Big Peat Christmas Edition (57.8%)

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.

Islay malts bring the smoke, the lighter Caol Ila style keeping it clean rather than heavy. Ex-Bourbon casks held it, the gentle American oak letting the make lead. The tall stills and a high cut give a lighter, cleaner spirit than the southern Islays. A ferry crosses the Sound from Port Askaig to Jura and the mainland. Refill oak lets the maritime peat and lemon of the spirit lead the way. A clean smoke and a coastal salt define the distillery style. The spirit's high notes of lemon and grass survive even long maturation. Maturation by the sea gives the malt its mineral, sea spray character. Long fermentations build the fruity, citrus notes that sit beneath the smoke.

At a hearty 57.8% it carries real weight. A coastal peat smoke runs through it, with lemon, brine and a soft oil over a sweet fruit. Soft smoke and citrus sit behind the cask. The finish is clean, smoky and maritime. A characterful smoky blended malt Scotch.