Smoky & Peaty Whisky
When malted barley is dried using peat smoke, the grains pick up distinctive phenolic flavours that carry through to the final whisky.
Flavours often found in Smoky & Peaty whiskies
These whiskies are sometimes medicinal or maritime.
Crispy Bacon
Sea Spray
Woodfire
Iodine
Kippers
Ash
Recommended Peaty whiskies
Other great options
Peaty tasting set
Islay whisky tasting set
There's nothing like a huge, muscular whisky, packed full of peat. A whisky tasting set for lovers of massively smoky, peaty whiskies, the Islay Whisky Tasting Set is a box of five 3cl samples from Drinks by the Dram. These showcase some of the world's most intense, smouldering, fiery beasts - plus a bonus unpeated Bunna as a nice palate cleanser.
Included is:
Laphroaig 10 Year Old
Bunnahabhain 12 Year Old
Bowmore 15 Year Old
Lagavulin 8 Year Old Whisky
Aerolite Lyndsay 10 Year Old - The Character of Islay Whisky Company
How Peaty Whisky is made
Peat bricks cut and left to dry
Malted barley is used to make malt whisky (as you may have guessed). The malting process is how distillers get access the starch and enzymes stored away inside every barley grain, and part of that process requires heating all grains to stop them growing into a barley plant!
What we're interested in here is which fuel is used to heat the barley. Traditionally, before established rail routes, there was little to no access to coal throughout the Scottish Highlands and islands. The local fuel instead was peat. Peat is partially decomposed plant and organic matter, and as such can even carry the essence of its location, be it more coastal elements, smoked floral heather notes, or woodfire character from more forested areas.
These days malting is mostly handed over to commercial maltsters, with distilleries ordering malted barley to the peat (or more commonly unpeated) specifications they require.
Find out more about other whisky flavours
Whisky Guides
Our team of whisky experts take you on a journey through the wonderful world of whisky. In our comprehensive whisky guide, you can learn all about whisky: from how it is made to how to drink it and so much more...
Explore more
Sign up to our newsletter
Special offers, recommendations and expert advice to your inbox! Unsubscribe at any time.
I agree to the Privacy Policy