“Divided We Stand, United We Fall”
Country: Scotland
Region: Islay
Brand: Big Peat Small Batch (Batch # 31)
Bottled by/for: Douglas Laing, Glasgow
Type: Blended Malt Whisky
Age: NAS
ABV: 46 %
Colour: Very Pale White Wine
Nose: Young and most certainly Islay. With Caol Ila and Ardbeg in the lead. In fact I find only mild traces of Bowmore and less so of Port Ellen. I do find the usual Islay Aromas like Wet Peat, Mud, Cold Smoke, Ashes, Tar, Soot, Iodine, Smoked Fish, Leather, Rubber and Varnish. But they are not as fiery as the name and the package of Big Peat are suggesting. This is much closer to Caol Ila than Laphroaig. There is some slightly Artificial Fruity Sweetness as well with Pineapple, Citrus and slightly Sour Cherries. And, finally, some Nuts, Barley, light Vanilla, Pepper, Mint, Aniseed and Ginger. After fifteen minutes or so I get a little of the Herbal Tea Notes I often find in the Bowmore malts. The Alcohol is there of course but it does not significantly disturb the Nosing.
Palate: Adequate delivery thanks to the ABV of 46%. The Youth of the Spirit becomes more evident. On the Palate this Big Peat is slightly Edgy with some Artificial Sweetness and a rather present Plastic note. A bit disappointing after the Nose really. I find Medicinal Peat Smoke, Tar, Soot, Rubber, Ashes, Petrol, Tobacco, Fish on the BBQ, Lemon, Barley, light Vanilla, Toffee, Herbal Tea, Pepper, Licorice and a hint of Dark Chocolate.
Finish: Middle-Long with Earthy Peat, Wet Grass, Brine, Cold Smoke, Ashes, Soot, Tar, Plastic, Fish or Shellfish on the BBQ, Lemon, Sugared Orange Peel, Toffee, Licorice and Pepper.
With added Water the Big Peat becomes slightly more elegant but it also loses
some of its personality. Try it out and see what you like best!
Rating: 84
Nose: 21.5 - Taste: 21 - Finish: 20.5 - Overall: 21
General Remarks: Big Peat was launched in 2009 by Douglas Laing as the first in their Remarkable Regional Malts series. It contains Single Malts from Caol Ila, Bowmore, Ardbeg and Port Ellen. The Big Peat has a solid ABV, is naturally coloured and Non Chill-Filtered. Judging by the Aromas, Flavour and Colour I assume that the Spirit used for Big Peat matured in Refill Ex-Bourbon casks. In my opinion the Bottle and Packaging are slightly flamboyant to put it mildly. Big Peat is widely available and costs around 50 US Dollars. You can also find a Big Peat with an ABV of 50% as well as a special annual Christmas Edition, bottled at around 53%.
General Remarks: Big Peat was launched in 2009 by Douglas Laing as the first in their Remarkable Regional Malts series. It contains Single Malts from Caol Ila, Bowmore, Ardbeg and Port Ellen. The Big Peat has a solid ABV, is naturally coloured and Non Chill-Filtered. Judging by the Aromas, Flavour and Colour I assume that the Spirit used for Big Peat matured in Refill Ex-Bourbon casks. In my opinion the Bottle and Packaging are slightly flamboyant to put it mildly. Big Peat is widely available and costs around 50 US Dollars. You can also find a Big Peat with an ABV of 50% as well as a special annual Christmas Edition, bottled at around 53%.
Drinking Experience Neat: Good
Conclusion: The Big Peat is not a bad Blended Malt but it's not better than the Standard expressions of the Distilleries that supply the majority of the Malt for this Blend. The Nose is the best part of the Big Peat but on the Palate and in the Finish I find this Blended Malt wanting. I clearly prefer the likes of Ardbeg 10 or Caol Ila 12 over this Big Peat. And thus I put a question mark to the necessity of this Blend, the more so when I consider its price. Remember the song "Even Better Than The Real Thing" by U2? Well, the opposite is the case here.
Jan van den Ende October 5, 2015
