Whisky Focus - Big Peat Christmas 2016 Edition

I know its still summer but Douglas Laing have announced Christmas is coming with the release of Big Peat Christmas 2016 Edition.

Once again the first whisky company to drop a press release in my mail box mentioning Christmas is from independent Glasgow based whisky bottlers Douglas Laing, I know it is difficult to tell sometimes here in Scotland but isn't it still summertime! I guess that they must be a very festive bunch at Douglas Laing and just can't wait for the big man to pop down our chimneys with a sack full of their whisky.

This years festive offering, Big Peat Christmas 2016, is an "All Islay", Cask Strength Limited Edition, or to put it another way, it is a blended malt containing whisky from all eight active Islay distilleries and of course the usual measure (size of the measure is still secret) of the elusive and exclusive Port Ellen.

Big Peat Christmas 2016 has been bottled at a natural cask strength of 54.6%, and as we have come to expect from Douglas Laing the new Christmas release is without colouring or chill-filtration.

As usual the Douglas Laing creative team have come up with another very festive design for the packaging which shows Big Peat by the fireside of his cosy Islay home, with 9 Christmas stockings hanging from his fireplace, representing the 9 Single Malt Scotch Whiskies included in this special, one-off Big Peat Christmas recipe. Fans of Big Peat may also recognise his "Remarkable Regional Malts" pals – with bottles of The Epicurean, Timorous Beastie, Scallywag and Rock Oyster peeking out from his Santa sack of goodies.

Just 2,500 cases of Big Peat Christmas 2016 are available globally from specialist Whisky shops such as The Whisky Exchange. It can sell out quickly but I did notice most specialist whisky shops still have some of last years release available. Just a thought but perhaps the marketing bringing the Big Peat Christmas Edition to the attention of whisky fans is perhaps a little to early at the beginning of September and slips out of whisky fans minds come the festive season.

I know it is still summertime but if you are a fan of the peaty Islay style of whisky then keep Big Peat Christmas 2016 Edition in mind as these limited editions of Big Peat really have been festive crackers to date and I am sure this will be the same and is usually priced around £50.
 

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