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16th February 2026 |
Lagavulin 11
Year Old Sweet Peat, available
exclusively in the United States for
now, is matured in first-fill American
oak ex-bourbon casks. This new permanent
expression highlights sweetness drawn
from oak and malt, balanced by the
distillery’s unmistakable smoky
character.
 Few places in the whisky world hold the
same mystique as Islay, where
whisky-making has been woven into local
culture for generations. For more than
two centuries, Lagavulin has produced
Single Malt Scotch here with an
unwavering commitment to craftsmanship,
complexity, and balance. That tradition
continues with the US debut of Lagavulin
11 Year Old Sweet Peat Single Malt
Scotch Whisky, the distillery’s first
new permanent addition in nine years.
Matured for 11 years in first-fill
American oak ex-bourbon casks, Sweet
Peat is said to harmonise peat smoke
with sweetness drawn solely from oak and
malt, which the distillery says offers
notes of toffee apple, vanilla, and
gentle spice while remaining
unmistakably Lagavulin.
The release is accompanied by several
recommended serves, including neat pours
and signature cocktails such as Sweet
Peat Tea and the Smoky Sweet Old
Fashioned, each designed to showcase the
whisky’s softer edges and nuanced
sweetness.
"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."
Honoured with a Gold Medal at the 2025
San Francisco Wine & Spirits
Competition, Lagavulin 11 Year Old Sweet
Peat reflects the distillery’s
intentionally slow, traditional
production methods. Made with heavily
peated malt and local Islay water, the
spirit undergoes extended fermentation
in wooden washbacks before being
distilled in Lagavulin's four squat,
pear-shaped copper pot stills. This
patient approach yields a full-bodied
new make where peat remains central
through maturation, while sweetness
gradually develops to balance the smoke.
This should be appealing to newcomers
and long-time fans alike, Sweet Peat
offers a fresh way to experience the
depth that lies beyond Lagavulin’s
signature smokiness. Its rounded profile
highlights the influence of cask
selection and maturation, making it
suitable both for sipping and for modern
or classic cocktails like the Smoky
Sweet Old Fashioned or Sweet Peat 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."
Bottled at 43% ABV, the Lagavulin 11
Year Old Sweet Peat Single Malt Scotch
Whisky is now available at select
retailers throughout the US (exclusively
at the moment) for a suggested
price of $69.99 per 750mL.
If you are not in the US you can console
yourself with the rest of the current
Lagavulin whisky range which you will
find available from specialist online whisky
shops such as
The Whisky Exchange
and
Master of Malt
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