Big Peat Cheers To Better Days Edition

Big Peat Cheers To Better Days Edition 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.

Islay malts bring the smoke, the lighter Caol Ila style keeping it clean rather than heavy. A refill bourbon hogshead held it, keeping the distillery character to the fore. The oily texture comes from the spirit cut, the cask adding depth around it. The peat here is medium rather than heavy, so fruit and smoke share the glass. 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. The spirit's high notes of lemon and grass survive even long maturation. Time in oak deepens the oily body while the maritime smoke stays bright.

At its natural 53.5% it is concentrated. A coastal peat smoke runs through it, with lemon, brine and a soft oil over a sweet fruit. Soft smoke and citrus sit behind the cask. The finish runs oily, smoky and clean. A characterful smoky blended malt Scotch.