10 peated whiskies to gift this Christmas to us Whisky Lovers
Hey Everyone, welcome back. Today I will be bringing you the PEATED version of my "10 whiskies that I think are great presents to us Whisky Lovers this Christmas."
Christmas is right around the corner. Do you know what to buy to your smoke and peat lover Whisky drinker friend, if you have any? I am here to help you with that. I picked 10 bottles that are great and most "liquid smoke" drinkers can appreciate for a reasonable price.
I am going to list them for you by descending price, starting with the most expensive and then we will work our way down to the cheapest. Let's get into it.
Laphroaig 10 yo Sherry Oak Finish - Natural Color, Non-chill filtered, 48% - 61.90€
"A fine and full-bodied single malt. Finished in sherry oak casks to layer aromatic honey onto our famous peat smoke. Slàinte.
Unforgettable flavours from our classic 10 Year Old whisky find harmony with the sweetness and complexity of Oloroso sherry to create Laphroaig® 10 Sherry Oak. Finished in European sherry oak casks for a particularly memorable single malt. This unique expression begins with the same time-honoured process that goes into our regular 10 Year Old Laphroaig®. After drawing rich character from ex-Bourbon barrels, the spirit then rests in casks previously filled with sweet Oloroso sherry. Each barrel is hand selected to add extra complexity to our quintessential single malt. It's what layers notes of Manuka honey and grilled bacon onto our renowned flavours of peat smoke and seaweed."
Nose: Yes. Exactly what I expected. Medicinal, earthy peat. How lovely. Iodine and salt. Tar, smoke and barley. Lovely sweet manuka honey, raisins, figs, dates and dark chocolate. Cocoa powder. Candied oranges, cinnamon and allspice. Sweet and smoky nose. Great.
Taste: The 48% is very well integrated. Silky, smooth and hefty and the same time. Oily. Lots of dark fruits such as raisins and figs. Grapefruits, candied oranges and forest fruits. Roasted almonds and BBQ sauce. Iodine, earth and peat. Warming. Spices again and a nice oak influence. Complex and tasty. Just what you would expect from this dram.
Finish: Smoky and sweet. Long. Gets drier and dried by the end. Iodine, earth and peat. Dark fruits, espresso and cocoa powder. A hint of oak and sherry.
Overall this is a very good expression from Laphroaig. It mixes heavy smoke with sherry quite well. It also has a 10 yo age statement which is always nice to see. However I think the price is a bit high. 87 / 100.
Laphroaig Quarter Cask - Natural Color, Non-chill filtered, 46.3% - 53.52€
"Laphroaig® Quarter Cask is twice aged to amplify deep peat and add a surprising sweetness. Contact with the wood of smaller quarter-sized casks makes it our most lively expression.
Bigger barrels don't mean better flavour. The proof is Laphroaig® Quarter Cask, inspired by the old tradition of transporting whisky on packhorses. Fortunately for said horses, it was stored in smaller quarter casks that carry flavour into your dram today. Their reduced size means the spirit has more contact with the wood, amplifying the natural flavours of whisky first matured in ex-Bourbon barrels. Hints of coconut, banana and vanilla complement our instantly recognisable heavy peat flavour, followed by a long, sweet and smoky finish. This quarter cask whisky is barrier filtered to retain all the character developed in our small but mighty barrels. Enjoy a soft and velvety single malt full of unexpected vivid notes, bigger flavour and aroma."
Nose: Immediately intensely reveals a truly impressive array of scents. Smoke, burnt wood, smoked pork, motifs of the salty sea coast. The typical "Laphroaig" medical theme (iodine, bandages, pills). Also impressive farm-y smells such as leather, wool, rubber, tar. Smoked fruits such as plums, cherries, gooseberries, white currants. Vanilla and hot chocolate. Lemon peel. Spices: ginger and pepper, anise and coffee.
Taste: Smooth mouthfeel, slightly sweet and peaty. Roasted pork. Burnt wood, brine and limestone. Iodine. Becomes more powerful and bold when swallowed full of pepper, juicy oak, licorice and peat. Very nice.
Finish: Not too long, but oaky, smoky, and pleasant. Probably the weakest aspect of this whisky.
This is a lovely expression from Laphroaig, I don't think you can go wrong with it. It has a very nice Laphroaig-y nose and on top you have those lovely fruits and farm-y smells. I didn't rate this whisky yet on my page but in my notes I gave it an 82 / 100.
Mac-Talla Mara Cask Strength - Natural Color, Non-chill filtered, 58.2% - 49.77€
"ON THE SHORES of Islay, two worlds collide. The wild fiery sea and the unforgiving land. Bold and brave, powerful and smoky. The spirit of Islay. The taste of Mara.
