.big peat - christmas 2015

Ho ho ho... Big Peat is back with the fifth Christmas edition of his all-Islay blended malt (still including Ardbeg, Bowmore, Caol Ila and even Port Ellen), and his sleigh is on fire! Smoking hot at that because of the cask strength release...

.big peat - batch #59

46% abv, €40, single malt, non-chill filtered, natural colour

Nose: sweet and at the same time briny. Obviously some peat smoke but also coffee, walnuts and some cinnamon
Palate: sweet liquorice, spicy cinnamon, warming
Finish: sweet liquorice root, the mandatory smoke, ash and reasonably long
Mark: +++++

.big peat

46% abv, €40, blended malt

Nose: peat-smoke, slight sweet, tangerines
Palate: at first very gentle, then peppers and bittersweet.
Finish: gentle, bitter, returns as smoke turning into an ashtray that does not leave anymore...
Mark: +++++

Conclusion: not a favourite to me. I like a sip of Islay whisky from time to time and I have been driven to drinking whisky because of the (at first) strange addition of peat in the drink. This, however, is nothing more to me then drinking out of a glass that has been used as an ashtray on a party. With the cigaret butts still in the glass. Washing it away with a glass of Coca-cola wasn't an option, but a necessity. No.
The mark is only this high because of the fine nose and palate. It will not be found in my cabinet any time soon...

More info: this is an Islay blended malt of Ardbeg, Bowmore, Caol Ila and even Port Ellen whiskies, amongst others.