Lagavulin Reveals New Islay Product and It's Not Whisky

Thursday, 18 September 2025 at 08:01Simon Gold

Lagavulin has unveiled something new, in collaboration with ambassador Nick Offerman. The distillery steps outside the bottle to present a unique new Islay product: the first Lagavulin tartan. It was revealed in a striking place.

FAQ

What has Lagavulin revealed?
The Lagavulin Islay Tartan, a specially designed pattern that reflects the distillery and the Isle of Islay.

What is tartan?
It's a woolen fabric that's chequered with specific patterns. It's used to make things like kilts.

Which distilleries have tartans?
Among others are Tomatin, Springbank, Glendronach, and now also Lagavulin.

Lagavuilin reveals own tartan to honor Islay whisky

Tartan wordt vaak als erfgoed gezien. Van oudsher wordt met verschillende kleuren en patronen in de geruite stof aangegeven dat iemand van een bepaald huis of clan is. Sommige distilleerderijen zoals Tomatin, The Glendronach en Springbank hebben bijvoorbeeld ook een eigen tartan.

Tartan is often seen as part of heritage. Traditionally,different colors and patterns in the checkered fabric indicate that someone belongs to a particular house or clan. Some distilleries, such as Tomatin, The Glendronach, and Springbank, also have their own tartan.

Lagavulin Distillery on Islay did not yet have one, but that has now changed. The distillery unveiled its own tartan at a special location: the Fashion Week Closing Party in New York.

None other than Nick Offerman, known for Parks and Recreation and his ambassadorship for Lagavulin whisky, showed up there in a tartan suit tailored by the distillery.

Whisky clothing with depth

The tartan was designed by Simon Goldman in collaboration with his studio M&S Co. It was then woven by Lovat Mill in Hawick and tailor-made for Offerman. It was then woven by Lovat Mill in Hawick and tailor-made for Offerman.

The pattern not only looks great, but also has a deeper meaning. Here's what the colors and pattern represent:

Amber-colored lines: The copper Lagavulin stills.
Deep brown: The peat that gives Lagavulin its smoky flavor.
Green: The fields of Islay.
White, gray, and blue: The walls, roofs, and Atlantic coastline of the whisky island.

Whisky and lifestyle

The launch of a proprietary tartan is part of a broader trend in which whiskey brands are finding creative ways to gain visibility. Other brands such as Glenfiddich and Johnnie Walker have also announced collaborations with designers, clothing brands, and fashion houses in recent years.

Lagavulin hoopt met haar tartan ook een breder publiek aan te boren, maar blijft op deze manier wel dicht bij haar Islay roots. Wanneer de tartan breder beschikbaar wordt, is niet bekend.