Lagavulin

Lagavulin was originally named Kildalton and can trace its foundation back to 1816, however there were most likely several illegal distilleries operating on the site for a good while before that. The distillery was built by local entrepeneur John Johnston and he also built a second distillery called Ardmore nearby that was eventually absorbed into the Lagavulin premises. The distillery became well known when the White Horse blend was launched in 1890, and Lagavulin has always been an important malt in the blend. In 1908 a second distillery called Malt Mill was built in the Lagavulin site after a dispute between the owners and the people at Laphroaig. Malt Mill was built to try and recreate the same style as Laphroaig in what became a bit of a vendetta between Lagavulin owner Peter Mackie and his neighbours at Laphroaig. At one point he even built a dam to cut off and divert their water supply! Malt Mill was eventually dismantled and some of the equipment used in the main distillery. The former buildings are now part of the visitor centre. The standard 16 year old Lagavulin was one of the original whiskies in Diageo's Classic Malt range. Lagavulin has a capacity of 2,250,000 litres per year and currently has four pot stills.