Big Peat Small Batch

 

 

 

46°

Distillery : Ardbeg, Bowmore, Caol Ila, Port Ellen, amongst others - Islay 

Refill American Whiskey Barrels

Independent Bottling 

By Douglas Laing & Co. 

Core Range 

Blended Malt 

Launched in 2009

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured 

Peated around 40 ppm

So it's been twelve years since Pete's face adorns the familiar label of Islay's most famous blended whisky. It was the first of the Remarkable Regional Malts to be released and the most successful. Today, there are an infinite number of limited editions, but sometimes it's good to go back to the roots and the original bottling. Although part of the core range, Big Peat is also stamped Small Batch, that means sold in batches of 5,000 bottles. We must be around batch 110 today.

Let's Taste It : 

Iodine and a sea full of fish, a little brackish. The tide, the spray, the foam. Seaweed, a pebble beach, prickly sea urchins, mussels and periwinkles. Gradually, it becomes more vanilla and fruity. Yellow plum, slightly overripe banana. On the palate, it's quite watery, with a hint of vanilla, then spices, cumin, pepper, ginger, a few marine hints and a zest of lemon. The finish is not bad, quite long, with ginger and chives, but you shouldn't ask for too much either. Liquorice.

 

In Short, 

It's not bad, but not that remarkable. The whole is a little young, the balance is fragile, nothing impressive in the end. And the price is a bit high for what it is. To be honest, while some limited editions of Big Peat are worth their weight in gold, the original doesn't deserve more than a dram.

Score : 84

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                          To Be Listened While Sipping :

  

                                                    Procol Harum - A Whiter Shade of Pale