What is the best peaty whisky?
The term “best” is subjective when it comes to anything, never mind whisky. Taste comes down to personal preference. If you enjoy bold, medicinal flavours with a heavy smoke profile, Laphroaig or Ardbeg might be perfect. If you prefer a more balanced experience with smoky complexity and sweetness, Lagavulin or Bowmore could be your best bet. For something slightly more moderate but still rich with peat, Talisker and Caol Ila are excellent choices.
Ultimately, the best peaty whisky depends on your personal preference for intensity, sweetness, and additional flavour elements beyond the smoke. There are a few peaty whiskies that consistently earn high praise from whisky enthusiasts and critics alike. That’s what we’ve featured here. For the purposes of this blog, we’ve also considered several different categories which should hopefully help you find the best peaty whisky for you.
What is the peatiest whisky?
Octomore 15.3 (Bruichladdich)
Often described as one of the most peated whiskies in the world, Octomore is made at Bruichladdich Distillery and offers a unique balance between extreme peat and other flavours like vanilla, fruit, and oak. Octomore 15.3 was peated to a huge 307.2 PPM. For context, the most heavily peated whisky ever recorded is Octomore 8.3, peated to an eye-watering 309.1 PPM.
What whisky best balances its peat smoke?
Talisker 10 Year Old
Talisker has a distinctive character due to its seaside location, with flavours that evoke the rugged, coastal environment. That means its peat smoke is mixed masterfully with a maritime influence, as well as notes of pepper, salt, and sweet malt.
What is the sweetest peated whisky?
Highland Park 12 Year Old – Viking Honour Whisky
Highland Park’s famed heathery peat smoke is sweet and herbaceous, compared to the more medicinal, heavy peat smoke of Islay. For those who have a sweeter tooth and don’t want to be overloaded by smoke, its classic 12 Year Old is perfect. Matured predominantly in sherry-seasoned European and American oak casks, it’s spicy, citrusy, and full of smoky aromatics.
What is the best-reviewed peaty whisky?
Ardbeg Uigeadail
Almost five stars across 287 reviews tells you all you need to know about Ardbeg Uigeadail. This single malt Scotch whisky is highly regarded for its balance of intense peat smoke with sherry cask sweetness, giving it complexity and richness. Expect rich, powerful peat, with layers of dark chocolate, espresso, and sweet dried fruits.
What is the most famous peated whisky?
Lagavulin 16 Year Old
Often considered one of the quintessential Islay whiskies, Lagavulin 16 is loved for its long finish and bold smoky character. It boasts big and bold peat smoke, with a deep, earthy, and maritime character, plus notes of dried fruit and vanilla.
What is the most underrated peated whisky?
Ardmore Legacy
At not even £25 and from The Highlands, not Islay, Ardmore Legacy can go under the radar. It’s not a heavily peated whisky, instead offering a less medicinal, softer smoke, making it a good choice for those easing into peated whiskies. Its tasting notes include gentle peat smoke with toffee, honey, and malt, alongside subtle earthy notes.
What is the best peaty whisky from outside Scotland?
Hakushu 12 Year Old Whisky
Scotland doesn’t have a monopoly on peated whisky of course, despite being the undeniable epicentre of the style. Choosing just one, however, is no easy feat. Stauning and others prove the Scandinavian approach to the smoky is sublime, Ireland was once the home of peated whisky and expertly made editions from the likes of Teeling recall this history, while Indian whiskies Amrut and Paul John prove that you don’t have to be from peat country to make good smoky whisky.
However, I’m plucking for a really individual whisky, the wonderful peated Japanese single malt whisky from Hakushu distillery, owned by Suntory. The distillery resides in the forests of Mt. Kaikomagatake and fittingly, it boasts a fresh and foresty flavour profile.
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