The many styles of smoke and peat

• Posted on 26 September 2024
• By Whiskybase
• Posted in #blog, #craft, #flavors, #peat, #recommendations, #smoke, #whisky

There's so much to discover when exploring smoke’s flavor potential.

Are you a peat head? Self-proclaimed anti-peater? Maybe smoke-curious? With differences from distillery to distillery—heck, even batch to batch—there's so much to discover when exploring smoke’s flavor potential.

Earthy warmth. A raging bonfire. Medicine chest. Barbecue goodness. Subtle wisps of wintry woodsmoke. Which do you gravitate towards?

Let's take a look at five distinct styles in the smoky and peaty whisky landscape.

 

Campfire smoke

Imagine sitting around a crackling bonfire on a crisp and cool autumn evening. Some whiskies capture this essence perfectly. The glowing embers, billowy smoke, a hint of over-toasted marshmallow sweetness, even the next morning’s smoldering ash. Campfire drams offer an inviting, comforting smokiness.

Some of our favorites:

• Thy Bøg
• Ballechin
• Ardbeg
• Torabhaig
• Lagavulin

Medicinal Marvels

Want something more intense and challenging? How about whiskies that evoke memories of first aid kits and seaside hospitals? Do drams that offer whipcracks of iodine, TCP (antiseptic), and bandages sound…tasty? While polarizing, medicinal flavors can be incredibly complex and rewarding.

While you can find medicinal flavor notes in so many whiskies, there's one brand that's quintessential:

• Laphroaig

Earthy Delights

Is "damp" or “mossy” more what you're in the mood for? That’s what peat bogs are (or at least were), after all. Wet peat can impart earthy notes. Think decaying leaves, mushrooms, a touch of farmyard funk.

A great flight of earthy peat:

• Longrow
• Independently bottled Ardmore
• Meikle Tòir
• Ledaig

Barbecue bliss

How about a whisky that transports you to a summer cookout? Some whiskies—especially those with sherry cask maturation—offer a delicious mix of sweet smoke, charred meat, and savory spices. These are often described as meaty or bacon-like, with a perfect balance of smoke and richness.

Savor BBQ with these:

• Balcones Brimstone
• Santis Dreifaltigkeit
• Kilchoman Sanaig
• Benromach Cask Strength

Subtle smoke

Do you typically shy away from smoke, but are now ready to dip your toe in the peat pool? Or do you prefer just a whisper of peat to play a supporting role to the distillate’s character? Some whiskies are notable for gentle smoke. 

A great mix of balanced smoke:

• Ardnamurchan AD
• Nikka Yoichi
• Bowmore
• Campbeltown Loch Blended Malt
• Three Ships 12

The Craft Behind the Flavor
So what's behind all this?

Heat is used in the final phase of the malting process. The fuel for that heat—peat fires or wood smoke, especially—can impart flavors that survive distillation. These flavors can then be further moderated or enhanced by the whisky’s maturation.

And it's not just about how much peat or smoke is used.

Instead, some of the biggest flavor variations can be due to a host of other factors. These include:

Source: The type of wood used in smoked malts—or peat’s geographic origin, specifically the type of vegetation that naturally comprises the peat

Length and temperature of the kilning process: The sheer amount of time barley is exposed to smoke affects intensity

Distillation: The shape of the stills and the timing of the distillation cuts impact which flavor compounds make it into the final spirit

Maturation: Cask types, aging environment, and time can amplify or mellow smoke character

Ready to try some?
Check out the selections above, visit our staff picks, or ask us for personalized recommendations. And if smoky, peaty whiskies aren’t what you’re after, be sure to check out our recommendations for fruit-forward whiskies. Cheers!