designations of Lowlands, Islay, Speyside and Islands), the Spirit of Place provides insight and imagery for fifty of Scotland’s greatest distilleries. Beautifully photographed by Lara Platman and Allan MacDonald, this is a captivating modern companion to Alfred Barnard’s great Whisky Distilleries of the United Kingdom.