A New Take on Islay Peat Balances Smoke with Oak-Driven Sweetness
Lagavulin has announced the release of Lagavulin 11 Year Old Sweet Peat Single Malt Scotch Whisky, marking the Islay distillery’s first new permanent expression in nine years. Aged for 11 years in first-fill American oak ex-bourbon casks, the new release is designed to balance Lagavulin’s signature peat smoke with sweetness derived entirely from oak and malt, while remaining unmistakably Islay in character.
The expression joins Lagavulin’s core portfolio as a permanent offering and reflects the distillery’s long-standing emphasis on craftsmanship, balance, and deliberate pacing in whisky production.
Matured in First-Fill Bourbon Casks for Balance and Approachability
Sweet Peat is crafted using heavily peated malt and local Islay water, with fermentation carried out in wooden washbacks before distillation through Lagavulin’s four squat, pear-shaped copper pot stills. According to Diageo, this slow, traditional process produces a full-bodied new make that allows peat to remain central throughout maturation, while oak influence introduces layered sweetness over time.
“Sweet Peat reflects careful cask selection and deliberate pacing,” said Dr. Stuart Morrison, Diageo Master Blender. “On the palate, it opens with a gentle sweetness and salinity before bonfire smoke and oak spice come into focus. Notes of honeyed malt and toffee apple build through the mid-palate, finishing long with lingering peat smoke, dark chocolate, and soft vanilla.”
Award-Winning Profile with Broader Drinking Appeal
Lagavulin 11 Year Old Sweet Peat was awarded a Gold Medal at the 2025 San Francisco Wine & Spirits Competition, prior to its national release. Tasting notes highlight toffee apple, vanilla, gentle spice, honeyed malt, and dark chocolate layered alongside Lagavulin’s hallmark smoky intensity.
The expression is positioned as both an entry point for those new to peated Scotch and an alternative perspective for longtime Lagavulin fans, offering a more rounded and approachable profile while maintaining depth and structure.
Designed for Neat Pours and Modern Whisky Serves
Sweet Peat is intended to be enjoyed neat or on the rocks, but Diageo also highlights its versatility in cocktails, including the Smoky Sweet Old Fashioned and Sweet Peat Tea, a Penicillin-inspired serve incorporating honey-ginger syrup, lemon, and black tea.
“Pronounced smoke is a defining element of Islay Scotch, albeit one that can feel polarizing to some drinkers,” said Jesse Damashek, Senior Vice President of Whiskey at Diageo. “Sweet Peat presents peat in a way that tastes more approachable, while still delivering the depth and complexity long associated with Lagavulin.”
Pricing and Availability
Lagavulin 11 Year Old Sweet Peat Single Malt Scotch Whisky is bottled at 43% ABV and is available now at select spirits retailers nationwide with a suggested retail price of $69.99 for a 750mL bottle.
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