Lagavulin Distillery

Tour experience, samples, overall. Overall - beautiful location in a small bay. Pleasant e-bike ride from Port Ellen, even in the rain. Small visitor's space with bottles and gifts. Tour experience - absolutely worth it. The staff are VERY knowledgeable about all scotch making, not just their own. You get to see the peat furnace and mill. The former is no longer used as they get all their maltings from Port Ellen (very few distilleries have a malting floor to show). If you only go on one tour, this might be best but one warning...there are no casks to see. They ship all their casks off the island so there is no warehouse to walk through. That is an impressive sight to miss. Tasting - the guided experience was great. Several quality pours, none of the short aged stuff some use to fill a flight out. So much learning. Lagavulin is very comfortable pouring free tastes of most any bottle on the shelf. These are small pours but this is much more liberal than other distilleries. Gift shop was loaded with quality items.

Our tour was really informative and fun. Our guide was very knowledgeable. We also really appreciated the help from the staff to select which bottles to take home. Everyone was lovely. And of course, the whisky... :)

Biased as Lagavulin is my favorite distillery! Excellent tour of their processes and where they’ve gone more modern than traditional (stainless mash tank versus wooden wash tank) and why. Wonderful balance of technical, for “whiskey heads”, and basic information for spouses and”newbie’s”! I highly recommend!!!

An absolute gem of an experience!! Nicole was fantastic and told a great tale of the origin of the distillery and knew a great deal about the process. The grounds and surrounding area are as epic as the incredible whisky itself. A must-do destination for whisky lovers and all who want to understand Islay a bit more!

Visiting Lagavulin Distillery is nothing short of an unforgettable experience, and the Grand Taste Tour takes it to another level. From the moment you step onto the historic grounds, you’re immersed in the rich heritage and craftsmanship that make Lagavulin one of the most iconic names in Scotch whisky. The tour itself is exceptional—led by passionate and knowledgeable guides who bring the history and distillation process to life. Walking through the distillery, surrounded by the scent of peat smoke and aging whisky, feels almost magical. Every detail, from the copper stills to the cask warehouses, showcases the dedication that goes into every bottle. The highlight, of course, is the tasting. Sampling Lagavulin’s incredible range, including some rare and special expressions, was an absolute treat. Each pour was a deep dive into complex, smoky, and beautifully balanced flavors that define this legendary Islay whisky. The setting, with stunning coastal views, only adds to the experience. For any whisky enthusiast, the Grand Taste Tour at Lagavulin is a must. It’s not just a tasting—it’s a journey into the soul of one of Scotland’s finest distilleries. A phenomenal experience that leaves you with a deeper appreciation (and maybe a bottle or two) of this extraordinary spirit!

Enjoyed the exclusive experience tasting. While malting is not done onsite, milling fermentation, distilling are still done onsite. At the end of the tour get to taste 6 whiskies side by side. Our guide Alexandre is knowledgeable and makes the tasting memorable, interactive, and fun. What is more, get to label and bottle your own whisky from the cask. Highly recommend this experience for whisky lovers. It makes a difference doing the tasting side by side and with a guide who knows the history and stories. A 26 yr old was served in the tasting experience, a bottle priced at GBP 1200+, with complex nose and balanced palate, Lagavulin designed this experience to turn all visitors into fans!

Founded in 1816. The name means "hollow of the mill". I recommend a tour with a tasting. We got to taste 8-years limited edition, the Distillers edition and 15-years old exclusive. They will also give you a 10% store discount with the tour. Don't miss.

I've dreamt about visiting the Lagavulin distillery for close to a decade, and once I finally got the opportunity to do so, Alexander our guide made it an unforgettable experience. He was extremely kind and patient with our questions, full of knowledge and history. It was very interesting to see the process and learn the history, but above all, going through everything getting to smell the most glorious smell ever was just heavenly. Needless to say, the tasting portion was amazing. It was an unforgettable experience. Literally an item crossed off my bucket list. Thank you all!!