Big Peat Édition Méditérranée
50cl / 48%
£49.00
- 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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An annual, intensely smoky Islay blended malt, enhanced by red wine cask finishing to introduce dark fruit and spicy characteristics.
At-a-Glance
| Field | Details |
| Distillery / Bottler / Country & Region | Various Islay Distilleries (Caol Ila, Bowmore, Ardbeg, Port Ellen) / Douglas Laing (Independent Bottler) / Scotland, Islay |
| Category | Blended Malt Scotch Whisky (Vatted Malt) |
| Age / Vintage / Bottled | No Age Statement (NAS) / Annual Limited Edition |
| ABV & Size(s) | 48.0% ABV (or 48% vol) / 50cl |
| Cask / Treatment | Not stated by the producer for this specific edition. (General series uses red wine cask finishes) |
| Natural Colour | Yes (Natural Colour) |
| Non-Chill-Filtered | Yes (Non-Chill-Filtered) |
| Cask Strength | No (Bottled at 48.0% ABV) |
| Bottle count / Outturn | Limited Annual Release (Not stated by the producer) |
| Intended channel | Specialist Retail, Limited Global Release |
| Packaging | Distinctive Big Peat bottle and label with Mediterranean theme |
| Notes on discrepancies | While the name suggests a Mediterranean finish, the Big Peat series typically uses Red Wine or other specific fortified cask finishes to achieve regional influence (e.g., Red Wine Cask Finish for 15th Anniversary). |
Historical Context
Big Peat is the flagship Islay Blended Malt from independent bottler Douglas Laing, first launched in 2009. It is famous for its composition, which includes malts exclusively from Islay, featuring spirits from renowned distilleries such as Caol Ila, Bowmore, Ardbeg, and historically, the closed Port Ellen. The purpose of the blend is to provide a powerful, high-intensity expression of Islay's signature maritime peat smoke.
The Édition Méditérranée is part of Douglas Laing’s World Tour, or travel-themed limited series, which seeks to fuse the rugged Islay profile with the flavour cues of specific international regions. The objective of this limited edition is to introduce bright, aromatic, and sometimes herbaceous qualities to the core peaty profile, bridging the gap between Islay's sea-washed smoke and the sunny, fruit-laden coasts of the Mediterranean.
The nature of these thematic releases ensures its primary value is driven by its limited domestic provenance and unique backstory.
Technical Specification & Variant Map
This bottling is technically defined by its format and high bottling quality standards.
Documented variants
This edition is a Blended Malt Scotch Whisky bottled at a high strength of 48.0% ABV in a smaller 50cl volume bottle. The strength of 48.0% ABV is above the standard 46% ABV often used for NCF releases, ensuring the robust smoke and medicinal notes of the Islay components are fully expressed. The smaller 50cl format is frequently utilized for limited or travel retail editions.
The specific cask treatment is the key technical marker: the intent is to introduce Mediterranean flavour notes, typically achieved through the secondary maturation (finishing) of the base Islay malts in red wine or similar casks.
Variant Matrix
| ABV | Volume | Series / Edition | Cask Finish Type | Relative desirability |
| 48.0% | 50cl | Édition Méditérranée (Limited) | Wine Cask Influence (Inferred) | High (Limited regional/thematic release) |
| 54.8% | 70cl | Christmas Edition | Not Specified (High Strength) | High (Annual Cask Strength) |
| 46% | 70cl | Core Range | Not Specified | Medium (Standard production) |
Packaging & authenticity checklist
Authentication relies on the bottle’s distinctive labelling clearly stating "Édition Méditérranée" and the unusual 50cl volume and 48.0% ABV. As a modern release, collectors expect pristine condition, including an intact seal and a clean label. The presence of the Big Peat branding and the "Blended Malt" designation confirms its origin as a Douglas Laing product.
Regulatory/terminology notes
The whisky meets the high technical standards of enthusiast-focused independent bottlers: it is confirmed as Natural Colour and Non-Chill-Filtered (NCF).4 The classification Blended Malt Scotch Whisky means the product contains 100% malt whisky (no grain whisky) sourced from multiple distilleries. The high strength of 48.0% ABV ensures the preservation of the volatile flavour compounds and oils characteristic of Islay whiskies.
Liquid Profile (from verifiable notes)
The profile is dominated by intense peat, softened and flavoured by the red wine cask influence suggested by the Mediterranean theme.
Nose: The core Big Peat character opens fresh, salty, and clean, quickly developing into sweet malt dried over peat. General tasting notes for the series include warm slabs of tangy peat, chocolate, coffee, and cedar.
Palate: The mouthfeel is bold and full-flavoured. Core Islay notes of ashes, sweet tar, beaches, and smoking chimneys dominate. The presumed wine cask influence introduces fruit-driven notes, dark chocolate, and toffee.
Finish: Long and lingering, replicating the palate with salty, tangy liquorice, smoke, bonfire ashes, and a strong phenolic quality.
With water: Not stated by the producer. