Big Peat The Rock Edition

Big Peat The Rock 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. A first fill sherry cask drove a deep, figgy, nutty character. Long ageing turns the young, sharp peat into a soft, coastal smoke. The clean, oily spirit takes cask flavour well while holding its citrus and smoke. The lighter style means the cask and the citrus speak alongside the peat. Water falls to the distillery from Loch nam Ban in the hills above. The warehouses are ranged along the rocky shore at the water's edge. Its spirit also feeds blends such as Bell's and Black Bottle. The cool Islay air gives a slow, steady maturation by the shore.

At a full 48% it is bold and oily. A coastal peat smoke runs through it, with lemon, brine and a soft oil over a sweet fruit. The texture is oily, the smoke threaded with citrus. Ash, lemon and brine draw out the close. A characterful smoky blended malt Scotch.