Big Peat Christmas Edition (53.7%)

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.

The Caol Ila within lends a clean, lemony Islay smoke rather than a heavy tarry one. A long spell in ex-Bourbon oak rounded the spirit gently. The medium peating leaves a smoke that is firm but never heavy. Most of its peated malt is destined for the Johnnie Walker blends. From a small Victorian works it grew into one of Scotland's biggest malt distilleries. Active wood frames the smoke without smothering the citrus beneath. The clean, oily spirit takes cask flavour well while holding its citrus and smoke. The lighter style means the cask and the citrus speak alongside the peat. Sea air works into the maturing casks, lending a briny, coastal lift.

At its natural 53.7% it is concentrated. 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. Smoke and sea salt see out a long finish. A characterful smoky blended malt Scotch.