Big Peat Tyndrum

Big Peat Tyndrum is a Douglas Laing Islay blended malt built around peated malts, Port Ellen included. The blend draws the peated names of Islay together into a single smoky whole. The range has grown into a cult of its own among peat lovers.

It brings together single malts from across Islay rather than one distillery alone. Built without an age statement, Port Ellen lends the vatting a graceful, maritime smoke. Refill bourbon wood held the spirit, flattering its citric, oily smoke. The slow loss of the angel's share, a percent or two each year, has concentrated the liquid over decades. The peat is the point here, drawn from Islay's smoky distilleries. Bottlings carrying closed distillery malt grow rarer each year. Douglas Laing has long specialised in the malts of the islands. A dram built for those who take their whisky smoky.

At cask strength 53.5% it is muscular. Lemon zest and coastal salt ride on a smoky, mineral note, with a whisper of coconut from the cask. It is structured and a touch austere, the refill oak keeping it lean. Salt, smoke and wax draw out the close. A smoky, characterful blended malt built on Islay peat and Port Ellen.