Big Peat – The Peatrichor Edition is a limited release to celebrate Feis Ile 2021. As you know, petrichor is that specific scent of fresh rain on warm earth or tarmac for instance. This bottling celebrates the rainfall on Islay.
Like all the other Big Peat releases from Douglas Laing, it only contains single malts distilled on Islay. It’s bottled at cask strength for the occasion.
Big Peat ‘Peatrichor Edition’ (53,8%, Douglas Laing for Feis Ile 2021, 5190 btl.)
Nose: quite a thick, oily style of peat, with lots of fireplace elements and damp soil indeed. Some sweet lemons and grilled peaches. Hints of vanilla and dried seaweed in the background, as well as a hint of oak spice.
Mouth: a sweet onset, oozing with ashes, more peach sweetness and toffee, gradually moving to hints of chocolate and pickle brine. Some medicinal herbs and iodine, with liquorice. The youth comes out a little, but it’s a very balanced composition.
Finish: long, tarry, with white pepper, a hint of mezcal and bonfire smoke.
A nice Big Peat expression (again), they never fail to get the balance right. That said, ‘Peatrichor’ does not have the dramatic edge or extra earthiness I was expecting from the name. Good value and a nice dose of humour on the label. Still available from Douglas Laing direct, or The Whisky Exchange or Tyndrum Whisky for instance.