Big Peat Christmas Edition (54.1%)

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.

Islay malts bring the smoke, the lighter Caol Ila style keeping it clean rather than heavy. First fill bourbon gave it a fuller vanilla and a touch of coconut. The peat here is medium rather than heavy, so fruit and smoke share the glass. The spirit's lightness lets sherry, wine and bourbon casks all show through. Malt comes from the Port Ellen maltings on the south of the island. A slow maturation in the cool island air keeps the spirit fresh and oily. Active wood frames the smoke without smothering the citrus beneath. Tall stills and a clean cut give the spirit its oily, lemony lightness. A clean smoke and a coastal salt define the distillery style.

At cask strength 54.1% it is muscular. A coastal peat smoke runs through it, with lemon, brine and a soft oil over a sweet fruit. Lemon, olive oil and a soft ash run through the middle. The finish runs oily, smoky and clean. A characterful smoky blended malt Scotch.