They had me at Peat. For one week a year, since 2002, The Balvenie distillery dedicates itself to using 100% Highland peat to dry out their barley. And no, this isn’t just another smoky whisky, unlike the pungent taste of Islay Peat, Highland peat takes on a sweeter approach. It is a whisky that is distinctly different than anything else on their range.

Tasting Notes

Nose: light peat smoke and butterscotch

Palate: smoke, vanilla, peat, citrus and honey

Finish: smooth, light smoke and vanilla

It is the softer side of peat smoke. The smoke is not so in your face and the sweetness that comes out from that Highland peat is absolutely fantastic. The minute I sampled this whisky I knew I wanted to buy it. Lucky for me, my boyfriend ended up giving it to me as a Christmas gift this past holiday.

This is a whisky that non-peat lovers might even enjoy. It’s peat smoke light with the sweetness of honey and vanilla. It offers the best of both worlds, smoke and sweetness at a level that would appeal to many more palates.

I am one of those people that enjoys a nice strong peated Islay whisky, but I also love a good whisky that is balanced and harmoniously brings notes of smoke and sweetness together. It stands out from anything else The Balvenie produces and I absolutely love it!

Cheers!

Note: The contents on my blog are solely my opinion. To me every palate is different! Although I may or may not like a product, I always recommend for people to try it and make up their own minds.