Big Peat Christmas Edition 2020 is the 10th annual festive release in Douglas Laing’s Big Peat series – an Islay blended malt bottled at natural cask strength of 53.1% ABV. This is a vatting of only peated single malts from Islay, including Ardbeg, Bowmore, Caol Ila and the legendary Port Ellen, with no chill filtration and no added colour, giving you Big Peat in all his ashy, coastal glory.
Producer – Douglas Laing & Big Peat
Big Peat is bottled by Douglas Laing & Co, an independent, family-owned Scotch whisky company founded in 1948 and based in Glasgow. The brand forms part of their “Remarkable Regional Malts” range, with Big Peat flying the flag for Islay – big phenols, sea air and unapologetic peat smoke.
As is customary for the Christmas releases, the 2020 edition is offered at cask strength, providing extra “winter warmth” and a particularly intense smoky profile.
Nose
The nose is vibrant, coastal and heavily peated: chimney soot, charcoal, tar and woodsmoke wrapped around sea spray, seaweed, iodine and a faint rubbery note. There’s also a bright citrus layer of charred lemon peel and candied citrus, vanilla custard and a hint of green apple, supported by burnt caramel, pepper and damp earth.
Palate
On the palate, Big Peat Christmas 2020 is full-bodied, oily and seriously smoky, yet not without sweetness.
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A sweet arrival of stone fruits, lemon bonbons, lemon meringue notes and light toffee.
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Quickly followed by an “ashy avalanche” of peat smoke: soot, tar, salted crisps, pickled lemon, kippers, seaweed and crashing waves.
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Background notes of rubber soles, leather and earthy, maritime funk complete the Islay picture.
A splash of water softens the alcohol, opens up more citrus and vanilla, and lets the sweetness spar more evenly with the smoke.
Finish
The finish is long and warming, with lingering tarry peat smoke, soot, black pepper and a hint of burnt citrus. A gentle sweetness – toffee, lemon, a touch of vanilla – remains underneath the smoke, alongside a whisper of menthol and maritime salt.
Serving & style
Big Peat Christmas Edition 2020 is best enjoyed neat in a tulip glass after a few minutes of rest. Given the 53.1% ABV, adding a little water is highly recommended to find your preferred balance of sweetness, citrus and thick, ashy peat smoke.
This is a perfect festive dram for peatheads: cask strength, massively smoky, coastal and just dirty enough to put a big grin on any Islay lover’s face.
