| Name | Big Peat Feis Ile 2026 (PX Finish, Friends of Feis Ile 2026) |
| Type | Islay Blended Malt Scotch Whisky |
| Producer | Douglas Laing & Co., Glasgow |
| ABV | 52.6%, non-chill filtered, natural colour |
| Cask | Pedro Ximénez sherry casks (finish after blending) |
| Age | No age statement, bottled 2026 |
| Size and price | 70 cl, 80.25 EUR at Whisky.dk |
| Special | Made for the 40th anniversary of Feis Ile, signed by Fred and Cara Laing |
| To Denmark | Just under 60 bottles |
| Buy | Big Peat Feis Ile 2026 at Whisky.dk |
Big Peat Day at Sjølund: Where Big Peat Feis Ile 2026 Was Launched
Where do you start with this blog? Well, let's go back to the scene of the crime, namely Sjølund on Saturday 5 September, more precisely Whisky.dk, which had just held the launch of the new bottling, released in connection with the Feis Ile on the island of Islay that had just finished in May.
The bar is open: Søren from HJ Hansen and the good stories
Søren Møller Jakobsen from HJ Hansen, the Danish importer of Big Peat and much else, had lined up a good selection of different whiskies for free use, as he put it himself: “the bar is open”. There was a wide selection of good stuff and plenty of interesting stories and experiences from an industry that in the last couple of years has felt a change in the way and the amount we buy whisky.
Big Peat in the sausage: Jan Ohrt and the easy atmosphere
During the break you could buy a gourmet hot dog, where Jan Ohrt, author of the whisky cookbook, stood squirting Big Peat into the sausage. Yes, the corny jokes never seemed to end, and that was exactly what this event offered. Relaxed mood, cosy company, good hosts and good whisky.
Ulrik Bertelsen from Whisky.dk is one of the faces on the box
One more thing I can't help mentioning. The box for the brand new Big Peat PX Sherry is full of small portraits of Big Peat fans holding a glass, and I'm in there. Ulrik Bertelsen from Whisky.dk is one of the faces on the box for Big Peat Feis Ile 2026. So next time you're holding the bottle, see if you can spot me.
Whisky.dk Podcast: Feis Ile and Big Peat
The episode is in English and is about Big Peat and Feis Ile 2025, so last year's edition and not this one. Among other things it covers the cask maturation and the unfiltered style.
Just under 60 bottles for Denmark: Big Peat Feis Ile 2026 will be gone soon
Only just under 60 bottles of the Feis Ile edition have come to DK, if I remember correctly, so you shouldn't wait too long if you want to get hold of this edition, and to keep the blog short the conclusion is clear: if you're into peated whisky, yes, you should buy it, because it's a lovely thing in the glass in front of me.
Big Peat Feis Ile 2026 in the glass: nose, taste and finish
Nose: The nose is full of sweetness and fruit, with the classic smell of wood smoke, the way you enjoy it by the evening fire on a quiet summer night. You can smell it's a peated whisky, but underneath it holds so much more.
Taste: The taste itself is full of sweetness, and the sherry cask strikes a good balance in the whole experience. You don't taste the high ABV at all, and I can say that honestly, because this blog was written the day after the many Big Peats that passed over the palate.
Finish: The finish is lovely, round and soft, with a fine balance on the palate. Careful, you could empty a bottle like this quickly.
For comparison, here is what the product page says (the notes are not mine):
| Nose | Earthy peat, sweet smoke, sticky figs and dates, dark-roasted coffee and a hint of sea |
| Taste | Roasted walnuts and cocoa, velvety sherry sweetness, medicinal peat and charred oak |
| Finish | Long and warm with dry sherry richness and coastal smoke |
Douglas Laing and Big Peat: Who is behind it?
| Producer | Douglas Laing & Co., Glasgow. Founded in 1948 by Fred Douglas Laing, still family-owned and today run by Cara Laing, the third generation |
| Big Peat | Islay blended malt, launched in 2009. Only single malts from Islay, with no distilleries named |
| Feis Ile every year | Douglas Laing releases a Big Peat for the festival. In 2026 it marked the 40th anniversary |
| Read more | Douglas Laing at Whisky.dk and douglaslaing.com |
How to taste Big Peat Feis Ile 2026
Pour it in a Glencairn and taste it without water first. Give it a few minutes in the glass so the sherry sweetness makes room next to the smoke. If 52.6% gets too much, a few drops of water help. My guess is that walnuts or dark chocolate go well with it, based on the notes on the product page. And yes, take it slowly.
My verdict on Big Peat Feis Ile 2026: sweet spot and who it suits
With its Remarkable Malts, Douglas Laing has really shown the way forward for blended malts in recent years, and the whole series is a pleasure to get to know. I was allowed to taste their Rock Oyster bottling on rum casks and that was a pleasure too. Good whisky doesn't have to carry a vintage, and it's more than welcome to be blended, as long as it comes from Douglas Laing. If you haven't put a Big Peat Feis Ile in your basket yet, now is the time to hurry, because it will be gone fast.
The sweet spot is if you already like Big Peat and want something stronger: 52.6% versus 46% on the standard bottle, and PX sherry sweetness on top of the smoke. If you're new to peated whisky, you can start with Big Peat 12 Years or Big Peat Winter Edition on Madeira cask and see whether the smoke is for you. If you collect Feis Ile editions, you'll also find Big Peat Feis Ile 2024, and there's Big Peat 15th Anniversary for anniversary fans. They're all in the Big Peat category.
Frequently asked questions about Big Peat Feis Ile 2026
What is Big Peat Feis Ile 2026?
It's a limited edition Islay blended malt from Douglas Laing, made for the 40th anniversary of the Feis Ile festival. It's 52.6% and finished in Pedro Ximénez sherry casks.
How strong is Big Peat Feis Ile 2026?
52.6% ABV. It is not chill-filtered and has natural colour.
How much does Big Peat Feis Ile 2026 cost?
80.25 EUR for 70 cl at Whisky.dk. The price is taken from the product page.
How many bottles of Big Peat Feis Ile 2026 came to Denmark?
Just under 60 bottles. That's why it will be gone fast.
Which cask is Big Peat PX Sherry matured in?
Pedro Ximénez sherry casks. It's a finish, meaning a final maturation after the blending.
Is Big Peat a single malt?
No, it's an Islay blended malt. That means a blend of single malts from several Islay distilleries, which Douglas Laing doesn't name.
Is Big Peat Feis Ile 2026 a peated whisky?
Yes. It's a smoky Islay whisky where the sherry sweetness sits on top of the peat.
What is Feis Ile?
Feis Ile (written Fèis Ìle in Gaelic) is Islay's annual whisky festival. In 2026 it turned 40, and Douglas Laing marked it with this Big Peat.
Who is behind Big Peat?
Douglas Laing & Co. from Glasgow. The company was founded in 1948 by Fred Douglas Laing and is still family-owned.
Is Ulrik Bertelsen from Whisky.dk on the box for Big Peat Feis Ile 2026?
Yes, I'm one of the faces on the box for the new Big Peat PX Sherry.
Read and listen on
See all Big Peat bottlings and more from Douglas Laing at Whisky.dk, or read about more independent special whisky. If you want to read more outside the shop, The Whiskey Wash has written about the release of Big Peat Feis Ile 2026, and Douglas Laing has its own site at douglaslaing.com.
Want to taste Big Peat Feis Ile 2026 yourself?
You can buy Big Peat Feis Ile 2026 here, as long as there are bottles left. Sláinte
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Jan Autzen Laursen
