Big Peat comes knocking on your door with fat PX
Big Peat is a very popular blended malt in the regional series done by Douglas Laing. Normally, I am not the biggest fan of blended malt and the stories that are needed to create the experience, but somehow these series work very well. Most importantly, and this is purely my opinion, because the blends are of a very high quality. In the meantime, they are also extremely accessible in nature, so they do heavy lifting on introducing newcomers into the whisky regions of Scotland. This Campbeltown expression is one of my favourites. Big Peat stands for the Islay element in the regional malts, and most times delivers on its promise. I have not tasted one since I bought a Feis Ile edition a few years ago, so about time we reset the clock!
Big Peat – The Mitra Edition, bottled at 55,3 % abv by Douglas Laing
First things first: An Islay blended malt that received a finish in PX. Said to contain Port Ellen, one wonders how much of the composition that is of course. Mitra is a big retailer chain of stores in The Netherlands.
Upon Sipping: This is a good mix between Islay smoke coming from a bothy chimney somewhere in between the B8016 and A846, and warm rum soaked raisins. The palate is attacked with great and fierce impact; dry rubber, medicinal peat but kept in check by the PX. These elements really play well off of each other. I like the sweet entry when you take a sip, and then a gulf of wet ashes follows straight after. All the right elements are there to make for the words “big” and “peat”. The “PX” deserves a mention too. The liquorice roots make for a memory of Lagavulin Distillers Edition in the best days. The high abv works wonders for the result.
Word to the Wise: Autumnal and winter whisky rolled into one. You should get this bottle and put it under the tree, either for yourself or as a gift for a loved one. (Thanks for the sample, Robbert.)
Score: 86 points.