Why is peated whisky so polarising?

[Quaich1]

I came across this interesting article on the subject.

http://www.smh.com.au/executive-style/top-drop/smart-sipping/why-is-peated-whisky-so-polarising-20140815-1044dy.html
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"Always carry a large flagon of whisky in case of snakebite and furthermore always carry a small snake."
W.C. Fields (1880-1946)

[Kava]

Personally i dont agree that it is best to start out light and then progress to the heavy stuff. I fell in love with the heavy stuff immediately.

Did others like the heavy stuff right away or did they acquire the taste?

[Quaich1]

[Alexppp]

My first single malt was Laphroaig 10, followed by Talisker 10, which was what got me hooked. I think actually a lot of people start off with the peatier ones, partly because there's a certain aura about them and/or they are perceived as 'manlier'. And everyone wants to appear 'hard', don't they? The irony of course is that peaty whiskies are really mainstream, so much so that a lot of distilleries raise prices just because they can.

I must admit I did fall in that camp at first - my formative whisky years were spent drinking almost exclusively Talisker, Laphroaig and Bowmore. The first non-peaty whisky I tried was Glenmorangie 10 and its subtlety was totally lost on me at first, and immediately proclaimed it 'bland'. Nothing could be further from the truth of course and I soon learned to appreciate whiskies with more subtle or reserved flavours.

These are my rambling thoughts on the subject - in summary, I think peat isn't really a polarising subject among experienced drinkers (apart from a few that just don't like peat of course). It only tends to polarise newcomers or people who assume there is a natural progression from lighter to peatier whiskies, with the latter viewed as inherently better because of their intensity.

[jcarrick]

I think if you have an idea what to expect then it wont be such a shock to the system. In the past i have given a few friends a big peaty whisky for the first time, all have been very surprised, some loved it and some could not stand it.

[Charlie]

I was hooked the first time I had it, heavily peated whisky, it was Laphroaig 10, i had no clue whisky clue whisky could taste like that

[opelfruit]

My missus can't stand the smell so it's a double bonus for me. I get to get my peat hit in peace when she leaves the room


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"Too much of anything is bad, but too much good whisky is barely enough."

[GBrough]

I started on the strongest bourbon's i could, then a friend gave me a Macallan Directors Edition for my birthday so I moved to scotch. About a month later I tried my first Islay which was Finlaggan, after that Ardbeg 10 was bought and I never looked back.
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The Laga 16.

It even tastes like an ashtray-WM

[scotchirish]

Great article from the Sydney Morning Herald on 'Peat'.
I too liked peat the moment I tried it. Having tried several 'lighter' whiskies, when I got my first taste of peat, I thought . . ."What is this?" I am totally hooked; and am often disappointed with a dram that is lacking my beloved peat.
I'm not sure you can build up to it, since it such a unique experience. To me, it was love at first taste.

[GBrough]

I agree, after that tasting bourbon never held my attention in the same way.
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The Laga 16.

It even tastes like an ashtray-WM