Big Peat The Bastard Edition

Big Peat The Bastard Edition is Big Peat, the Douglas Laing Islay blended malt that carries Port Ellen. Big Peat folds the island's peated malts into one assertive dram. Each release is a fresh vatting of Islay's smoky malts.

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. Maturation in a refill ex-Bourbon barrel kept the malt lean and smoky. Maturation in old refill casks keeps the distillery character front and centre. The Port Ellen within ties it to one of Islay's lost legends. Smoke, salt and citrus run through its Islay character. It wears the big, coastal smoke of the island with pride. A modern Islay dram with a thread of the past inside. The Islay malts give it a smoke quite unlike a mainland blend.

At cask strength 53.6% it is muscular. Lemon zest and coastal salt ride on a smoky, mineral note, with a whisper of coconut from the cask. It is structured and a touch austere, the refill oak keeping it lean. Salt, smoke and wax draw out the close. A smoky, characterful blended malt built on Islay peat and Port Ellen.