Lagavulin Fireside Tales 12 Year Old Scotch Whisky Special Release 2024
Lagavulin Fireside Tales 12 Year Old is the Islay distillery's entry in Diageo's Special Releases 2024 — a 12 year old single malt bottled at natural cask strength, 57.4% ABV (114.8 proof), in 750mL. It is available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.
- ABV: 57.4% (114.8 proof), natural cask strength
- Size: 750mL
- Age: 12 years
- Casks: First-fill ex-bourbon barrels, refill American oak hogsheads, refill European oak butts
- Filtration: Non-chill filtered, no added colouring
- Collection: Diageo Special Releases 2024 — "Spirited Xchange Second Edition"
- Origin: Lagavulin Distillery, Islay, Scotland
What If Smoke Was Tamed into Sweetness?
Every Special Release starts with a "what if," and Lagavulin's for 2024 was: what if smoke was tamed into inviting sweetness? Just as Islay folk settle into fireside storytelling and a burning fire sinks to gentle embers, Fireside Tales reveals a softer dimension to the legend of Lagavulin — bold smoke quietened to a hush under the command of active oak. The recipe leans on first-fill ex-bourbon barrels, unusual for Lagavulin (the 16 Year Old is mostly refill casks), blended with refill American oak hogsheads and European oak butts under master blender Dr Stuart Morrison. Lagavulin has distilled on the bay between Ardbeg and Laphroaig since 1816, and this is one of eight bottlings in the 2024 collection. Browse the Lagavulin collection, more Scotch whisky, and the wider whisky shelves at Del Mesa.
Tasting Notes
Diageo's official notes open on a smouldering bonfire on a distant beach — fresh, clean phenols with wood ash, healing cream and carbolic soap, backed by rowan jelly and unripe redcurrants. The palate is smoothly creamy and mouth-filling, very sweet at first, then drying with a sprinkling of salt and a controlled smokiness; the finish is long, finally powerfully smoky and drying, with a twist of warming spice — a classic Lagavulin.
How to Enjoy
Pour it neat first to meet the full cask strength, then add a few drops of water — Diageo notes the smoke deepens while the sweetness holds. It is a fireside whisky in the literal sense: one measured pour, a cold evening, and time.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Lagavulin Fireside Tales? Lagavulin's bottling in Diageo's Special Releases 2024 ("Spirited Xchange Second Edition") — a 12 year old Islay single malt at natural cask strength, built around first-fill ex-bourbon casks to tame the distillery's smoke into sweetness.
What proof is Fireside Tales? 57.4% ABV (114.8 proof), bottled at natural cask strength with no chill filtration and no added colouring.
How is Fireside Tales different from Lagavulin 16 Year Old? Age and casks: Fireside Tales is 12 years old and leans on first-fill ex-bourbon barrels for a sweeter, glazed profile, where the 16 Year Old is older, bottled at 43% ABV and drawn mostly from refill casks for a drier, smokier depth.
Is Fireside Tales a limited edition? Yes — the Diageo Special Releases are an annual limited collection; the 2024 edition comprises eight bottlings, each produced once.
Islay smoke, softened by the fire — order Lagavulin Fireside Tales 12 Year Old online from Del Mesa Liquor in San Diego, CA.