Independent bottler Douglas Laing & Co has released the annual Christmas-themed bottling of its Islay blended malt Big Peat.
The no-age-statement whisky, comprised of single malts including Ardbeg, Bowmore, Caol Ila and Port Ellen among others, has been bottled at a cask strength of 53.7% abv – a departure from Big Peat’s standard bottling strength of 46% abv.
Fred Laing, chairman of Douglas Laing & Co, said: ‘Every year we create a slightly different seasonal recipe using the same Islay single malts – but we do so in different proportions, releasing it at cask strength.’
The whisky, said to contain ‘oceanic, pelagic, smoky and tarry’ notes, is packaged in a Christmas-themed red-and-white wrapping, with a label depicting range mascot Big Peat rolling a cask from a warehouse.
The whisky will be available globally from specialist whisky retailers from September, priced at €55 per 70cl bottle.
The annual festive bottling is the latest limited edition Big Peat released this year, following the range’s anniversary 10-year-old and RAF Edition whiskies.