Peated whisky is a kind of divisive profiles that tends to evoke robust opinions—both love at first sip or a direct aversion. However very like seasoning in cooking, peat will be approached with nuance: slightly can add intrigue, whereas a heavy hand delivers daring depth.
Suppose you’re interested in exploring this distinctive type. In that case, the 5 whiskies featured under provide a recent tackle peat and smoke, showcasing distinctive expressions that set them other than the standard suspects like Laphroaig or Lagavulin. Whether or not you’re new to peated whiskies or just searching for one thing slightly completely different in 2025, these bottles are a superb start line for diving into this ‘like it or hate it’ world.
What Is Peat & How Is It Used In Whisky?
Peat is a pure, compacted materials fashioned over 1000’s of years from decayed vegetation and natural matter, sometimes present in wetland areas like bogs and moors.
In whisky manufacturing, peat is used as a gas supply to dry malted barley through the malting course of. When burned, it releases fragrant smoke that infuses the barley, imparting distinct smoky, earthy, or medicinal flavors to the whisky.
The depth and character of the peat affect can range relying on components comparable to the kind of peat, the area it comes from, and the quantity used throughout malting. Islay is especially well-known for its use of peat.
Loch Lomond 14 12 months Outdated
BUY NOW: $62
I’ve praised this single malt earlier than, and for good motive. It’s a exceptional instance of how a whisky can ship smoky flavors with out counting on peat. That’s proper: no peated malt is used within the Loch Lomond 14 12 months Outdated.
The key lies in its end, achieved by way of closely charred French oak barrels. This imparts a culinary-style smokiness that caught me fully off guard the primary time I tasted it.
The journey begins with candy, toffee-driven notes, adopted by a delicate salty and spicy evolution. As these flavors fade, a pseudo-peatiness emerges, providing a fantastically layered expertise that showcases the total potential of Scottish whisky. It’s an unimaginable bottle that excels on each stage.
Yoichi Single Malt
BUY NOW: $75
Heading over to Japan—a rustic not historically identified for peated whiskies—this one stands out as one thing particular. Produced on the island of Hokkaido in northern Japan, Yoichi embodies the appear and feel of an old-school Scottish distillery. It even takes a extra conventional method, as they nonetheless use coal fires to warmth their stills.
The smoky character on this whisky is current however lacks the sharp depth usually present in some Scottish peated whiskies. As an alternative, Yoichi affords a balanced, barely candy smokiness that carries a way of drama. It’s not only a taste; it’s an expertise, with a exceptional weight and texture that lingers in your mouth for ages.
Whereas Japanese whisky costs are progressively changing into extra approachable and extra manufacturers are coming into the market, this bottle is a superb alternative for these seeking to discover peated whisky.
Highland Park 15 12 months Outdated
BUY NOW: $110
Right here’s one other distinctive tackle peated whisky! Highland Park has lengthy been identified for crafting a few of Scotland’s most approachable peated whiskies. They obtain this by way of using high-quality casks, beforehand crammed with bourbon and sherry, mixed with a decrease peat stage in comparison with different peated whiskies.
Their peat is distinctive as nicely—much less influenced by seaweed and underwater vegetation, and extra rooted in bark, heather, and land-based foliage. The result’s a whisky that’s splendidly floral, with aromas of espresso, honey, and chocolate, all fantastically complemented by a contact of smoke that provides depth and complexity.
It’s an ideal instance of how, similar to seasoning meals, slightly smoke can go a great distance.
Ardnamurchan Single Malt
BUY NOW: $56
One in all my favourite new distilleries on the earth is Ardnamurchan. Their customary single malt launch combines each peated and unpeated shares, leading to a whisky with an unimaginable sense of stability and approachability. For these with a sweeter desire, additionally they provide a sherry cask launch with an identical composition. Nevertheless, this principally ex-bourbon cask launch shines with its salty coastal notes, complemented by touches of sweetness from malted barley, biscuits, and caramel.
I’ve been a fan since their very first bottle and am nonetheless on the hunt for a bottle of their first official 10 12 months Outdated launch. You don’t must go to the lengths I do to gather each launch—I’m admittedly a fanboy—however if you happen to’re searching for one thing peaty that gained’t overwhelm your style buds with smoke, this can be a implausible alternative.
Ardnahoe 5 12 months Outdated Inaugural Launch
BUY NOW: $88
A literal model new launch from a model new distillery on Islay. Ardnahoe does now have a regular bottle of their vary, Infinite Loch. I’m but to do this so can’t touch upon it. Nevertheless, the inaugural launch was absolute dynamite!
A 5 12 months Outdated single malt, at 50% and reasonably peated – for a few of you that might set alarm bells ringing. A majority of it was matured in first-fill bourbon casks, and consequently, the whisky took on this extremely smooth, candy, gently smoky type.
The corporate I work for, The Whisky Store, has the UK and world-exclusive launch of this whisky, and a part of my job was to movie individuals’s first reactions to it. By no means earlier than have I seen individuals take to one thing so simply that on paper actually wouldn’t be their sort of whisky. I’ve gone by way of two bottles of the stuff and it is without doubt one of the greatest first-release whiskies I’ve ever had.