The Islay Single Malts under the brand are produced by the well-known Morrison whisky family. The bottling Mara (Gaelic for the sea) is characterised by the maritime nature of the island and was strongly influenced by the salty Atlantic. Bottled at cask strength!"
Nose: Whew. Heavy smoke, fresh, maritime notes such as brine and salt. Citrus notes. Orchard fruits, such as green apples and pears. A nice apricot note. Iodine and tar. Blackcurrants. Leather and tobacco. Earthy and grassy. The alcohol is nicely integrated. A very nice coastal and fruity nose.
Taste: Very powerful in the mouth. Round and heavy a bit rough also. Campfire smoke. Very salty. Brine. Lemon and lime. Black pepper and cloves. Green apples, unripe pears and apricots. Iodine and band aid. Earthy peat with a faint taste of BBQ meats. Leather and tobacco leafs. Ash. For me it's quite complex and rather likeable. With some added water it gets a bit more tame and it removes the rough edges that some of you might not like.
Finish: Long and spicy. Quite drying. The maritime notes stay for a long time. It's very salty and smoky. Ash, BBQ meats and grilled fruits. Black pepper and lemon zest. Lovely balance and lovely finish.
Overall I think this whisky is very good BUT it's not for beginners. It's definitely a dram for people that are more seasoned and to the people that are into smoky stuff. I think it's very well made, the ABV is spot on and it's very complex. 87 / 100.
The Six Isles Batch Strength - Natural Color, Non-chill filtered, 58% - 47.95€
"A sensory voyage through the malt whiskies of the Islands of Scotland
The Six Isles brings together exceptional single malts from six different Scottish islands.
Unbound by a single style or locale, these whiskies are connected by wilderness alone. Dawn breaking over the Black Cuillin of Skye. Waves crashing at nightfall on Jura. Spirits whispering at Orkney's standing stones. Each sip is the essence of island life, a tale no guidebook could ever convey.
This blend of malts creates new from the ancient. Rounded and complex to the last – each drop a passage to the rich landscapes of Scotland's islands.
The Six Isles is a true one-off, because nobody else brings together single malts from the six ancient islands of Scotlands: Islay, Skye, Orkney, Mull, Arran and Jura. The Six Isles is a celebration of craft, time and tide – and the painstaking craft of our master blender
Nobody else brings together the single malts from Islay, Skye, Orkney, Arran and Jura in a blended malt – because nobody else has secured access to precious stocks of all six whiskies. Raising a glass of The Six Isles is to take a journey by sea and land, into a whirlpool of complex flavours."
Nose: Campfire smoke right away. The smoke dominates. Maritime notes. Lovely sea breeze and brine. Cold. It literally feels like standing on the shores of one of these islands in a cold day. Citrus fruits and vanilla. Salted caramel and green apples. Earthy peat and maltiness. A hint of iodine and tar. No sign of the high alcohol content.
Taste: Powerful and mouth-filling. Very heavy. The alcohol content is just right in my opinion. It's a bit untamed, rough as the sea. Black pepper, cinnamon and cloves. Mint. Earthy peat and smoldering wood. Lemond zest, green apples and pears. Vanilla and salted caramel. A hint of honey and maltiness. Iodine and ash. This is a very complex and satisfying taste for those who like rough, untamed whiskies in my opinion.
Finish: Long and dry. Peppery. Very earth and ashy. Vanilla sweetness with salted caramel. Great.
Overall I think this is a great whisky. It's rough on the edges and untamed but I think this is part of being an Island whisky. The ABV. is spot on and the ex-bourbon maturation really lets the distillates shine. 87 / 100.
Bunnahabhain Toiteach A Dhà - Natural Color, Non-chill filtered, 46.3% - 45.66€
"The Bunnahabhain Toiteach A Dhà has a touch of smoke in our peated malted barley whisky, introduced during its creation and combined with a higher sherry influence, this special bottling offers the connoisseur an opportunity to try something truly unique and beguiling in nature.
Meaning 'Smoky Two' in Scots Gaelic, Toiteach A Dhà (pronounced Toch-ach ah-ghaa) is a sequel to the original peaty paradox on Bunnahabhain's gentle single malt. To create this Mòine variant, our blending team selected a combination of ex Bourbon and Sherry casks which were then fully matured in our coastal warehouses on Bunnahabhain Bay.
With touches of smoke from our peated malted barley, this whisky's prickling strength emanates from the dram, while warming with a lingering, robust length and delicately sweet sherry influence."
Nose: Wow. Surprisingly smoky. I tasted an Ardbeg 5 before this one and this one smells smokier. Cigar smoke, tar and iodine. Sea breeze, brine. Maritime. Raisins, milk chocolate and toasted nuts. Vanilla and toffee with caramel. Juicy oranges and red apples. Herbal notes. Cinnamons and cloves. Freshly cut wood and earthy peat. Great complex nose. Not at all what I had expected.
