Mark’s Whisky Ramblings 406: Big Peat Peatrichor

Mark Dermul, Belgian whisky blogger, tries a special Feis Ile 2021 bottling. Petrichor is the smell that arises when rain falls on dry ground. Google it, if you don’t believe us. Douglas Laing was happy to turn that into PEATrichor. It was specially bottled in honor of the Islay Music & Malt Festival – Feis Ile – 2021, which took places virtually for the second time in a row. On the label we see Big Peat with a yellow rain vest among the peat bogs on Islay.

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Balvenie has always been a constant in my life in some way or another. It’s always customers wanting to try it, good friends drinking it, or the odd bottle sparking my interest. This is certainly the latter.

Peated Speyside whisky is a growing style and so far has all been wonderfully tasty! This Balvenie is full of coastal salt and spice on the nose, a little of the ‘classic’ Balvenie is creeping in, some honey and a little vanilla, etc. The finish is full flavoured, dry and very Talisker-like. Honestly delicious and very captivating from the big Speysider.

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ralfy review 900 – GlenAllachie 15yo @46%vol:

ralfy review 899 Extras – The challenge of re-branding a whisky

ralfy review 899 – Balblair 15yo @46

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Bunnahabhain and fun casks go together, hand in hand.

This is the definition of comfortable. Salted caramel, peanuts, toffee, honeycomb, dates and honey are steeped within this liquid, offering this hedonistic and thick affair from the unpeated Islay distillery.

One thing that I don’t enjoy is the price of this bottle. When you think about other cask strength offerings from every other whisky distillery in Scotland, these bottles average out between £65-£75 per bottle. That includes Highland Park, Glenallachie, Laphroaig, Glenfarclas, Glenlivet and a historic of others…all for 50% less than what Bunnahabhain are asking for this. That’s a little mad.

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ralfy review 898 Extras – Whisky Packaging add to cost.

https://youtu.be/SjPk8MQ6Qj8

So it’s chill filtered now…or is it?

The issues behind this decision have caused quite a fracture of mistrust with what Glendronach will now become.

Do I think chill filtration is the enemy in affordable whisky? No. Does it kill enthusiasts want to buy it? Yes. Let’s be clear about this, Glendronach has been built on the backs of big spending enthusiasts who now feel they’re being cheated when the big company steps in and takes over.

Long story short; it still tastes good. But, what are the real definitions behind these choices that Glendronach’s new parent company have made?

ralfy review 898 – Tullibardine 15yo @ 43%vol:

ralfy review 897 Extras – How to improve a budget malt.