Review #52: Big Peat Small Batch Islay Blended Scotch Whisky, Batch #22, 46% abv, Douglas Laing

still recovering from the holidays

Haven't been reviewing much lately, but I'm almost ready to get started again. I have a bunch of odd minis to get through quickly, and maybe then a normal routine.

But first a vatted malt. Big Peat "includes" whiskies from Ardbeg, Caol Ila, Bowmore, and Port Ellen. (The last of which probably comes from a medicine dropper that has to cover the next few batches.) It is NCF but only 46%. This is *not* the Christmas blend, even though I got it for Christmas.

nose: very pleasant, with nice phenolic smoke leaving room for lemon and distinct coastal elements (brine, seaweed, beach). some cotton candy and wet wool; a touch of (nice) bicycle tire.

palate: malty sweetness and ashes.

finish: slightly ashy and then just sort of dies. I don't recall ever having a peated whisky with such a short finish. Sweetness lingers, but that's about it.

This is tasty whisky, but it's odd that it doesn't taste feinty or newmakey at all, despite being NAS, and that the peat really isn't all that big. So I'm not sure what the point is, exactly. I guess if you like Caol Ila with Ardbeg sweetness (and then some) or a much milder, less smoky version of Laphroaig, then this is for you. Otherwise one might as well stick with the single malts.

Still yummy, though. The nose is the best part.

score: 81