Lightly Peated Whisky

I'd skip the Cragannmore 12, but Highland Park 12 and Springbank 10 are perfect answers to your question.

Also add Benromach 10.

...and as much as I hesitate to recommend these, you'd probably also find success with Talisker Skye, Laphroaig Select, and Ardbeg An Oa. Those are all "easier" NAS whiskies from distilleries that typically do heavier peat.

And from what I've heard about that Balvenie Peat Week, it would fit the bill too.

I, for myself, really like Benriach Septendecim.

@GoHabs I would not consider Dalwhinnie as peated at all. @MadSingleMalt hit the nail on the head with his suggestions - depending on where you are located one of those will suit you nicely (Benromach 10 would be my pick).

What @MadSingleMalt says. Jura Superstition, Benriach 10 Curiositas and Ardmore Legacy are some other ones.

I find Benromach 10 'quite' peaty fwiw but as to what constitutes 'lightly peated' is a discussion that could go on all week, I'm sure.

All solid choices

I had the An Oa this past weekend and it was surprisingly good!

how about some AnCnoc?

@Alexsweden - ooh yeah, that's a very good one!

@Alexsweden No discernible peat in the 12.

@BlueNote - I thought it had a nice little peaty undercurrent?

@MadSingleMalt Shame on you for even mentioning Laphroaig Select. One more boner like that and you're out of my cabinet will.

@BlueNote the cragganmore? You're absolutely correct! No peat in that one. But I do pick up a distinct note of gooseberry in the cragganmore that I've never found in any other whisky, it is not a shabby addition to a cabinet even if it's not what you're looking for right now!

@GoHabs , you've received some really good suggestions and indeed what constitutes a light peat for some might be too much. Let us know more perhaps about what you enjoyed in your lightly peated experience it might help narrow things down.

I'll throw in my 2 cents, Johnnie walker Green label, the new stuff is considerably peatier than the old version but the richness of the blend really helps balance those elements out.

@BlueNote Don't forget the peated AnCnocs some are pretty light (Rutter, Cutter, Rascan, Flaughter, Tushkar etc..) sounds like Gaelic seven dwarves

If I intended to introduce somebody to single malt scotch and give a peak into everything that it has to offer, i.e. balance, I'd suggest Benromach 10. It used to be Highland Park 12 but it doesn't seam to be what it used to be and even if it was, I'd say it has been usurped. If anything, HP12 may be a lot more "approachable."

Springbank 10 (runner-up), Talisker 10, Clynelish 14, and Bunnahabian 12 are all great, lightly peated malts as well if you dig a coastal element thrown in there.

@RianC It's one my wife likes and she does not like peat so it must be quite subtle. I'll have to check it out again.

@Alexsweden I think you have me confused with @MadSingleMalt. I don't think I've ever had a Cragganmore.

This is the first time I've seen the word "boner" used in polite conversation since the show Growing Pains was on TV.

@MadSingleMalt I think it has more than one meaning.

Thank you for the recommendations. I realize that "lightly peated" is a relative term. I look forward to trying some of your suggestions.

"BlueNote replied @Alexsweden No discernible peat in the 12"

I assumed you were referring to the cragganmore?

@Alexsweden No, sorry. I should have specified the An'Noc 12.

@GoHabs @MadSingleMalt and @RianC had a good selection of easy drinking peaters, except for the totally avoidable Jura Superstition. They call it Lightly Peated on the label, but it is lightly everything...flavoured, bodied, drinkable. Bloody awful from my experience. Like the plague you should avoid this swill. Only my opinion, of course.

@BlueNote - I feel like I keep disagreeing with you and it's not intentional - honest!

Re. the Jura though - I wasn't expecting much and it's no show stopper but I think it's fairly decent, certainly for the £25 it's often sold at here. I'll do a review soon but it has a distinctive nutty, creamy thing going on that I quite like. I'd also say it's 'moderately' peaty as opposed to lightly as the label states.

@RianC Friendly repartee. It's how we keep these threads going.

Cheers

I agree with @RianC that “lightly peated” is debatable and runs on a spectrum. Most of the suggestions have been single malts... I’m suggesting a couple of blended options from Compass Box.

1) Great King Street Glasgow Blend

This is a blended scotch whisky, 1/3 grain whisky and 2/3 malt whiskies. The “recipe details” on the Compass Box website specifies 17% is malt whisky sourced from Laphroaig. The LCBO describes the whisky as follows: “the nose is spirity and assertively smoky; on the palate, dry, smoky notes initially, then honeyed sweetness emerges to provide balance and contrast; light/medium in body, with sweet notes create balance with the whisky's smoky character.”

2) Peat Monster

This is a blended malt whisky (40% Lahproaig, 20% Ledaig, 13% Caol Ila, 26% Ardmore, 1% Highland malt). Don’t let the name put you off! More smoky than full peat-in-your face with a pleasant spiciness and a long finish. LCBO description: “Huge peaty smoky nose; palate is rich and malty, but well rounded; a long smokey finish.”

I have both in my whisky cabinet and enjoy them immensely, neat or mixed in cocktails.

I am impressed with the transparency of Compass Box regarding their whiskies. If you have not visited the Compass Box web site, you should. To get the full details on the Glasgow Blend and Peat Monster, go to the product page and click the link to email Compass Box and they will send the information to you.