Diageo Global Travel & Middle East (GTME) has launched a limited-edition Lagavulin bottling to mark the 200th anniversary of the Islay single malt whisky brand.
Lagavulin 8 Year Old, created in honour of Alfred Barnard, described as the first whisky journalist and a renowned traveller, is said to have a long, sweet and “power-driven” finish.
The single malt will be available in travel retail twice during the course of the year and is priced at £41.40 (US$88.65/€72.00).
The limited edition marks the start of Lagavulin distillery’s bi-centennial activities. These include bringing people to Islay and bringing Islay to as many people around the globe as possible, the company stated.
Diageo GTME Global Marketing Director Peter Fairbrother said: “Single malts represent the fastest-growing segment of the whisky category in travel retail, growing +12.5% in the last recorded year and now valued at US$800 million. Diageo has the largest portfolio in this flourishing category and we are proud to own over 40% of the industry’s inventory. With this breadth to our portfolio, we are delighted to be able to bring rare and special whiskies – such as this limited-edition Lagavulin 8 Year Old – to travellers across the globe.”
Diageo Head of Whisky Outreach Dr Nick Morgan added: “This is a special year for a much-loved single malt Scotch whisky revered around the world as the definitive Islay whisky. We are thrilled to begin the celebrations for such an historic occasion with the launch of the first Lagavulin 8 Year Old for many years.”
