Big Peat 12 Years Old

Big Peat 12 Years Old 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.

Caol Ila's elegant smoke gives the blend its coastal, citrus edge. A fresh bourbon barrel lent vanilla, coconut and a fuller body. The make balances phenolic smoke against a bright, oily citrus. Diageo's Special Releases have featured both peated and unpeated Caol Ila. The medium peating leaves a smoke that is firm but never heavy. Time in oak deepens the oily body while the maritime smoke stays bright. The six tall stills sit behind picture windows looking out to Jura. Much of the spirit leaves the island by sea to mature on the mainland. The oily texture comes from the spirit cut, the cask adding depth around it.

Bottled at 46%, it is rounded. A coastal peat smoke runs through it, with lemon, brine and a soft oil over a sweet fruit. It is clean and coastal, the peat and lemon to the fore. The close is long, smoke over a citrus lift. A characterful smoky blended malt Scotch.