Lagavulin Distillery Launches New Offerman Edition Whisky
There’s always a glass of whisky on hand when Nick Offerman mentions whisky. Since 2014, the Parks and Recreation star has collaborated with Lagavulin – his favorite scotch. The distillery launched the new Offerman edition today.
Almost 25 years ago, Offerman had his first experience with scotch at the Chicago Film Festival. At the time, a friend with “discerning taste” introduced him to the classic Islay whisky.
“I had never had a fine whiskey, with all due respect to the folks at Jameson,” says Offerman. “So my first glass of scotch was a Lagavulin. I said, holy cow! It knocked my socks off — this is what all the fuss is about. I finally get it.”
While Lagavulin became Swanson’s drink of choice on Parks and Rec, Offerman wasn’t just looking for a product placement. Series creator Mike Schur is also a Lagavulin fan.
Lagavulin Distillery Launches New Offerman Edition Whisky
“Lagavulin was my scotch of choice, so there wasn’t a close second,” says the 53-year-old Offerman, who recently won an Emmy for his unforgettable performance on HBO’s The Last of Us. “When Parks and Recreation started, Mike said it was also his favorite scotch. And so it became Ron Swanson’s scotch. And that’s where my relationship began with the Lagavulin distillery.”
Offeringman appeared in Lagavulin’s My Tales of Whisky videos during the NBC show’s run, 2009-2015. In 2019, Lagavulin released its first Offerman Edition, an 11-year-old whisky with a more intense peat flavor than Lagavulin’s flagship.
In 2021, he collaborated on an 11-year-old expression finished with Guinness, named Whisky of the Year by Whisky Advocate. Later, 94-proof Charred Oak Casks were released.
Today, the new Lagavulin Offerman Edition Caribbean Rum Cask Finish hit the market. This 11-year-old whisky was aged in ex-bourbon and ex-sherry casks, before being aged in rum casks over eight months
“I was, you know, figuratively marinating in rum drinks, especially around Old San Juan, which I couldn’t recommend more highly to travelers. It’s pretty incredible,” says Offerman. “And then I would turn to people, [and] I would say, ‘Hang on though, but please try some Lagavulin.’ It was actually like [the] chocolate-getting stuck-in-somebody’s-peanut-butter commercial. We’re in the middle of this conversation and I said, ‘What can we do with rum casks?’ I’m zeroing in on that. And [Lagavulin master blender] Stuart Morrison said, ‘Well, let me let me toss that idea around.’”