Big Peat The Vatertag Edition #1

Big Peat The Vatertag Edition #1, a Douglas Laing vatting of Islay malts, holds Port Ellen among its components. It is built to show the big, smoky heart of Islay in a single glass. It carries a piece of closed distillery Islay in every bottle.

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. An ex-Bourbon hogshead held it, the soft oak letting the Islay character lead. Refill wood flatters Port Ellen, holding back the vanilla so the smoke and citrus speak. A dram built for those who take their whisky smoky. 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.

At a full 48% it is concentrated and oily. 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.