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.
How to Pronounce Lagavulin
How to pronounce Lagavulin, 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 the 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.
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.
Posters and Fine Art Prints of Islay Whisky Maps | Made By Whisky Lovers For Whisky Lovers
Lagavulin Distillery Tours, Pricing & Bookings
Lagavulin Distillery is open 7 days from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm until the 31st 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
Lagavulin Classic Tour and Tasting
Available 7 days at 11 am and 3pm until 31st 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, and drivers drams (takeaway samples) are available.
Lagavulin Sensory Tasting Experience
Available Monday to Friday at 10:45 during June 2024, £35 per person and approximately 85 minutes duration. A tutored tasting of five (5) whiskies including a distillery exclusive bottling. Persons aged 18 years and over only. Drivers drams are available. Click here for more information or to book the Lagavulin Tasting Experience.
Warehouse Cask Strength Tasting Experience
Available 7 days at 10:30 am and 1:30 pm until 31 October, £50 per person and approximately 60 minutes duration. A fantastic tasting session straight from the cask in the warehouse (make sure you have warm clothes as it can get a little cold in the warehouse). Click here for more information or to book the Lagavulin Warehouse Experience. Persons aged 18 years and over only. Drivers drams are available.
Lagavulin Distillery Exclusive Tasting Experience
Available 7 days at 2:00pm until 31 October, £105 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.
Lagavulin Distillery Images
What Else Is Nearby
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
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.
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.
In Whisky Island, by Andrew Jefford, Islay's fascinating story is uncovered: from its history and stories of the many shipwrecks which litter its shores, to the beautiful wildlife, landscape and topography of the island revealed through intimate descriptions of the austerely beautiful and remote countryside. Interleaved through these different narrative strands comes the story of the whiskies themselves, traced from a distant past of bothies and illegal stills to present-day legality and prosperity. The flavour of each spirit is analysed and the differences between them teased out, as are the stories of the notable men and women who have played such a integral part in their creation.
Island Whisky Trail by Neil Wilson, features Bruichladdich, Bunnahabhain, Bowmore, Ardbeg, Caol Ila, Lagavulin, Laphroaig, Jura, Mull, Talisker and Oban. There is also a thorough look at the major role that women played in the history of illicit distilling in the County of Argyll with maps of known sites of distilling and appendices of the distillers and where and when they lived. I found it to be a very informative read.