Big Peat F��is ��le 2018

Big Peat F��is ��le 2018 is a blended malt Scotch from Douglas Laing, an all Islay vatting with Caol Ila at its core. Big Peat brings together malts from across Islay, Caol Ila among them, for an unapologetically smoky dram.

Islay malts bring the smoke, the lighter Caol Ila style keeping it clean rather than heavy. First fill bourbon gave it a fuller vanilla and a touch of coconut. The clean, oily spirit takes cask flavour well while holding its citrus and smoke. The warehouses are ranged along the rocky shore at the water's edge. Caol Ila's smoke leans to lemon, olive oil and brine rather than tar or iodine. From a small Victorian works it grew into one of Scotland's biggest malt distilleries. Much of the spirit leaves the island by sea to mature on the mainland. Diageo's Special Releases have featured both peated and unpeated Caol Ila.

At a full 48% it is bold and oily. A coastal peat smoke runs through it, with lemon, brine and a soft oil over a sweet fruit. A sea salt and an olive oil note sit under the smoke. Lemon, soft ash and sea salt see it out. A characterful smoky blended malt Scotch.