Lagavulin

Lagavulin can legitimately claim to be one of the oldest distilleries in Scotland – records show that there was illicit distillation taking place on the site as far back as 1742. Lagavulin officially dates back to 1816, when John Jonston and Archibald Campbell constructed two distilleries on the site, although two decades later the Ardmore and Lagavulin distilleries were combined. During the 19th century, several legal battles ensued with the neighboring distillery Laphroaig, which started after Sir Peter Mackie, the distiller at Lagavulin, attempted to push Laphroaig from the market by making a replica Whisky – due to the difference in the peat and water at the two distilleries, the Lagavulin Whisky was different but production continued. In 1962 the still house was rebuilt, incorporating the stills of the Malt Mill Distillery and in 1996 the machinery was updated, including a new mashtun and automated controls. During most of the 1980s, the distillery was only in operation for two days a week, although production increased again in the 1990s. The Malt Mill was featured in the 2012 film The Angel’s Share. Lagavulin is currently owned by Diageo plc.