Big Peat The Vienna Edition

Big Peat The Vienna 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.

The Caol Ila within lends a clean, lemony Islay smoke rather than a heavy tarry one. A refill bourbon hogshead held it, keeping the distillery character to the fore. The spirit's lightness lets sherry, wine and bourbon casks all show through. Olive oil and lemon sit at the heart of the Caol Ila character. Much of the spirit leaves the island by sea to mature on the mainland. The oily texture comes from the spirit cut, the cask adding depth around it. Refill oak lets the maritime peat and lemon of the spirit lead the way. A few weeks each year the distillery runs an unpeated, Highland style spirit. A gentle vanillin sweetness from the oak balances the coastal phenols.

At cask strength 55.1% it is muscular. A coastal peat smoke runs through it, with lemon, brine and a soft oil over a sweet fruit. Smoked lemon and sea salt build over an oily body. The finish is long, smoky and citrussy. A characterful smoky blended malt Scotch.