Big Peat Mizunara Cask - whisky that tastes like heaven. Blogpost by Jan Autzen Laursen

Big Peat has become one of my favorite bottlings in recent years. Douglas Laing, who is behind it, is one of those in the industry who makes incredibly delicious blended whisky. They have always guaranteed good quality in all the bottlings they put on the market, and with their remarkable regional malts, there is really good flavor to be had.

Big Peat is characterized by the slightly windswept Scottish man with dark beard and hair that adorns the bottles. When it's Christmas, he typically gets a Christmas costume on, his hair dyed white, and the alcohol percentage gets a notch up. Whether it's to wash away all the Christmas elves or to celebrate the end of the year is hard to say, but yes, Big Peat certainly has its very own Christmas dram.

The one that has landed on my table is a 10-year-old Mizunara Cask, which has been launched to celebrate Douglas Laing's 75th anniversary. An exciting bottling that I have actually been eyeing for a long time, but with a rather hefty price tag, I have simply been hesitant.

Mizunara Cask, yes, what kind of thing is it. I know almost everything about the different cask types we typically see here in Europe, but what exactly is this Mizunara.

So let's just clarify one thing: Mizunara is a grotesquely expensive cask originating from Japan. The tree must be at least 200 years old before it can be felled, and at present, a cask costs about $6000.

Buy it here - exclusively at Whisky.dk

What can such a Big Peat do when we know that the delicious Islay whisky is a blend of Ardbeg, Port Ellen, Bowmore, and Caol Ila?

The aroma is delightful and not nearly as peated as one might expect; it is balanced and has the classic salty notes.

The taste, on the other hand, is heavenly. A classic Big Peat at 46% has this lovely rich creamy taste that comes through quickly. Here you get a more elegant and delicious oily whisky that gently glides down the palate and finishes with a lovely hint of peat that doesn't overpower anything. There is this fruity taste from Mizunara that at first impression may remind you of a sherry cask and yet not quite. Simply a perfect symphony of delicious blended whisky that makes an impression from the first sip.

The finish is delightful and full-bodied, in no way dry, and you end up chewing on it for quite a while. Of all the Big Peats I have tasted, this is a truly delightful dram, there is no doubt about it.

As with all the others, I am an absolute fan. For me, the price point is a bit too high, but I will say it does not disappoint when you enjoy it. Considering that the cask is incredibly expensive, it's a bit wild to sit and sip a whisky that has been aged in at least 200-year-old Japanese wood.

Sláinte