Lagavulin 10 Year Old Scotch Whisky 70cl

Smoke first, questions later. Lagavulin 10 Year Old is Islay whisky with a proper coastal backbone, the kind of Scotch whisky that feels like standing on a windy shoreline while someone nearby is firing up a peat-fuelled bonfire.

That 10-year age matters because it pulls the peat into line, giving you depth, structure, and enough oak influence to keep things bold, not messy. You get intensity, but it’s focused. This is the bottle for anyone who wants to understand why Islay has a cult following.

• Nose: Dense peat smoke, sea spray, iodine, grilled lemon, and a touch of vanilla from oak.
• Taste: Oily texture with waves of smoke, salted caramel, roasted malt, black pepper, and a savoury, coastal brine.
• Finish: Long and warming, with lingering peat embers, drying oak, and a last flicker of citrus zest.

What makes it special is the balance, it’s not just “smoky.” The maritime notes (salt, seaweed, that mediciny iodine edge) keep it unmistakably Islay, while the darker flavours (toffee, char, roasted grains) give it real weight. Every sip feels layered, like it’s telling you a different part of the island.

If you’re building a whisky lineup at home, this one plays a very specific role. It’s your “bring out the peat” bottle, the one you reach for when you want intensity and personality, not a background pour. It also makes a killer whisky conversation starter because nobody mistakes Lagavulin for anything else.

Is it for everyone? Nope, and that’s the point. If you like your Scotch whisky clean, light, and gentle, look elsewhere. If you want smoke, salt, and an unapologetically coastal punch, you’re in the right place.

Fun Fact: Lagavulin’s distillery sits practically next door to another Islay legend, Laphroaig, and their side-by-side coastal locations help explain why both whiskies taste like the sea got invited to the party.