Category: Blended Malt Whisky Page 2 of 5

Big Peat Blended Malt Whisky

On 07/06/2020

I love the Big Peat releases. They are fun, original and most importantly, delicious. This week I am looking at the Big Peat that started it all. The Big Peat blended malt Scotch whisky, the original Ileac fisherman. Last time I looked at the Big Peat 26 yo Platinum Edition and also at the Big Peat 10 yo whisky, but this release today was the start of it all.

This blended malt release from Douglas Laing was the first in their Remarkable Regional Malts series. Big Peat is a mix of whisky from Ardbeg (medicinal notes), Caol Ila (sweetness), Bowmore (balance) and Port Ellen (elegance).

Douglas Laing released Big Peat for the first time in 2009. The frowning fisherman in his signature yellow jersey has been featured on a variety of special releases in the past 10 years. His best known is the yearly Christmas Edition Limited bottling.

Also Read: Reisetbauer 12 yo Whisky

The Christmas Edition is usually bottled at cask strength to warm the coldest heart over the dark snowy Scottish winter with festive flair and zest. There is also a limited edition Big Peat 26 yo whisky that is just divine!

However, today I look at the start of the range; the bottle that started it all. Douglas Laing bottled Big Peat without added colour or chill-filtration. It is readily available and retails for around R650.

I chatted to Hector Mcbeth about this release over on Instagram, and he said that every bottle of Big Peat has a bit of older Port Ellen in. It is a NAS release with no added colour and non-chill-filtered. It is peated to about 40ppm.

Big Peat Blended Malt Whisky Review

REGION: Islay

ABV: 46%

COLOUR: Very pale gold

NOSE: Sweetness balanced with peat, barley and vanilla. Fruity sweetness with hints of chocolate and nuts. Soft smoke and little bits of salty ocean air. The nose makes me think of eating grilled peaches on the beach. Fruity with just hints of salt and peat.

PALATE: Ash, tar and peat. The sea breeze is blowing the BBQ smoke all around. Easy drinking and delicious. The sweetness from the nose is replaced with Islay notes. The sweetness comes through later with creamy chocolate, vanilla and bits of roasted nuts.

Even though it is a 46% ABV, you don’t need to add water. It goes down very smoothly with no alcohol heat. Water brings more grilled fruit sweetness to the front. Big and bold.

FINISH: A medium finish with bonfire ashes, peat and hints of white pepper.

RATING: EXCELLENT

I am a big favourite of the frowning fisherman. According to Hector, Big Peat is very popular in Belgium as well. I can understand why. He is easy-drinking, exciting and fun. The packaging is innovative, and the liquid is consistently delicious. I have yet to taste a Big Peat that I don’t like.

Looking at what food to pair this Big Peat whisky with, options include strong cheese such as blue cheese; I can see why that would work. The robust fisherman needs a strong taste to stand up next to. The creamy nature of the blue cheese will work deliciously with the peat and ash from the whisky. Smoked BBQ ribs would also work wonderfully, and Hector suggests a tomato-based stew to match the acidity.

Also Read: Great whisky gifts under R1000

Big Peat Cape Town Edition Whisky

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 11/04/2019

In Blended Malt Whisky

This weekend is the Rugby World Cup Final and what better way to prepare for South Africa’s part than to taste the Big Peat Cape Town Edition blended malt Scotch whisky. It feels like it was Remarkable Malts’ year on the blog.

I have tasted quite a few of their expressions during this last couple of months. I covered Rock Oyster and Timorous Beastie as well as Big Peat. I covered Big Peat quite a few times.

Even at the whisky shows, I ended up at the Remarkable Malts stand, tasting the various age statement releases available. The Timorous Beastie 18 yo whisky especially stands out. I have captured tasting notes for the Big Peat 10 yo whisky and the Big Peat 26 yo Platinum Edition (Divine) as well.

But what better way to celebrate SA winning the final of the Rugby World Cup than with the Big Peat Cape Town Edition blended malt whisky. In June I tasted this release at The Only Whisky Show and was blown away. I took a bottle home, and it went with us on our holiday to Mapunbugwe National Park. There we nearly finished the bottle.

As the sun goes down, the elephants come down to the watering hole for a drink. Watching them with a visitor from Islay. #africansunset #remarkablemalts #bigpeat #bigpeatcapetown @HectorMcBeth @valotone @RemarkableMalts pic.twitter.com/5FA99Xg2Av
— WhiskyoftheWeek (@WhiskyoftheWeek) September 26, 2019

Big Peat Cape Town Edition is exclusive to South Africa and part of the Big Peat World Tour City Series. It is a blended malt using Islay whisky and peated to 44ppm.

The label honours South Africa’s Mother City with a braai in front of the famous Devils Peak in Cape Town. As with all Remarkable Malt releases The Big Peat Cape Town Edition whisky is not chill-filtered and bottled at a rather decent ABV.

