From Islay’s Wild Shores to Japan’s Oak Barrels – 10 Smoky Whiskies You Must Try

The outdoors is biting cold and harsh, and this is expected to last for a while. Thankfully, whisky is a drink that suits any situation and any weather. We've already provided you with the ten whisky books every enthusiast must read, but of course, you wouldn't go through them without a glass of life-elixir in your hand. Keep warm even in the bleakest weather with one of these top ten smoky whiskies. Quite the departure from hot chocolate!

The first in these ten best smoky whiskies is the Lagavulin 16 Years Single Malt. A whisky from the south of Islay that has been matured for 16 years in oak barrels, providing it with a wonderfully rich flavor. Its taste includes peat smoke, iodine and seaweed, with a light, sweet layer that alternates with a somewhat woody and saltier version. The finish is long so that you are kept warm after a sip!

If we may give you a suggestion for the Lagavulin 16 Years Single Malt: This drink is best enjoyed with a splash of water. It brings out its flavors splendidly.

For the third whisky in this list of smoky whiskies, we're ramping up the peat content. Ardbeg an OA is a smoky whisky inspired by the most untamed portion of Islay: Mull of an OA. The drink's color is light gold and the scent is perfectly suited to wintry weather.

This scent includes hints of black pepper, pine needles, and smoke. You might think you've stored your Christmas tree somewhere and forgotten to put out the fireplace, but truly, it's the whisky.

Initially, Arbeg an OA is sweet on the tongue. Notes of toffee and anise titillate your palate, while the whisky itself seems somewhat syrupy. All these flavors soon merge into a palette including chocolate, orange, spices, charcoal, and even cigar smoke. The finish of this smoky whisky tip is long and briny.

If you're looking for a delightful combination of fruit, smoke, and oak, BenRiach's The Smoky Twelve is your go-to pick. This smoky whisky has been allowed to mature for 12 years in no less than three different barrels.

This imparts the whisky with aromas of charred orange, vanilla, and more. As the drink kisses your lips, you taste pure chocolate paired with fruit peels, sugar, and oak. The smokiness is unmistakable in The Smoky Twelve, making it a perfect tip for the best smoky whiskies to enjoy on these frosty days.

The next smoky whisky is one where the smokiness practically emanates from its packaging. Big Peat, as the name aptly discloses, already sports the Peated (peaty) characteristic loudly in its name. Big Peat is a blended malt comprising whiskies from Ardbeg, Bowmore, Caol Ila, and Port Ellen.

The maritime aroma of the drink transports you to the seaside, and you can also detect the scent of the peat. The divine spirit offers tones of ash and smoke, while displaying a salty finish. This smoky whisky boasts a 48 percent alcohol strength, so you'll be enjoined quickly by the heat from a glass or two of these boys by the hearth.

Ledaig 10 Years portrays itself in your nose and on your tongue as smoky with pepper and sweet tones of vanilla. You definitely won't be shivering with this suggestion for the best smoky whiskies. The single malt offers a delightful, potent combination of salty malt flavor and creamy hints. This is accompanied by initial aromas of iodine, dried fruits, peat, nuts, and barley. Accompanying this potent mix is a medium-length finish that is both warm and spicy.

That was the first half of our list of recommendations for the best smoky whiskies. The second half will follow soon, allowing you to add five more smoky whiskies to your list, perfect for keeping you warm during the cold, wet, and windy days.

A large green bottle with the words 'Heavily Peated' boldly imprinted. This is what master distiller Jim McEwan wanted to adorn the whisky bottle he handpicked. Bruichladdich Port Charlotte 10 Years is a whisky that has taken its time to become the smoky whisky it is today. Distilled at an incredibly slow pace, it has matured in Port Charlotte into a drink with substantial smoky and peaty influences.

This is noticeable from the nose to the tongue, lasting long in the finish. The smoky flavors are complemented by notes of caramel, vanilla, citrus, and a good measure of spices. This combination creates a full and subtle whisky, so smooth in fact, you'd scarcely believe you're consuming a 50 percent alcohol content.

If you're more inclined toward slightly peaty flavors, then the next recommendation is perfect for you. Wolfburn Morven Single Malt is a peated whisky that is lightly peated.

As such, it introduces a smoky twist to the classic Wolfburn whiskies, serving as an homage to the earlier years of the whisky industry. Wolfburn Morven Single Malt carries a hint of smoke along with the fresh, fruity flavor of the Scottish coastline, resulting in a floral ensemble with tones of honey.

After this light diversion, we return to an outright furnace in a bottle. Talisker Dark Storm is an intensely rich whisky, attributed to its maturing process involving heavily charred oak barrels. The smoked and maritime taste is potent and you could nearly claim that the climate of the Scottish Skye has been captured in a bottle.

The taste, an interplay of smoke and spices, pepper notes, fruit, and roasted meat, is enhanced by an intense scent and a strong finish. Even before taking a sip, you realize this is an intense whisky that'll keep you deliciously warm.

What's the outcome when a whisky is aged in four barrels, namely, ex-bourbon, virgin oak, quarter casks, and a hogshead made of European Oak? The result is the Laphroaig Four Oak Single Malt, of course.

This whisky is a delightful smoky drink that gives your nose hints of spices with vanilla and noticeably peat. Taste-wise, it teases your palate with the saline taste of seaweed, ash, and sandalwood. The whisky greets you warmly as it leaves with a medium-length finish carrying hints of wood and peat. It's a whisky like a good friend, albeit one with a notably manly voice.

For the final tip in this list of the best smoky whiskies to keep you warm, we take a short trip to the East. They too know how to make a delightfully smoky whisky. Fujimi's The 7 Virtues of the Samurai is a whisky that has been aged in heavily charred American oak barrels. This has opened up the oak markedly towards the whisky, resulting in a subtly smoky taste.

The blend offers a strong spice flavor that wonderfully warms you up. The subtle smoky undertones are also distinctly perceptible, yet they never get sharp or dominating. This whisky is definitely worth a try!

That wraps up our top 10 tips for smoky whiskies.

Naturally, there are many more smoky delights to explore than what we've listed here. Do you have a great tip? Feel free to share it in the comments below.