Big Peat Christmas Edition (54.6%)

Big Peat Christmas Edition is a blended malt Scotch from Douglas Laing, an all Islay vatting with Caol Ila at its core. The Big Peat label gathers Islay malts into one peaty vatting, with the cartoon fisherman on the front.

Islay malts bring the smoke, the lighter Caol Ila style keeping it clean rather than heavy. It rested in ex-Bourbon oak, the wood adding only a light vanilla. The clean, oily spirit takes cask flavour well while holding its citrus and smoke. Cool, damp warehousing slows the loss of the angel's share over the years. A gentle vanillin sweetness from the oak balances the coastal phenols. Malt comes from the Port Ellen maltings on the south of the island. Sea air works into the maturing casks, lending a briny, coastal lift. Phenols from the peat smoke carry the medicinal, lemony edge through the years. Much of the spirit leaves the island by sea to mature on the mainland.

At cask strength 54.6% it is muscular. A coastal peat smoke runs through it, with lemon, brine and a soft oil over a sweet fruit. A maritime salt and a lemon lift run through it. The finish is long, smoky and citrussy. A characterful smoky blended malt Scotch.