Big Peat Christmas Edition (53.8%)

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. An American oak hogshead added vanilla and a light toffee. The peat here is medium rather than heavy, so fruit and smoke share the glass. Malt comes from the Port Ellen maltings on the south of the island. Its spirit also feeds blends such as Bell's and Black Bottle. The make balances phenolic smoke against a bright, oily citrus. The clean spirit shows the cask clearly, which is why it suits so many wood types. The cool Islay air gives a slow, steady maturation by the shore. The spirit's high notes of lemon and grass survive even long maturation.

At a full 53.8% it is bold and oily. A coastal peat smoke runs through it, with lemon, brine and a soft oil over a sweet fruit. An oily smoke coats the palate, citrus and brine behind. Smoke and sea salt see out a long finish. A characterful smoky blended malt Scotch.