Peat is made from decayed plant and organic material in wetlands and boggy areas. Historically used in Scotland (and other places) as a source of fuel, it’s also used to produce peated whisky. To make it, distillers smoke malted barley with burning peat. The result adds a robust, campfire smoke, phenolic, cooked bacon, medicinal, aroma and flavor to the end product. The amount of smoke ranges between subtle to over-the-top smoke bomb whiskies. This style is most popular on the Inner Hebrides island of Islay, some of the other islands, and the coastal areas like Campbeltown.
If you’re looking to upgrade the home bar collection, here are my picks for some of the best, most balanced, smoky peated single malt options.
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Bruichladdich Octomore 15.2
When it comes to heavily peated single malt whiskies, there’s no name bigger than Bruichladdich and its well-known Octomore series. Octomore 15.2 might be the best value at just over $200. This 57.9% ABV smoke bomb is peated to a bold 108.2 PPM. Distilled from 100% peat-smoked Scottish barley, it’s aged in American oak, red wine, and French ex-cognac barrels. The result is a memorable, balanced whisky featuring a nose of candied orange peels, tropical fruit, rich oak, and robust smoke. The palate is a symphony of flavors including toasted vanilla beans, cracked black pepper, sticky toffee pudding, oak, and memorable, swirling peat smoke throughout.
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Ardbeg Traigh Bhan
Fans of peated whiskies know all about the appeal of Ardbeg. This Islay staple makes expression to fit every palate and price range. The best expression over $200 is Ardbeg Traigh Bhan. While the recipe changes yearly per batch, this peated whisky is matured for a minimum of nineteen years in a combination of American oak and Oloroso sherry casks. The result is a nuanced, sublime, non-chill-filtered, 46.2% ABV whisky that begins with a nose of toasted vanilla beans, fresh leather, salted caramel, pine, and wood smoke. Sipping it reveals hints of sticky toffee pudding, ocean brine, fudge, oak, and campfire smoke.
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Highland Park 21
Highland Park is a big name in the peated whisky world. Made in Kirkwall on the northern Orkney Islands, you can’t go wrong with any of its whiskies. If you have a little extra cash burning a hole in your pocket, you can grab a bottle of Highland Park 21. It’s made using only 48 casks (25 first-fill, sherry-season American oak quarter casks, 15 refill butts, and 8 first-fill, sherry-seasoned European hogsheads) that have been maturing for more than two decades. The result is a complex, rich whisky that begins with aromas of sticky toffee, cinnamon candy, charred oak, and peat smoke. The palate is swirling with robust smoke, candied nuts, caramelized sugar, dried fruits, honey, citrus peels, and earthy heather.
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Port Charlotte 18
Fans of heavily peated whiskies eagerly await the new Port Charlotte releases. Port Charlotte 18 is one of the most beloved. This 51.5% ABV single malt Scotch whisky is limited to only 8,000 bottles. Matured for eighteen years, this peated whisky has a 40 PPM. This results in a balanced, memorable whisky that starts with scents of oak, candied nuts, toffee, and rich peat smoke. One sip and you’re treated to notes of hazelnuts, honey, caramel candy, vanilla beans, sea salt, a gentle minerality, and swirling woodsmoke.
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Springbank 18
This award-winning expression from the coastal (and smallest) Scottish whisky region of Campbeltown is made with peat-smoked barley and was matured for a minimum of eighteen years in American oak ex-bourbon casks. This results in a multi-layered expression that starts with aromas of dried fruits, toasted vanilla beans, ocean brine, toffee, and gentle peat smoke. The palate continues this trend with light pine needles, candied orange peels, dried fruits, salted caramel, and more gentle peat smoke.
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Ardbeg Anamorphic
Ardbeg is such a popular peat-smoked single malt whisky brand, it deserves two spots on this list. Ardbeg Anamorphic is a limited-edition expression that’s well worth is price tag of more than $200. This unique single malt whisky got its name because it moves between four flavor types. The Distillery Committee Release for 2023, this peated whisky is matured in barrels with deeply scored cask heads. This non-chill filtered expression was bottled at 48.2% ABV is known for its nose of vanilla, chocolate, toffee, and peat smoke and palate of cracked black pepper, tar, candied almonds, chocolate fudge, caramel, and robust peat smoke.
