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Whisky guides

What is peat?

Peat is a wonderful natural product that drastically alters the taste of whisky. But what it is it, and how does it do it? Here are the answers.

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What is peat
How is whisky peated
The taste of peat
Build your own
Measuring peat
Peat sustainability
Embracing peat

Author:

Adam O'Connell, writer at Master of Malt
Reading time: 5 minutes

We love our peated whisky and for that, we have peat to thank. But we appreciate that to most people who didn’t grow up in Scotland, Ireland, or other peat growing areas, it’s not exactly the most familiar substance. So here’s a handy little guide to nature’s greatest flavour brick.

What is peat in whisky?

Peat in the ground before harvest

Peat has to be dug up and cut into bricks. Before that, it looks like this.

How is whisky peated?

Peat being dug up on Orkney for Highland Park

Peat being dug up for to be used in whisky production for Highland Park

How does peat influence the taste of whisky?

A dram and bottle of Laphroaig 10 Year Old

Laphroaig is a fine example of a peated whisky

Measuring peat

Peatlands in Scotland with a red deer

Peat is a part of its natural habitat

Is peated whisky sustainable?

Cut peat in the Scottish Highlands

There is a cost to cutting peat we have to consider

Peat, whisky, and a sustainable future

Peat in the ground

Peat: it's a humble but wonderful thing

Embracing the world of peated spirits

Peated whisky to try

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