Big Peat...

Big Peat (46.0%): And the second sample from the Douglas Laing & Co. Ltd. blended malt range. Big Peat is blended using Islay malts only including some Ardbeg, Port Ellen, Caol Ila and Bowmore. and it has been wildly successful after its launch in 2009. Now the dram is a permanent expression in Douglas Laing line-up with an additional seasonal cask strength Christmas edition and occasional special releases. I always liked it but didn't have a chance to review it. Perfect timing to do so at a chilly but sunny fall afternoon. Color: As pale as a whisky gets. Almost colorless... Pale yellow like a very young Pinot Grigio. Nose: Beautiful young peated spirit: Wet beach sand and sweet maple walnut scone. The way your hands would smell like motor oil after spending a day on a small boat equipped with a small 9.9HP Johnson outboard engine. Noses like old young Ardbeg expressions like "Still Young". Do you remember those beauties? Ocean spray, vanilla and olive oil cookies. A few drops of water add green seaweed, fresh shucked oysters and sea water soaked hemp rope. Palate: Fresh cut grass, not yet dried moist peat bricks and green wood. Candied pecans and unripe concorde pears. Adding water makes it easier to drink if it is even remotely possible. Now I have some ripe red delicious apples, copper cookware and shortbread cookies. Finish: Long with faded bonfire, soot and black peppercorns. Overall: Perfectly balanced young blended malt which tastes like a single malt. I have always been a big fan of ex-bourbon cask matured young Islay whiskies and that's probably why I am raving about this whisky this much now, but again it is very hard for any whisky lover not to fall in love with it... Since its release I have to say it never disappointed and so far I know they released quite a lot of different batches. It is a young, vibrant, big but easygoing whisky with a well justified price tag around $60 depending where you live. Thanks again to Brad Jarvis for the official sample.


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