Big Peat Christmas Edition 2013

Big Peat is a heavily peated cask strength blended malt produced by Douglas Laing and contains Ardbeg, Bowmore, Caol Ila, and Port Ellen. Every year a Christmas version is released in time for the wintry days.

The nose is clean, very malty and briny from the start. There are plenty of milky flavours as in porridge, with hints of vanilla and sweet smoke hovering in the background. This is definitely a young whisky, vibrant and clean.

The palate is medium-bodied and peppery. Smoke and brine are at the forefront, followed by flavours of smoked ham and dark chocolate. Towards the end some grassy notes appear.

The finish is of medium length and warming. The smoke has gained in prominence and is now accompanied by ashy flavours. At the very end dark chocolate makes a final appearance.

Though rather young at heart this is a clean and vibrant blend that I enjoyed drinking during the cold days around Christmas. I suspect there is not too much Port Ellen in it but more of Caol Ila and Ardbeg, given the briny flavours on the nose and the sweet smoke hovering in the background.