Big Peat Christmas 2015 Edition Cask Strength – 53.8% abv

Info: The now traditional festive Big Peat Christmas Edition is back! No colour, no chill filtration, cask strength… what more could you want from this mix of Islay malts which includes Ardbegg-nog, Coal Ila, Snowmore and Party Ellen.
Colour: A very honest, light straw colour.
Nose: Peat, of course. It’s sweet and fairly fruity (black currants) with some younger new make type sweet notes. There’s a salty ozone quality. Hints of moss, a crack of black pepper and some digestive biscuits. Nice thick legs on the glass.
Palate: The cask strength helps give this some extra spicy kick, but once you’re used to it it becomes warming and creamy. It’s malt-sweet, with various layers of flavour to explore and enjoy.
Finish: There’s a real freshness to the long and warming ending, a gentle maltiness at the end with ember smoke puffs and gentle coastal peat. Nice and clean.
Thoughts: As ever Big Peat comes up trumps with his yearly special edition. It’s a real winter warmer for any peat lover.
Available: Master of Malt – £49.84

Thanks to Mr Big Peat for flying me a sample over.