Glenturret holds a particular place in my affections. It lays claim to being Scotland's oldest working distillery — a fact that's been debated, naturally, but the site at Crieff has been producing spirit since at least 1775. That kind of continuity matters. So when a peated expression lands on my desk from a distillery not traditionally known for smoke, I pay attention.
The Glenturret 10 Year Old Peat Smoked, the 2025 release, is bottled at 46.6% ABV — a strength that tells you the distillery isn't interested in playing it safe. Non-chill filtered, I'd wager, given the direction Glenturret has taken under its current ownership. At £66.25, it sits in that increasingly competitive bracket where Highland single malts have to justify themselves against some serious Islay competition and a growing number of peated offerings from unexpected corners of Scotland.
What to Expect
This is a Highland whisky wearing peat, not an Islay whisky in disguise — and that distinction matters enormously. Highland peat tends to present differently: less maritime, less medicinal, more earthy and integrated. At ten years old, you're looking at a spirit that's had enough time in wood to develop genuine complexity, but not so long that the smoke has been entirely tamed. The 46.6% ABV should give it enough weight to carry both the spirit character and the peat influence without one overwhelming the other.
The peated Highland category is a fascinating space right now. Distilleries like Ardmore have long flown the flag, but Glenturret's approach — limited annual releases with considered cask selection — suggests something more curated than a permanent range filler. This is a distillery that's been quietly repositioning itself at the premium end of the market, and a peated ten-year-old at this price point feels like a statement of intent rather than an experiment.
The Verdict
I'll be direct: at £66.25, the Glenturret 10 Year Old Peat Smoked represents genuinely good value in the current market. You're getting a well-aged, full-strength Highland single malt with an interesting peat profile, from a distillery with serious heritage credentials. The 2025 release continues what has been a confident run of form from Glenturret, and I think it deserves a place on the shelf of anyone who enjoys peated whisky but wants something distinct from the Islay house style.
There's a growing appetite among whisky drinkers for smoke that doesn't bludgeon, for peat that works alongside the distillery character rather than replacing it. Glenturret seems to understand this. The ten-year age statement provides transparency and the ABV provides substance. It won't rewrite the rules, but it doesn't need to — it simply needs to be a well-made, honestly presented Highland whisky with a peated twist, and on that count, I believe it delivers.
Rating: 7.8/10 — A confident, well-priced peated Highland that offers something genuinely different from the usual smoke-forward suspects. Worth seeking out.
Best Served
I'd take this neat first, at room temperature, to let the interplay between peat and Highland malt character reveal itself fully. If you find the 46.6% carries a little too much heat, a few drops of water will open things up without drowning the smoke. For warmer evenings, a Japanese-style Highball with good ice and quality soda water would be an excellent way to enjoy the lighter side of that peat — the effervescence tends to lift earthy smoke beautifully.
