Big Peat Christmas Edition (54.2%)

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. An ex-Bourbon barrel shaped it, vanilla and a light sweetness under the smoke. The oily texture comes from the spirit cut, the cask adding depth around it. Olive oil and lemon sit at the heart of the Caol Ila character. A gentle vanillin sweetness from the oak balances the coastal phenols. Water falls to the distillery from Loch nam Ban in the hills above. Time in oak deepens the oily body while the maritime smoke stays bright. The clean spirit shows the cask clearly, which is why it suits so many wood types. The warehouses are ranged along the rocky shore at the water's edge.

At cask strength 54.2% it is muscular. A coastal peat smoke runs through it, with lemon, brine and a soft oil over a sweet fruit. The palate is oily and smoky, with a green citrus lift. A long maritime smoke closes it. A characterful smoky blended malt Scotch.