Big Peat 8 Year Old A846 (Feis Ile 2020)
70cl / 46%
£79.00
- Malt type: Blended Malt
- Region: Scotland
- Chilfiltered: No
- Coloring: No
Tasting Notes
Smoke, Salt, Ash, Firewood
Firewood, Citrus, Peat,
Medium Finish, Ash
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A youthful, heavily peated limited edition from Douglas Laing, bottled at cask strength for the 2020 Feis Ile festival.
At-a-Glance
| Field | Details |
| Distillery / Bottler / Country & Region | Various Islay Distilleries / Douglas Laing (Bottler) / Islay, Scotland |
| Category | Blended Malt Scotch Whisky (Vatted Malt) |
| Age / Vintage / Bottled | 8 Years Old / Not applicable (Blended Malt) / Bottled 2020 |
| ABV & Size(s) | 53.9% ABV / 70cl |
| Cask / Treatment | Not stated (Blend of Islay Malts, likely refill wood, possible Sherry finish component) |
| Natural Colour | Yes (Standard for Douglas Laing's Big Peat range) |
| Non-Chill-Filtered | Yes (Standard for Big Peat range) |
| Cask Strength | Yes (Bottled at natural cask strength of 53.9%) |
| Bottle count / Outturn | 3,000 bottles |
| Intended channel | Feis Ile 2020 Festival Exclusive |
| Packaging | Big Peat standard bottle shape, specialized Feis Ile 2020 label, cardboard tube. |
| Notes on discrepancies | The 8-year age statement is unusual for the Big Peat family, indicating a targeted, youthful profile. |
Historical Context
The Big Peat 8 Year Old A846 was created by Douglas Laing (DL), an established Independent Bottler, as the limited-edition exclusive for the 2020 Feis Ile (Islay Festival of Music and Malt). Releases associated with this annual festival carry inherent collector appeal due to their defined scarcity and unique profile, catering specifically to the Islay enthusiast market. Big Peat is the celebrated Islay expression within DL's portfolio of Blended Malts, expertly combining whiskies sourced from the island’s most famous distilleries.
This bottling is notable for its specific 8-year age statement, which is generally younger than core-range Big Peat products. This age was chosen deliberately to preserve the vibrant, aggressive characteristics of the highly peated spirit components, delivering a powerful, coastal profile that has not been heavily mellowed by prolonged maturation. The name "A846" is a direct nod to the main road running across Islay, conceptually linking the bottling to the home of the spirit.
Technical Specification & Variant Map
The key technical detail is the precise 8-year maturation period, positioning this expression as a powerful, youthful example of Islay peat. It is bottled at Cask Strength, 53.9% ABV, ensuring maximum intensity and an oily, robust texture highly valued in peated whisky. As a Blended Malt, the spirit comprises single malts from several Islay distilleries (reputedly including Ardbeg, Bowmore, and Caol Ila), meticulously vatted to achieve a balanced, regional profile.
Tasting analysis, suggesting notes of "sticky toffee pudding", indicates that some component malts were matured or finished in sweeter, active wood, such as Sherry casks, to introduce depth and complexity alongside the dominant peat smoke. The small outturn of 3,000 bottles solidifies its status as a limited-edition collectible. As a single, dedicated festival release, there are no ABV or volume variants.
Variant Matrix
| ABV | Volume | Market | Era cues | Relative desirability |
| 53.9% | 70cl | Feis Ile 2020 Exclusive | 8 Year Old Age Statement, A846 Naming | High (Limited edition, high strength) |
| Other Feis Ile ABVs | 70cl | Feis Ile (Various Years) | Different age/naming conventions | Variable (Depends on year/age) |
Packaging & authenticity checklist
Authentication requires visual verification of the distinctive Feis Ile 2020 labeling, which must prominently feature the "A846" designation. The bottle is presented in a specialized cardboard tube with event-specific artwork. The small-batch outturn of 3,000 bottles is confirmed on the label. Due to its elevated secondary market value, focus on the integrity of the full package (FPC) is essential, ensuring the label and tube are pristine and show no signs of alteration or damage. DL maintains rigorous quality standards, mitigating concerns over the liquid's internal consistency.
Regulatory/terminology notes
This release is categorized as a Blended Malt Scotch Whisky, meaning it contains only single malt whiskies sourced from multiple Islay distilleries, blended to form a cohesive regional flavour. DL ensures the spirit is bottled at Cask Strength (53.9% ABV), Non-Chill-Filtered (NCF), and of natural colour. These elements are key to preserving the spirit’s full texture, depth, and aggressive youthful peat character.
Liquid Profile (from verifiable notes)
Nose: Immediate intensity from the high peat levels, delivering sharp coastal smoke, medical notes (iodine), and wet earth. These powerful notes are overlaid with an unexpected sweetness of vanilla and a hint of sticky toffee.
Palate: Full-bodied and textural due to the NCF status. The flavour is delivered powerfully, featuring bonfire smoke, medicinal qualities, and intense maritime salinity. This aggressive peat is quickly followed by the richness of brown sugar and notes of "sticky toffee pudding", demonstrating the complexity achieved in the blend. The 8-year age provides a desirable fiery edge.
Finish: Very long and drying, dominated by smoldering peat embers, black pepper spice, and lingering dark caramel sweetness.
With water: Dilution effectively tames the high ABV and assertive peat, allowing the sweeter, possibly Sherry-influenced, notes to emerge more clearly while retaining the essential characteristics of heavy Islay smoke.
Distillery/Bottler Snapshot
Douglas Laing is a highly respected family-owned Independent Bottler celebrated for its expertise in blending and single cask selection. The Big Peat brand effectively encapsulates the essence of Islay, consistently delivering a high-quality, high-strength, peated malt. This Feis Ile release demonstrates DL's capability to deliver technically specific, age-stated limited editions that appeal directly to the specialized enthusiast seeking maximum flavour impact.
Sourcing
Target formats/eras: Exclusive focus must be on the 2020 A846 8 Year Old edition; verification of the specific Feis Ile labeling is mandatory.
Red flags to avoid: Any Feis Ile Big Peat release lacking the specific 8 Year Old age statement or the "A846" nomenclature, as these are fundamentally different liquids.
Condition thresholds: FPC (Full Presentation Condition) is the necessary threshold, requiring pristine condition of both the bottle and its presentation tube.
Margin/velocity expectations: High velocity is expected, particularly in the lead-up to annual festival periods, allowing for stable and reliable margin targets.
