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big peat 1985 33yo douglas laing

Big Peat 1985 33 Years Old (Douglas Laing)

16 December 2019 0 comments Article Blend, Islay, Scotland, Tasting Notes

Ever since it was announced in November, right around the time I interviewed chairman Fred Laing, I’ve been looking forward to the Big Peat 1985 33 Years Old from Douglas Laing — the oldest Big Peat ever released.

Old Islay whisky is often glorious. You can bet there’s a large chunk of Caol Ila in there. There’s many examples of delicious old Caol Ila out there. This old Big Peat comes with a twist though: it is finished in both sherry and cognac casks. Not your average 30-plus peater…

Big Peat 33 Years Old (47.2%, Douglas Laing, 1500 bts.)

Nose: Lovely gentle and mature notes of bonfire smoke and embers, with a subtle sweetness, highlighted by honey and prunes, but also vanilla and raw sugar. Finally a touch of tobacco leaves, menthol, paraffin wax and bung cloth.
Taste: Caramel-glazed apples and plum juice, but also medicinal peat, as well as a touch of smoke. Some barbecued steak with a nice char, but also a big pinch of salt, followed by cracked black peppercorns.
Finish: Medium in length. Peat and sweet orchard fruits.

Score: 89

Maybe not as full-bodied as I would’ve liked, but a top dram nonetheless. There’s a sweetness that weaves everything together yet always stays in its lane.

Sample provided by Douglas Laing

Thijs Klaverstijn Kingairloch 3
Thijs Klaverstijn

Thijs is a spirits writer and accredited liquorist from The Netherlands. He runs the blog Words of Whisky and contributes to a number of Dutch and international publications.

Tags: 1985, 33yo, big peat, douglas laing, islay

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