Douglas Laing Big Peat Christmas Edition 2019
53.7% ABV - Islay, Scotland
Nose: Heavily peated with waves of medicinal, diesel, and vegetal characteristics. Light fruits, honey, and spices in the background.
Taste: Sweet, vegetal peat smoke, some green or tropical fruits mill around, and roasted nuts with smoke, smoke, and smoke leading into the finish. More fruits emerge over time and with water.
Finish: Smoke, peat, medicinal notes – slightly bittering and metallic, and fading fruits, black pepper, and spices.
Big Peat Christmas Edition is the annual cask strength blend of Islay whiskies by independent Douglas Laing – featuring Ardbeg, Bowmore, Caol Ila, and Port Ellen, as per the labelling. I have been collecting and enjoying these ones since 2017 – well, I suppose that they don’t last long enough to reach "collector" status! I hope their local availability continues as it’s something I look forward to each holiday season.
This version, the 2019 Christmas Edition, is less potent than I remember compared to the 2017 and 2018 Editions. Perhaps there is more aged malt in this blend than previous? I happen to be tasting this side-by-side the 2013 Christmas Edition, and the 2019 Christmas Edition is a noticeably darker hue.
The ABV has been in slight decline over the years – though negligible year over year – and this one, at 53.7%, can still be enjoyed without addition of water (intense, but not too intense)! My favourite aspect of this release is the fruit notes – making me wonder if some of the barrels have had some ex-Sherry or ex-Wine finishing...
Tasting Notes (Official): The Douglas Laing family proudly presents Big Peat’s 2019 Festive bottling! Shown here selecting his casks for this Cask Strength Limited Edition, Big Peat would certainly insist this is a dram best savoured on a cold, dark winter’s day. A remarkable marriage of Single Malts, including those distilled at Ardbeg, Bowmore, Caol Ila and Port Ellen Distilleries, this archetypal Islay character is brimful of ashy, tarry, oceanic charm. Proudly offered to you without colouring or chill-filtration, "he" is as natural as it gets, packing a punch of potently powerful and phoneolic peat!
Tasted 29 December 2019. (Posted 5 January 2020.)
