In 2017, Douglas Laing produced another Big Peat Fèis Ìle featuring the faces of more than 300 of Big Peat’s ‘pals’, who were asked to submit photos imitating the ‘handsome’ protagonist online over a two-week period. The whisky was again bottled at 48%, with a bottle run of 500. We may, but are not under any obligation, to release new functionalities and tools or other features for the Service every now and then. Any new functionalities, tools and features shall be part of and governed by the Terms from the moment they are launched and/or available. Further, we reserve the right to modify, change, discontinue the Service, add or remove features, update the Service, change its appearance, temporarily and permanently, at any time, in whole or any part thereof. If any provision of these Terms is held invalid, the remainder of the Terms shall continue in full force and effect.

No partnership, joint venture, agency, or employment relationship is created as a result of your use of the Service. If you have a passion for exceptionally peaty whisky, Big Peat will leave something to be desired. However, for those who are looking an introduction to Islay Scotch or want something less than a peat kiln in their mouths, Big Peat is a solid choice. Its smell and flavor are certainly dominated by peat, which limits its potential for complexity. Overall, Big Peat offers a salty primary taste with a zesty citrus tartness throughout the opening. This is combined with a succulent and oily mouthfeel and a bracing eucalyptic effect.

Big Peat was the first whisky in Douglas Laing’s Remarkable Regional Malts series, which launched in 2009. The idea behind the brand was to offer whisky drinkers the ‘ultimate distillation of Islay’. While the character is overall smoky, this only sets the tune for the actual aromatic notes that I experienced. Each year, Big Peat launches a Christmas Limited Edition expression, which is bottled at natural cask strength – around 53% abv. Unless mandatory applicable law provides otherwise, your use of and membership to the Service are exclusively governed by Dutch law. We shall first try to settle any dispute over a dram of whisky. Disputes that cannot be settled over multiple drams of whisky shall be solely submitted to the court of Amsterdam, The Netherlands unless mandatory applicable law provides otherwise.

Our Service is an online platform which provides Members with information (e.g. bottle facts, market-indices, market values and prices) on (mostly) whisky and allows Members to add information to the platform. We do not sell, nor does the Service provide any option to buy, any alcoholic products. Although not overly complex and quite youthful in character, it does have a smooth texture, which is particularly apparent during the heart. To set the rhythm for the palate, its rich candied citrus opening offers marmalade, festive mince pies with a generous dash of sea brine. Big Peat, our characterful Ileach Fisherman, encapsulates that feisty spirit of Islay with the Caol Ila spirit bringing sweetness, Bowmore the perfect balance, Ardbeg a medicinal, earthy quality and Port Ellen, a real degree of elegance! Starting out with the obvious, Ardbeg’s whiskies are some of the most famous smoky scotch brands in the world. They’re a great place to start if you’re in the nascent stages of peat appreciation. The ten-year-old expression is very pale in colour, with a very classic style of Islay peat on the nose; light flavours at the front palate showing lots of iodine, as is to be expected of peat cut from coastal bogs.Given peat’s availability (it is found worldwide, largely in the top of the northern hemisphere through North America, Russia and Northern Europe, with a very large concentration in Scotland), it made for a reliable and easily procured source of fuel before coal and other options made their way to Islay from Glasgow hundreds of years ago. Behind him is what appears to be the coastal village of what looks like Portnahaven. In reality, the Rinns of Islay lighthouse is somewhat further in the distance but it works nicely for the purposes of the label.

Douglas Laing proudly states that no colouring was used to darken Big Peat’s hue. Consequently, it’s a relatively pale spirit that’s reminiscent of dry straw or Chablis white wine. While Portnahaven doesn’t host its own distillery, it’s picturesque and I imagine was the most diplomatic choice over the other possible locations. You would expect that Big Peat demands bold flavours to match its smoky character. However, this isn’t necessarily the case! Nevertheless, weaker or milder pairings may struggle against its wisps of smoke. At first, I honestly found the label and box’s gaudy design to be somewhat off-putting and even a little garish. Admittedly, this actually caused me to refrain from buying it for myself in the first place. However, I’ve come not only to appreciate but even love the label the more I look at it. Despite its reputation for having an overt smoky peat character, I found that its nose was surprisingly rich in minerals and malt instead. While there is certainly an iodine presence, the smokiness is closer to flint.

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Like many of Islay’s proud expressions, Big Peat is a bold and unapologetic whisky. Some people may claim that its brash approach does Islay a disservice. However, I would argue that it succeeds in capturing its essence in a single bottle. Actually, it’s a great introduction to the spirit of what the island offers.

Finish: Medium-long. A swath of menthol and a hint of orange peel. The same peat notes from the palate continue here, but fade without change. A ghost of cherry or tart plum concludes the finish.

Big Peat 12 Years Old

Eventually, we descend into a smooth and surprisingly soft marzipan finish, which climaxes to reveal the peaty identity, which consists of Lapsang Souchong tea and smoking creosote.