Lagavulin Special Release 2024 12 Year Scotch Whisky

Lagavulin Special Release 2024 12 Year is the annual limited Lagavulin expression from Diageo’s Special Releases program — a 12-year heavily peated Islay single malt bottled at natural cask strength without chill filtration, presenting Lagavulin’s distinctive southern Islay smoke at a younger, more raw age than the benchmark 16 Year.

The Lagavulin Special Release is one of the most anticipated annual releases in the Scotch category — the cask strength format at 12 years (versus the 43% bottled 16 Year) shows the distillery’s phenolic smoke character before the extended oak maturation of the standard expression integrates and softens it. Each year’s release has its own specific ABV and cask selection. Browse all Scotch whisky at Wooden Cork.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does the 12 Year Special Release compare to the standard Lagavulin 16 Year?

The Special Release 12 Year is at cask strength (significantly higher ABV than the 16 Year’s 43%), with less oak integration and more raw, intense peat than the 16 Year’s refined and integrated smoke. The 16 Year is the polished, more complete expression; the 12 Year Special Release shows Lagavulin’s distillery character at greater intensity.

Is the 2024 Special Release the same as previous years?

The format is consistent — 12 years, cask strength, non-chill filtered — but the ABV and specific cask selection vary each year, producing a slightly different character from one annual release to the next.