Big Peat The Whiskyburg Wittlich Edition

Big Peat The Whiskyburg Wittlich Edition is a Douglas Laing blended malt, an Islay vatting with Port Ellen among its malts. Big Peat marries the smoky malts of Islay into one bold, characterful dram. Douglas Laing built Big Peat as a tribute to the smoke of Islay.

The category marries malts from different distilleries, here the peated malts of Islay. Built without an age statement, the rare Port Ellen at its heart brings a structured, briny smoke. An American oak cask shaped it, lending only a light sweetness under the smoke. Port Ellen was matured largely in refill casks, which sharpen the smoke and leave the malt a touch austere. 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. Vattings like this let the smoky malts of Islay shine together.

Undiluted at 57.2%, it is deep and smoky. A briny peat smoke runs over a waxy, briny lift, with gentle oak vanilla beneath the smoke. The texture is oily and coating, the smoke threaded with sea salt. Deep and elegant, the smoke lingers long. An assertive, coastal blended malt touched by Port Ellen smoke.