Big Peat Cape Town Edition Whisky Review

REGION: Islay

ABV: 48%

COLOUR: Lightest gold

NOSE: Peat and ‘braai’ smoke with hints of blueberry sweetness. Bits of spice and earthy notes mixed with oak and red apples.

PALATE: Ash, peat and smoke. Like standing next to a ‘braaivleis vuur’ (BBQ fire). Fresh fruit sweetness with hints of salted caramel and dark chocolate. Bits of crispy bacon and pepper. Adding water brings forward the sweetness. It is big and bold but in a laid-back and unpretentious way. It is just delicious!

FINISH: Peat and smoke that goes on forever with hints of salt and pepper.

RATING: DIVINE

John is originally from Cape Town, and this Big Peat Cape Town Edition made him nostalgic. It brought back many good memories.

The notes I took while in Mapungubwe read: Sometimes you find a whisky that makes you want to sit down and have deep philosophical discussions with a loved one. But once in a while, you find a whisky that makes you forget about everything else and requires you to be present. Not solve world problems, not deep philosophical discussions. But the quietness of nature, to look into the eyes of the elephant and just be.

I loved Big Peat the first time I tasted it, and I loved it on holiday. And I still loved it when I poured it for my Friday afternoon tasting session. The bottle will not see the end of this year. The next bottle is already ordered. Just don’t tell John. He is getting it for Christmas.

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Timorous Beastie Whisky

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 10/21/2019

In Blended Malt Whisky

Today I try a whisky named after a well known Scottish poem from the Scottish National Bard, Robert Burns. A part of the poem “To a Mouse” goes “Wee, sleekit, cowran, tim’rous beastie, O, what a panic’s in thy breastie! ” This release is part of the Remarkable Malt range and can stand tall next to Big Peat, Scallywag and Rock Oyster is Douglas Laing’s Timorous Beastie blended malt Scotch whisky.

Timorous Beastie is a blended malt made of Highland whiskies from distilleries such as Blair Athol, Dalmore, Glen Garioch, Glengoyne and more. A release from Douglas Laing to celebrate all that is the Scottish Highlands and part of their Remarkable Malts series.

The name is a nod to Scotland’s National bard Robert Burns and his poem. Scotland’s famous poet wrote this after disrupting a timid field mouse nest on his farm. The packaging has the sweetest little mouse drawing on.

The Beastie whisky range also includes a 12 year old as well as an 18 year old Beastie. There is even a limited edition 25 year old Beastie that was just released by Douglas Laing.

The non-age statement Timorous Beastie blended malt is bottled without colouring or chill-filtration. It is readily available and retail in South Africa for R 850. It is also available in the US for $ 56.

Timorous Beastie Whisky Review

ABV: 46.8%

COLOUR: Light golden yellow

NOSE: Notes of meadow honey, barley, fresh-cut green grass and flowers, grapes, apples, hints of oak, sherry and liquorice. Somewhere in the background, there is lemon and cinnamon with hints of ginger.

PALATE: Malt and oak, honey sweetness with crisp Granny Smith apples, fennel and freshly cut grass. Bits of malt, black pepper, cinnamon and smoke. Rich and creamy. It has a crisp green note. I was expecting a bit more of the sherry notes that the nose promised. Water softens and releases more sweetness. Medium body with some drying oak notes.

FINISH: Sweet and creamy with notes of oak, honey and malt with hints of lemon and chocolate.

RATING: VERY GOOD

This blended malt whisky is not a timid little mouse at all. The Timorous Beastie is drinkable and bold. It has a green freshness that makes it perfect for summer. Timorous Beastie is not the most complex whisky, but at the price point, it is value for money. A wonderful mix of the best that the Scottish Highlands have to offer.

Have you tried this release yet?

Also Read: Big Peat Cape Town Edition whisky

Big Peat 26 yo Platinum Edition Whisky

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 08/19/2019

In Blended Malt Whisky

Today I look at the second of the Big Peat samples that I got from Remarkable Malts to celebrate the 10^th-anniversary release of the smoky sailor. But I decided to jump right to the end and try the Big Peat 26 yo Platinum Edition blended malt Scotch whisky.

I know, logically I should have gone for the Big Peat Original first and then the special Feis Ile release before opening the old man, but patience has never been my biggest virtue.

After tasting the Big Peat 10 yo blended malt whisky, I was curious to see what an additional 16 years would do to the peaty and smoky gentleman. Big Peat 26 yo is a blended malt comprising whisky from Islay’s most sought after malt whiskies.

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It is the oldest Remarkable Malts Big Peat ever released. It is the second release in a three-part Vintage series. The first was the Big Peat 25 yo Gold Edition released in 2018. The goal of the Vintage series is to show the salty sailors’ more mature side.

