Big Peat 25 Years ‘Gold Edition’

Big Peat is an established brand by now. This Islay blended malt whisky is a reliable mix of Ardbeg, Caol Ila, Bowmore and Port Ellen, and often sees limited editions for Christmas, Feis Ile or other events.

The first version with an age statement (and vintage) is this Big Peat 25 Years – Gold Edition which contains malt whisky distilled in 1992. Two more vintage releases will follow as part of a small series.

Big Peat 25 yo 1992 ‘Gold Edition’ (52,1%, Douglas Laing 2017, 3000 btl.)

Nose: refined, with gentle, sweet charcoal smoke and maritime notes. Bonfire on a beach, slight chalky notes, hints of eucalyptus. There’s a little custard and a layer of sweet and sour pineapple in the background. A top note of varnish too.

Mouth: quite bold, with lots of ashes, peppercorns and briney touches. Seaweed, iodine, a little salmiak. Still a bit of sweet citrus and herbal notes towards the end.

Finish: long, the herbal notes turning slightly bittersweet. Hints of apples, clove, salty smoke and wood char.

This one is a Mature Peat and it needs time to unfold. A complex, worthy Islay dram. Not cheap but obviously its malt components would be even more expensive as a single malt. Available from Master of Malt among others.

Score: 89/100