Wemyss Malts Peat Chimney 8

This 8 years old blend is part of a Wemyss' blended malts trilogy: Spicy (Spice King), Honey (The Hive) and Peaty (Peat Chimney). All whiskies from the range have both eight and twelve year old age expressions.

Peat Chimney contains up to 16 different single malts before the key component, an Islay malt, is added under the guidance of Charles Maclean. This component gives the whisky the signature notes of sweet smoke, iodine and peat. It probably is a Caol Ila...

Tasting Notes Colour: A classic golden blend with a copper polish.

Nose: Peat smoke teams up with gingerbread, coconut and honey. A hint of creamy cheese. Molten Chester perhaps? Roasted pine wood and some floral notes. I'm considering violets and lavender. A few drops of water makes it more expressive and gives you grilled salmon with dried herbes de provence and bouquet garni. Some base notes of decayed cardboard, caramel candy (fudge) and rock sugar.

Taste: The start is quite dry and hot. White pepper and chili flakes. Ashes of sandalwood and charcoal. Water reveals something Bowmore-esque. Flowers and some milk chocolate. The key malt from Islay isn't Caol Ila after all...?

Finish: Mouthwarming and dry with eucalyptus and roasted pine nuts.

Conclusion Peat Chimney is not as peaty as Big Peat or Octomore, the king among peat monsters. The combination of peat smoke and flowers creates a beautiful balanced whisky. And also very accessible towards debuting whisky geeks.

Peat Chimney 8 is attractively priced. It ends up in your drinks cabinet for less then € 40. Preferably in the front, next to your daily dram.

The sample was offered by Wemyss Malts for a Tweet Tasting organised by The Whisky Wire (#WemysTT3).