POTP_J747_US_Handbook_A5_Digital_AW-2

Countries
OF PEAT
TYPES OF SCOTTISH PEAT
Today, the peat used in Scotch whiskies is largely found in Islay, the north-east
Highlands and Orkney. Given these areas’ differing bioclimatic histories, the flavor
enhancing characteristics of their particular peats are perceptively different:
Scotland
STORY OF SCOTTISH PEAT
The history of peat in Scottish whisky
making is near enough the history of
Scotch maltings up until the 1800s. Its
use as a kilning fuel was ubiquitous in the
Islands, Campbeltown and the north-east
Highlands, and as a whisky style, peat
was dominant throughout Scotland.
However, with the advent of the Industrial
Revolution it was gradually replaced
by more efficient fuels: first coal and
later gas and oil. Even so, it remained
a major feature of the industry right up
until the Second World War, its prevalent
use in Blended Scotches and Vatted or
Pure Malts (now called Blended Malts)
guaranteeing its continued importance.
Since then, though, it has diminished in
the Lowlands from roughly one third to
virtually nothing, and in the mainland
Highland distilleries from three quarters
to just above nothing. Today, it is the
major fuel source for kilning in only a
handful of mainly island-based distilleries.
Still, whatever the decline in its actual
use, Scottish peat continues to occupy
an extraordinarily important corner
of the single malt category, defining
the character of some of the world’s
greatest and best-known Scottish
distilleries, and serving as the main
source of kilning fuel for distilleries
throughout the world.
The lowering of duty paid, paved the
way for exponential growth of the
number of legitimate distilleries in
Ireland and Scotland. Aging became
first a prerequisite for the good stuff,
and then the law.
ORKNEY
The peat on Orkney falls between the
two, and depending on the depth of
extraction, generally results in a more
floral-like smoky flavor.
HIGHLANDS
In the mainland Highlands, the greater
ratio of wood to peat moss makes for
bonfire-like smoky flavors.
ISLAY
Composed of a ratio of less wood
to peat moss, Islay has a higher
phenol count, and is therefore more
medicinal in flavor.
Malt grains at Laphroaig Distillery
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