When you hear the word
LAGG, you might think of lag on the internet, delays on the line. That’s got nothing to do with this, and yet we’re saying it anyway: stop the clock! Because here are some great reasons to buy a LAGG whisky.
LAGG whisky is the latest buzz among whisky drinkers. A second distillery has opened on the Isle of Arran (yes, from that well-known whisky brand!). There’s one distillery in the north of the island and one in the south. The latter leans clearly into peat and you can taste it in the whisky.
Powerful and smoky
Which brings us straight to the first reason to pick up a bottle of LAGG: that gorgeous smokiness. As some whisky aficionados will say, there can never be too many peated whiskies. On LAGG’s official website, they put it like this: “Peat is a precious natural resource, rich with aromatic herbs. When burned, it releases phenols that are captured in our whisky. This creates a rich, earthy and complex flavor.” LAGG whiskies are made with four ingredients: water, barley, yeast and peat smoke. Curious how the process works? You can
read all about it here.
Long finish
If you love smoky, full-bodied whiskies, LAGG is your spot. But there’s more to love: the finish. Few things are more disappointing than a whisky whose flavor fades after a few seconds. Think of it like the kiss from your one true love: you want it to linger in your memory for a lifetime. Whisky is for savoring, slowly, and that means the finish should stay with you. LAGG delivers. Take the debut release, the Kilmory Edition: the finish is long, with hints of citrus smoke and vanilla. What more could you ask for?
Popular
Another reason to jump in and buy LAGG whisky is its popularity. Not because it’s flashy or mass-market. No, this brand has been loved by whisky drinkers from day one for its quality. Sometimes when a relatively new distillery opens, you can feel the buzz and LAGG has it.
It’s like that band you catch as an opener and think: they could be huge. Later they’re headlining every main stage, and you get to say: I saw them back then and they were great even then. That’s the moment you can have with LAGG right now. This nectar of the gods only saw the light of day during the pandemic, and you can hop aboard the hype train.
Great price tag
Flavor is essential when deciding to buy a whisky, but price matters too. In this case, the price point helps drive LAGG’s popularity. Just like Arran whiskies, the value for money is more than solid. You can bring home the first release, the Kilmory Edition, for under fifty euros. And the Corriecravie (dangerously delicious!) is only about twenty euros more.
Especially that Corriecravie is one of those bottles you’d say belongs on any list of best whiskies up to €70. A beautiful sherry cask with peat smoke makes it a wonderfully surprising dram. Highly recommended for drinkers looking for aromas of chocolate, spice and hazelnut, while still wanting a touch of peat. It’s not the kind of peat that knocks you off your feet, though.
Distinct identity
And here’s the final reason it’s a good idea to buy LAGG: its distinct identity. We don’t just mean the flavor, as mentioned earlier, but also the packaging.
Did you know the distillery tries to weave the Isle of Arran into everything they do? The whiskies are named after parts of the island. Kilmory is named after a village on Arran, and Corriecravie after a region there. And the name LAGG itself—Lagg is an area on Arran once known for its illicit distilling. You’ll also find the island’s contours on the current bottles.