Whisky Forum - Islay alternatives

Acksboy · Posted: Fri Dec 30, 2016 8:34 pm Post subject: Islay alternatives

Big fan of the three Islay heavy peat stalwarts (Ardbeg, Laphroaig, Lagavulin) and I've been looking to try another single malt which is as heavy on peaty/smokey flavours. Not tried many but I've heard Ledaig is good. I know a few distilleries can produce peated versions of their standard releases but I'm unaware of these are on the same level as the distilleries mentioned. I've found the other Islay distilleries just don't cut it for me when it comes to the major peat factor. Any help please?

TheWM · Posted: Fri Dec 30, 2016 8:56 pm Post subject:

I've found peated Benriach (curiositas) and some of the EWC peated numbers acceptable and punchy (chapter 15 and a 5 year bottled by mom). Amrut peated cask strength from memory was pretty awesome although was a long day that day...

Innes · Posted: Fri Dec 30, 2016 8:58 pm Post subject:

Talisker is a must try if you haven't already.

leg_iron · Posted: Fri Dec 30, 2016 9:12 pm Post subject:

Have you tried Kilchoman? That's a very peaty Islay malt. I've had the Machir Bay from Kilchoman and it's a very good peaty dram. Do recommend it.

Crane · Posted: Fri Dec 30, 2016 9:28 pm Post subject:

Still on Islay, Port Charlotte from Bruichladdich is good and I will 2nd the suggestion of Kilchoman.

Acksboy · Posted: Fri Dec 30, 2016 9:54 pm Post subject:

Of those mentioned I've tried Talisker and Kilchoman. I found Talisker to be a great dram but nowhere near as peaty as I was anticipating. Kilchoman was also good, but again I found that it fell just short of the impact matched by other Islay heavyweights.
I've often been tempted by Port Charlotte so I might venture down that road and see how it goes.
As you can perhaps tell I like my peaty malts to be PEATY! If it doesn't give me the feeling of having my face shoved into a roaring forest bonfire then it's too weak for me Laughing

leg_iron · Posted: Fri Dec 30, 2016 10:41 pm Post subject:

Have you looked at Octomore from Bruichladdich? That's supposed to be a seriously peaty Islay malt? Have a look on The Whisky Exchange website. They do have it in stock but it's not cheap.

cdn_dram · Posted: Fri Dec 30, 2016 11:02 pm Post subject:

You could try Talisker 10 or 18. The 18 is one my all time favorites scotches.

If on Islay perhaps look at the octomore or Kilchoman lineup.

Alexppp · Master Of Malts Joined: 16 Jul 2010 Posts: 1791

The Benriach 17 Septendecim is superb. It's a different smoke to Islay smoke, but it's a great whisky.

Darwin · Posted: Fri Dec 30, 2016 11:37 pm Post subject:

Ardmore Traditional cask might be worth a look.

opelfruit · Posted: Sat Dec 31, 2016 12:29 pm Post subject:

Benriach produce a full range of heavily peated whiskies, it's mainland peat and not Island peat so it's more smokey and less medicinal.

The ones I've had have been very good, but they tend to produce them in limited batches, such as the Solstice and Latada, so you may struggle to find the more aged ones.

They do a NAS one (it's young, but that's good for peat) called Birnie Moss - 35ppm peating and bottled at 48% with no colour or filtering. I seem to remember then doing a NAS quarter cask one too, which may be interesting.

Another option would be Longrow, heavily peated Springbank. You can pick up the basic NAS ("Longrow Peated") which used to be the old "CV" for not a lot, and it's very good. As it's small batch, they more aged stuff is again harder to come by.

Benromach do a peated whisky, think it's around 60-70ppm and is around 8-10 years old. Well priced and I imagine very good.

You other option from me is blended malts/blends. You can get Peat Monster, Big Peat and Peat Chimney blended and bottled by some Indies (Compass Box, Douglas Laing and Wemyss).

The whisky world is your oyster

Wink

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

Olorin · Posted: Sat Dec 31, 2016 1:07 pm Post subject:

I'd second a lot of what had been said. It is qute tough to find drams that are smokier and peatier than the big 3 you mentioned.. Octomore and Longrow are ones I would consider! Bunnhabhain 8yr heavily peated from Gordan and MacPhail is another to try!

Acksboy · Posted: Sat Dec 31, 2016 3:07 pm Post subject:

Popped in to G & Ms this morning and went for a Port Charlotte and a Benromach peated 9 year old. Was great to see so many distilleries going for peated versions.
On a separate note I also spent a few vouchers on a Dalmore 2001 CC, Clynelish 14 yo, Glenglassaugh Revival, Bruichladdich 9 yo Macphail's Collection plus a Bowmore 18 yo, Bruichladdich standard 12 yo and Glendronach 21 yo in miniatures. Hoping to crack a few open tonight! Happy new year to all when it comes!

arqueturus · Master Of Malts Joined: 31 Jul 2016 Posts: 262

Not an Islay but I can recommend Ballechin by Edradour - iirc it has the xact same ppm as Laphroaig. Very nice stuff and many variants on the finish too.

dramblersanonymous · Posted: Sat Dec 31, 2016 4:08 pm Post subject:

In the not too distant future Arran will have a second distillery and I'm told they will be distilling purely peated whiskies. Should be fun. But can always try the Machrie bottlings in the meantime.