Islay’s Lagavulin distillery has built a reputation on big smoke, with its 16‑year expression long serving as the benchmark for peat lovers. After nearly a decade without a new permanent addition to the range, the distillery is broadening its audience with the Lagavulin 11 Year Old Sweet Peat single malt. The whisky spends its entire maturation in first‑fill American oak ex‑bourbon casks, which imbue the spirit with notes of toffee apple, vanilla and gentle spice alongside the distillery’s trademark maritime peat.

The slower fermentation and distillation methods used at Lagavulin allow heavier compounds to carry through the wash, providing structure for the oak to work its magic. Master Blender Dr. Stuart Morrison points out that Sweet Peat retains the iodine and bonfire character of classic Lagavulin but softens it with a creamy sweetness that makes the dram more approachable. The result is a whisky that gently layers honeyed fruit over smoke rather than slamming the palate with ash.

This release is bottled at 46% ABV and has no age‑statement beyond its 11 years, signaling the company’s intent to offer variety without sacrificing transparency. Lagavulin says Sweet Peat is the first new permanent expression in nine years and will sit alongside the core 8‑, 16‑ and 12‑year bottlings.

It carries a recommended retail price of $69.99 for a 750 mL bottle and is available now through select retailers as well as the Malts website. Sweet Peat may not supplant the original, but it offers a mellower entry point into one of Scotland’s most distinctive styles.