Lagavulin warehouse manager Iain McArthur is set to retire following more than 50 years in the whisky industry.

The Islay icon began his career at Port Ellen Distillery on Islay before joining the team at Lagavulin, where he has spent the past five decades serving in numerous roles including peat cutting, overseeing the distillery's casks, and conducting warehouse tastings for visitors.

To mark McArthur's retirement, Lagavulin is releasing Iain's Farewell Dram: an 18-year-old Lagavulin single malt which was filled to cask by the man himself and has been matured in second-fill Manzanilla sherry casks. It has been bottled at 58.7% ABV with a recommended price of £350 per bottle.

McArthur said: “Being part of the Lagavulin family has been the adventure of a lifetime, but now I’m ready for a change of pace. At 18 years old, this bottling brings back fond memories for me, enjoying a dram and celebrating moments in my life. I hope everyone that loves this distillery as much as I do gets to enjoy it.” 

Just 18 bottles will be available to buy from the distillery. More information on how to secure a bottle will be released via Lagavulin and malts.com social media profiles in the coming months.