Big Peat 10 Years Old

Big Peat 10 Years Old is a blended malt Scotch from Douglas Laing, an all Islay vatting with Caol Ila at its core. Big Peat marries Islay single malts into a big, smoky whole, its cartoon fisherman a shelf favourite.

Caol Ila's elegant smoke gives the blend its coastal, citrus edge. An American oak cask shaped it, soft and sweet beneath the peat. Phenols from the peat smoke carry the medicinal, lemony edge through the years. Most of its peated malt is destined for the Johnnie Walker blends. Sea air works into the maturing casks, lending a briny, coastal lift. The six tall stills sit behind picture windows looking out to Jura. Maturation by the sea gives the malt its mineral, sea spray character. The tall stills and a high cut give a lighter, cleaner spirit than the southern Islays. Caol Ila's smoke leans to lemon, olive oil and brine rather than tar or iodine.

At cask strength 48% it is muscular. A coastal peat smoke runs through it, with lemon, brine and a soft oil over a sweet fruit. The texture is oily, the smoke threaded with citrus. The close is long, smoke over a citrus lift. A characterful smoky blended malt Scotch.