Taste: Elegant. Round and oily. Hefty mouthfeel. Alcohol is well integrated, doesn't stand out. Ash and earty peat. Campfire smoke. Maritime notes. Salt. When the smoke disappears, we are greeted by juicy blood oranges, raisins and forest fruits. Apple pie and cinnamon rolls with vanilla sauce. A hint of toasted oak at the end. It's great. Not boring. Definitely on the complex side of things. Doesn't feel too young either.
Finish: The finish is long but quite one dimensonal. Maybe this is where it lacks a little bit. Ash and salt. Very dry and very smoky. Spicy and fruity. It's nothing extraordinary, however it won't disappoint you.
Overall I think this is a great whisky. It has a good amount of smoke and complexity. I thought it was going to be a bit less peated but oh well. It's great as it is. 85 / 100.
Ledaig Sinclair Series Rioja Cask Finish - Natural Color, Non-chill filtered, 46,3% - 45.66€
"The Tobermory Distillery has kicked off its Sinclair Series of bottlings with a brilliantly flavoursome Ledaig single malt, which has enjoyed a finishing period in Rioja wine casks! The series is named after the distillery's founder, John Sinclair, and this particular edition packs plenty of peaty notes alongside the ripe red fruit sweetness imparted by the Rioja casks. A sublime evening dram, this.
The first release in our new Sinclair Series, this non aged statement Ledaig Rioja Finish is ruby red in colour and perfectly balances peat smoke with sweet, fruity Rioja. Like all our single malts, this is non-chill filtered and natural colour."
Nose: Peat & smoke, obviously. Brine. The scent of fresh air whilst walking on a coastline. The coastal elements are quite strong in the nose. Then earthiness and dry peat. Horse stable and farm smells. Bonfire. Caramel, chocolate, dried fruits such as raisins and figs. A slight leather note with old books. Cereal and malt with dry oakiness. There is no sign of alcohol whatsoever.
Taste: Quite salty. Love it. Brine and salted caramel. Malty, very malty. Bonfire smoke, grilled fruits. Dried fruits again. Cinnamon and cloves. Ginger. Vanilla and almond with milk chocolate. Red grapes. Leather and peat. The peat is earthy and dry, Just how I like it. Alcohol is very well integrated, it fits the whisky. Some oakiness at the back end of the palate.
Finish: Long. Peaty and dry. Salt and spices. Fruity and vegetal. Sweet and sour. Lovely balance. It's also quite dirty at the same time. Lovely.
Overall I have to say it's an excellent dram. Especially for its asking price. As my good friend Northbright Oakley said: "Wine and peat are great friends and they work quite well together." I agree with this 100%. This whisky is put together very well and the selection of the casks are just perfect. 89 / 100. Great price per value ratio. Worth it.
Caisteal Chamuis 12 year old - Natural Color, Non-chill filtered, 46% - 44.52€
"Camus Castle (also known as Knock Castle) was once a strategically important fortress that helped Clan Macleod to strengthen its position over the Sleat Peninsula on the Isle of Skye. The first walls of the castle were built in the 13th century on the site of an Iron Age fort called Dun Thorabhaig...
The smoky single malts that make up the 12-year-old edition of Caisteal Chamuis were made one by one in the Scottish islands. First, they were aged in first-fill and refill American oak casks, and after the blending, they were finished in Oloroso sherry casks. This second aging gave the whiskey a pleasant softness that balances the peat smoke well."
Nose: Medicinal smoke rises, iodine and maritime notes. Once you get over the pleasant smoke the fun begins. Very fruity, apricots and apples. I am picking up a distant grape note which I find very nice. Red berries and some dark fruits following with menthol. How complex.
Taste: As they say, this is extremely smooth and velvety. Iodine and sea salt & brine. Some herbal elements showing through and then the fruitiness arrives. A cavalcade of fresh and dark fruits with a hint of dark chocolate. Some bitter orange and menthol to balance the sweetness. Very pleasant and full, complex.
Finish: Long, the smoke and peaty notes remain with a growing dryness and fruitiness.
Overall I like this a lot. A very surprisingly good and complex Blended Malt Scotch Whisky. 91 / 100.
Ardbeg 5 yo 'Wee Beastie' - Natural Color (?), Non-chill filtered, 47.4% - 42.27€
"A monster of a dram. Ardbeg Wee Beastie is the latest permanent expression to join the Distillery's Ultimate Range. At just five years old, Wee Beastie is a feisty young creature with a formidable taste. Chocolate, tar, and savoury meats. Black pepper and sappy pine resin. Young and intensely smoky. The rawest, smokiest Ardbeg ever."
