Difference between peat and smoke flavors

[Rift485]

Hi all,

in your opinion, what two bottles could I taste side by side to get a good feel for the difference between the peat flavor and the smoke flavor? [/img]

[Quaich1]

[opelfruit]

[GBrough]

I compare it to a good cigar, the peat reminds me of tobacco and the smoke is well smoke.
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The Laga 16.

It even tastes like an ashtray-WM

[Rift485]

[quote="opelfruit"]

[opelfruit]

Hmmm, that's a shame as it's a really good whisky for the price.

There are a few others but I'm a bit loathed to recommend them as I've not had them personally....others on here may be able to chip in on this;

Ardmore Traditional
anCnoc Flaughter

both carry no age statement and are peated Speysiders. The anCnoc more heavily so.


A fair comparrison would be maybe;

Laphaoig Quarter Cask
vs
Ardmore Traditional

Both are aged in quarter casks to some degree, do not carry an age statement, higher strength (48% vs 46%) and non-chill filtered.


They are also both owned by the same company (Beam, now Beam-Suntory ?).....as I say, I've not had the Ardmore though, so will see what others say.


Dalwhinnie 15 yo is also a very nice whisky. It's a highlander and has some smokiness to it, it doesn't state that it's peated and certainly isn't heavily so, but I assume there is some peating in the process - probably in the drying of the malted barley before it's turned into girst.
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"Too much of anything is bad, but too much good whisky is barely enough."

[Rift485]

[quote="opelfruit"]

[Rift485]

Ok, here are the options I have to compare in my current collection. Any thoughts on which would best exhibit peat and which would best exhibit smoke so I can test side by side?

Talisker 10
Talisker Storm

Laphraoig Quarter Barrel

Ardbeg 10

Caol Ila Distiller's Edition


I'm tasting the Storm vs the Ardbeg now and the flavors are almost night and day. The Ardbeg really has that medicinal edge to it (I think?) where the Talisker seems more evened out- less medicinal but still smoky (maybe?)

Thanks for the input!

[James T]

You will find more peat in the Laphroaig and Ardbeg out of your list, everyones personal taste will vary but i would say i find the Laphroaig more medicinal and more earthy peat smoke.

[GBrough]

While Ardbeg has the nice coastal notes I love with citrus to balance it out.
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The Laga 16.

It even tastes like an ashtray-WM

[opelfruit]