The Big Peat 26 yo Scotch whisky is bottled at cask strength and was not chill-filtered and has a natural colour. Distillation Date: 1992.

Big Peat 26 yo Whisky Review

REGION: Islay

ABV: 51.5%

COLOUR: Golden

NOSE: Very unique. It has notes of peat, smoky BBQ, burnt wood, salt and seaweed with a fruity sweetness. Big and bold.

PALATE: Peat, ash and smoke balanced with honey sweetness and salted caramel. Hints of coastal notes, lemon meringue tart and salty wind. When you add a bit of water, the more medicinal and earthy notes come forward. It reminded me of a fish braai (BBQ) on the beach. It is big and bold but wonderfully satisfying.

FINISH: Long and lingering. Hints of sea air and peat just warming you up from the inside.

RATING: DIVINE

O my word. I have fallen head of over heels in love with the salty gentleman this year. I have tasted quite a few of his releases during this year, and it is delicious. This is not the most complex release. However, it is perfectly balanced, there is no alcohol heat, and it just warms your soul up.

The BBQ notes make it unique and delicious. Even without water, it is easy drinking and just totally rewarding. I can easily sit next to the braai and slowly finish a bottle. That is for me always the best way to properly rate a whisky. Do I want another glass of this or not?

The Big Peat 26 yo Platinum edition is a limited release of only 3 000 bottles. A minimal number of this edition will be making their way to SA. So if you see it, grab it! It is worth it.

Sample disclosure: I received this sample from Douglas Laing. Though received as part of a promotional event, the review and tasting notes are my honest, fair and independent thoughts on the whisky.

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Big Peat 10 year old Whisky

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 06/10/2019

In Blended Malt Whisky

I love what comes out of Douglas Laing. Not only is the packaging for their Remarkable Regional Malts original and fun, but the contents are delicious and exciting. So you can imagine how great my excitement was when I was asked to help Douglas Laing celebrate Big Peat’s 10^th anniversary, by raising a glass of the very special Big Peat 10 year old blended malt Scotch whisky.

Unfortunately, the Sough African Custom Service also had to have their say. My special package only arrived a week after Big Peats’ Anniversary. However, it did arrive, and I am so happy to celebrate 10 wonderful Islay years, even if it is a week or two later.

Douglas Laing is an independent bottler of whisky. They are responsible for some unique blended malts, including Timorous Beastie, Scallywag, and Rock Oyster.

Big Peat was released in 2009 as the first whisky in the Remarkable Regional Malts collection. It is a blended malt that celebrates everything Islay and is peated to about 40 PPM. Big Peat is an energetic Ileach fisherman with a soft side.

He wears a yellow jersey and has regular Christmas releases. There is a Big Peat Cape Town Edition that features a proper South African braai (South African BBQ) as well as a Big Peat 26 yo whisky, the oldest of the lot.

Big Peat 10 yo blended malt whisky contains Islay Malt Whiskies, including Ardbeg, Caol Ila, Bowmore and even a bit of Port Ellen. It is not chill-filtered and no added colour. This is a limited release edition.

Big Peat 10 year old Whisky Review

REGION: Islay

ABV: 46%

COLOUR: Lightest wheat

NOSE: Peat, smoke and classic Islay flavours of seaweed, salty air, and iodine. In the background, there are strong hints of soft sweet Dutch liquorice (zacht zoet drop) that take me back to my childhood. Bits of vanilla, green notes, and fruity sweetness.

PALATE: The Islay nose makes way for softer notes of fruity sweetness, hints of cinnamon with gentle peat and smoke. Very unexpectedly, the palate is delicate and soft and wonderfully balanced. Again there is the strong Dutch liquorice notes but with more licorice root (zoet hout). Bits of toasted nuts, sea salt, and tropical fruit. Freshness and green hints.

FINISH: Beautiful and warming, but not overwhelming. Soft peat and fruity sweetness.

RATING: EXCELLENT

One of my favourite treats as a child was when the family from the Netherlands came to visit and brought us some pieces of liquorice root. I have not tasted it for years, but the liquorice notes in the Big Peat 10 year old has brought back such good memories of us chewing on pieces of sweet wood.

This is an excellent whisky for someone new to Islay whiskies. It has the classic Islay notes, but it is at a softer intensity than an Ardbeg or a Lagavulin.

I don’t even know what water does to the dram. I finished it all without even thinking of adding water. You don’t need any water as it is smooth and easy drinking. John described it as a summer Islay, the perfect peaty whisky to drink in summer. Happy 10th anniversary to the big man in the yellow jersey. I am looking forward to 10 more years of smashing Islay drams.

Also Read: Big Peat Christmas Edition whisky

Sample disclosure: I received this sample as part of the 10 year celebration of Big Peat’s release, directly from Douglas Laing. Though received as part of a promotional event, the review and tasting notes are my honest, fair and independent thoughts about the whisky.