Big Smoke

Big Smoke is a blended malt from Duncan Taylor, an independent bottler specializing in heavily peated Islay whiskies. The blend is built primarily around a 13-year-old Ardbeg, with a handful of other malts to round out the composition. The whisky was matured in ex-bourbon casks and finished in an ex-Speyside scotch cask—an unconventional choice that adds a layer of subtlety beneath the dominant peat character.

On the nose, acrid peat smoke dominates, layered with citrus (lemon, tangerine), salt, and briny spray typical of Islay's coastal influence. Smoked ham and almond provide texture and depth. The palate is oily and surprisingly approachable despite the strength, revealing honey and apple before the smoke and charcoal reassert themselves. The finish stretches long, with wood ash and dry oak gradually fading.

Big Smoke demands a palate ready for intensity. This is not a refined, polished experience—it's an uncompromising encounter with Islay's raw character.