Nose: Right away, very fresh. Herbal notes, freshly cut grass. A nice cold, salty hint of peat. A very strong vanilla base with a nice malty undertone. Iodine. Fresh green fruits from the orchard such as pears and apples. Barley sugar, wet earth and tar. Leather, black pepper and campfire smoke. Lovely nose. I could have never guess that it is only 5 years of age.
Taste: Wow. Full, round. Very rich and oily. Quite dry also. The alcohol is on point. Lots of vanilla with milk chocolate. Pepper rush, ginger and cloves. Lovely earthy, dry peat. Salt.. lots of it. Malty and fruity again with green apples and pears. A hint of smoked pineapple and some dark furits such as figs. Leather, tar and coal. It's truly lovely.
Finish: Very long and unexpected that it is this long since it's only 5 yo. Mouthcoating, lingers for a long time. Salty and earthy. Very dry. Some coconut and smoked pineapple along with iodine and vanilla. All of this creeps away very slowly, not urging you to drink more and more. On point.
Overall I am very impressed with this whisky. It's very young but at the same time very mature. I don't like Ardbeg as a brand since they sometimes sell mediocre whisky for sky-high prices with their marketing BUT in this case: this is awesome. 87 / 100.
Talisker 10 yo - Natural Color (?), Non-chill filtered, 45.8% - 41.78€
"Produced at the oldest distillery on the Isle of Skye, Talisker Single Malt Scotch Whisky has been made by the sea since 1830, with its smell and taste instantly connecting you to its rugged maritime home. Every sip is a taste of the Isle of Skye itself, one of the most remote, windswept yet beautiful landscapes in Scotland. Talisker 10 Year Old, the stalwart of the Talisker family, is a powerful single malt whisky, with a sea-salty nose, spicy complexity, smoky sweet character and signature peppery finish: like a warm welcome from a wild sea. This single malt has a famously rich and powerful peat-smoke flavour, while the finish leaves you with a warm peppery taste at the back of the mouth.It is double distilled to create a rich, deep character embodying the maritime characteristics of a coastal whisky, and then aged for a minimum of 10 years in American oak casks. It is one of the most awarded single malt Scotch whiskies in the world including Double Gold medal winner at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition for four years in a row, including 2020. Talisker 10 Year Old makes a perfect present for adventurers who share the wild spirit of our founders, who rowed to the Isle of Skye in 1830 where Talisker has been distilled ever since.
Serving Suggestion: The warm, subtle smokiness of Talisker 10 Year Old should be sampled neat.
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Nose: Iodine / coastal peat, salty banana. Golden kiwi, pineapple. Maple syrup, pine and leather. Heather honey and burnt marshmallow. Vanilla and sweet barley sugars. Not a super complex nose.
Taste: Silky soft on the tongue, wood and oranges in front, followed by a big surge of the pepper. Typical salty notes appear that are immediately pushed away by sweet notess. Red apples, citrus fruit, nice and bright and accessible, but very typical of the distillery. Great stuff.
Finish: Medium lasting, let's all the features to shine once more before it goes away. Alcohol is not felt, palate is not dry.
Overall this whisky is great. This is one of the benchmarks of smoky single malts in Scotland for decades. I didn't rate this whisky yet on my page but in my notes I gave it an 88 / 100.
Benromach 10 yo - Natural Color (?), Non-chill filtered(?), 43% - 40.75€
"Only ever matured in the finest oak casks, our signature TEN YEAR OLD single malt delivers delicate forest fruits and creamy malt, a touch of smoke and rich, lasting sherry notes."
Nose: Sweet aromatic smoke. There are fruity components that slowly become ashy. A nice combination of sweet fruit like orange/peach and campfire smoke. Also a very nice farm-y aspect comes in here with hay, horse dung and sheep wool. Wow.
Taste: It tastes darker than it smells. More smoke, more wood, more grainy notes. Heather honey, black pepper, and dried and fresh fruits. Sherry. It's very rich and complex. Hay, barley, freshly cut grass and salt. Brine. Very reminiscent of the Springbank 10.
Finish: Long and pleasant with a hint of sea salt and a bit of smoke.
Overall I think this is a great replacement to the Springbank 10 if you can't buy that at a reasonable price. It brings a bit of Campbeltown funk and the farm-y smoky salty profile that Springbank carries. It would make a great present to a peat lover friend. I didn't rate this whisky yet on my page but in my notes I gave it an 85 / 100.
Summarizing this list, I think these are all great options. A few of them I had many times. If I got any of these bottles for Christmas, I would be very happy. I hope I was able to help you out.
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Thank you for reading! I hope you enjoyed it. To many more. Sláinte.