Review #42 - For Peat's Sake
Peaty Blends Mini-Series: Part 1 of 3
Our next series is some quick reviews on peated blends from Scotland - these are often widely available at a reasonable price, though it's possible to dive into this sub-category and find more rare and expensive options. Those won't be our focus this time; we're more interested in a few locally available options that could present some good value. Will these be like a classic smoky Islay whisky, but for half (or less) of the price?
First up is 'For Peat's Sake.' Crafted by Angus Dundee distillers, this is actually a 'blended malt,' as opposed to just a 'blend' - unlike most blended Scotch, which utilizes a proportion of grain whisky to increase efficiency and provide cost savings, this is created exclusively from a blend of single malts. Considering that Angus Dundee owns the Tomintoul and Glencadam distilleries, we could expect some of those flavors involved; however, AD has long been an independent bottler, so they may be sourcing some of the makeup of this blend from other casks as well.
For Peat's Sake
Scotland - Blend
Current Locally Available Price: USD 22 (2023)
Age Statement: NAS
Strength: 40% ABV
Tasting Methodology: Reviewed 1 time; bottle at 20% fill level at time of review. Tasted in a Glencairn glass, rested 10-15 minutes
Nose: So, there is some peat here, but it's a bit muted; some hints of iodine, and it can be slightly ashy, along with some seawater. Deeper down, there are citrus fruits of lemon and lime, but you have to look for it. As it opens up, more of a young spirit note grows stronger.
Palate: Quite sweet on the palate, more than expected given the nose. Lots of brown sugar, vanilla, cream - this feels like all ex-bourbon maturation. A hint of a corn note, maybe creamed corn, and vanilla grows stronger; the peat, on the other hand, is quite mild... it's more like a lightly peated palate. Mouthfeel is medium-thin.
Finish: The peat picks up a little bit in the finish again, and it all lingers for a medium amount of time. The other flavors disappear before that, though; there was sweet lemon candy, caramel, and again, that little corn note, maybe in the form of candy corn this time.
Final Note: This is alright, not bad for the price, but certainly no replacement for a real peated single malt. It's a bit muted overall, and might be a good entry point for people that aren't sure they like peated whisky; then again, many of the whisky drinkers we know took one sip of heavily peated Ardbeg or Laphroaig, and it was 'love at first sight.' Since the price is so reasonable, it won't hurt as much to buy a bottle and be let down, but there are plenty of more flavorful peated blends out there to explore instead.
Our Average Rating: 5.0 / 10
In the current whisky landscape of increasing prices and variable quality, we've added a value rating to our reviews that relates to the score and the available pricing of each whisky. This roughly equates to a 0-10 scale; no reviews so far have exceeded a score of 10, although it is technically possible for the formula to produce a value rating higher than 10 with a high enough score and low enough price.
Value Rating: 7.14
