Big Peat Fèis Ìle 2018

Big Peat Fèis Ìle 2018 is a Douglas Laing Islay blended malt built around peated malts, Port Ellen included. The blend draws the peated names of Islay together into a single smoky whole. The range has grown into a cult of its own among peat lovers.

It brings together single malts from across Islay rather than one distillery alone. Built without an age statement, Port Ellen lends the vatting a graceful, maritime smoke. Refill ex-Bourbon casks held the spirit, the wood Port Ellen is most often found in. The slow loss of the angel's share, a percent or two each year, has concentrated the liquid over decades. A modern Islay dram with a thread of the past inside. The Islay malts give it a smoke quite unlike a mainland blend. Vattings like this let the smoky malts of Islay shine together. The peat is the point here, drawn from Islay's smoky distilleries.

At cask strength 48% it is muscular. Lemon zest and coastal salt ride on a coastal peat smoke, with soft vanilla and a touch of coconut from the cask. It is structured and a touch austere, the refill oak keeping it lean. It closes long, smoky and maritime. A rich Islay dram threaded with rare Port Ellen.