After Reading This Peated Whisky Will Never Taste the Same

Peated whisky is a beloved choice among many whisky enthusiasts. However, when you say that you enjoy peated whisky, what exactly is the flavor you're fond of? The character of the peat used can greatly affect the flavor. Let's delve into the various types of peat and the corresponding impact on the whisky flavors.

You wouldn't have to ask whisky geeks if the origin of the whisky's peat matters. Let's focus on a few different types and describe their effect on whisky.

The most common peat used in Scottish whisky production is Inland Peat, also known as bog. This type of peat hails from the interior and is comprised of organic material that has accumulated over the years, like moss, plants and grasses.

This type of peat typically imparts an earthy smoke to the whisky. Notes of forest soil and mossy tones are customary with this peat variety.

Another source of smoke for drying malt is heather peat. This type of peat is floral and, as the name suggests, comes from areas where heather is plentiful. Highland Park is a distillery that heavily utilizes heather peat.

Heather gets deeply compressed into the ground over a prolonged process—which subsequently finds its way into the peat. Therefore, heather peat distinctly imparts heather notes to the whisky, resulting in a somewhat sweeter and more floral scent profile.

An example of a Heather Peat whisky is Highland Park 15 Year Old Viking Heart.

Peat isn't limited to inland resources. The coast also hosts a significant amount of peat extraction. For instance, Islay distilleries such as Ardbeg and Laphroaig eagerly utilize this to infuse their whiskies with smokiness. Noteworthy characteristics of Coastal Peat include salty notes, marine smoke, and iodine.

An example of a whisky made with Coastal Peat is the Ardbeg 17 Year Old.

Besides these types, there are even more peat varieties utilized in whisky production. Often, these are blended, resulting in a complex peat smoke with a wide range of notes. Hopefully, these pointers will help you identify the type of peat in your glass of whisky more precisely.