A Special Big Peat Whisky Ushers in the New Year in Deliciously Smoky Style

Monday, 05 January 2026 at 08:03

The turn of the year is behind us and a whole new year lies ahead. That also means a raft of new whiskies around Chinese New Year. Douglas Laing joins the festivities with the Big Peat Chinese New Year Edition, which is decidedly smoky.

With Chinese New Year comes the next animal in the zodiac: the horse. Whisky brands are more than happy to celebrate Lunar New Year with special releases themed around the year’s astrological animal.

Douglas Laing is no exception, unveiling a special edition of its Islay whisky.

What is the Big Peat Chinese New Year Edition whisky?

The Big Peat Chinese New Year Edition is a bold, characterful limited edition that brings together tradition and celebration in a distinctive way. The fisherman from the Scottish island features on the label, this time in a red sweater.

In the background you’ll spot two horses, Chinese lanterns, and other classic Chinese motifs.

Is the whisky itself a special edition?

The Big Peat Chinese New Year Edition comes in a handsome bottle. Inside is Big Peat’s signature recipe: a blend of Islay single malts, including Bowmore and Ardbeg.

Tasting notes:

Nose: Opens fresh, briny, and clean, developing into sweet malt dried over peat.

Palate: Notes of ash, sweet tar, shingle beaches, and smoking chimneys.

Finish: Long and lingering, echoing the palate with saline and lightly bittersweet liquorice, smoke, campfire ash, and a pronounced phenolic character.

The whisky is bottled at 48.8%. This is the natural cask strength for the whisky, as it's always the case with Douglas Laing.

Where can you buy Big Peat Chinese New Year Whisky?

This special Big Peat release has a recommended retail price of €66.95. You can purchase a bottle via Douglas Laing’s website. It will also be available in limited quantities at select specialist retailers.