Lagavulin Unveils the 11-Year-Old Sweet Peat Whisky: Islay smoke with a mellow, sweet twist

Peat lovers, take note. There’s a new peated single malt in town. After nine years, Lagavulin is adding a brand-new permanent whisky to its range. How about a sweetly peated Lagavulin? Meet the Lagavulin 11 Year Old Sweet Peat.

The new Lagavulin is a quintessential Islay whisky, instantly recognizable for its depth and the smokiness this famed Scottish distillery is known for. This 11-year-old comes with a twist that gives the stage to sweeter notes.

That makes the Lagavulin 11 Year Old Sweet Peat ideal for those who love Islay’s intensity but crave a rounder, more balanced profile.

This new Scottish single malt is crafted with local Islay water, heavily peated malt, and a slow fermentation in wooden washbacks. The spirit is distilled in the distillery’s signature short, pear-shaped copper pot stills. This traditional approach lets the peat shine throughout maturation, while sweeter layers develop in harmony.

In total, the whisky has matured for 11 years entirely in first-fill American oak ex-bourbon casks. The result is a distinctive balance between peat smoke and the natural sweetness of wood and malt.

Those ex-bourbon casks push vanilla, toffee, and gentle spice clearly to the fore in the flavor profile.

Dr. Stuart Morrison, master blender at Diageo, explains that the whisky was created from a carefully selected parcel of casks and, as with many whiskies, a generous measure of patience. As for the palate, Morrison notes it’s less sharp than other editions from the distillery.

The whisky is bottled at 43% alcohol by volume (ABV).

Exact availability for the new Lagavulin 11 Year Old Sweet Peat hasn’t been announced yet. The whisky carries a suggested retail price of around 70 dollars. Keep an eye on your local retailer’s shelves for this single malt.