Big Peat Christmas Edition (53.9%)

Big Peat Christmas Edition is a blended malt Scotch from Douglas Laing, an all Islay vatting with Caol Ila at its core. Big Peat brings together malts from across Islay, Caol Ila among them, for an unapologetically smoky dram.

The Caol Ila within lends a clean, lemony Islay smoke rather than a heavy tarry one. A bourbon barrel held it, the oak lending vanilla and a little cream. Time in oak deepens the oily body while the maritime smoke stays bright. Active wood frames the smoke without smothering the citrus beneath. A clean smoke and a coastal salt define the distillery style. The original Victorian distillery was almost entirely rebuilt in the modern era. Phenols from the peat smoke carry the medicinal, lemony edge through the years. Long ageing turns the young, sharp peat into a soft, coastal smoke. A few weeks each year the distillery runs an unpeated, Highland style spirit.

At a hearty 53.9% it carries real weight. 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 finish is clean, smoky and maritime. A characterful smoky blended malt Scotch.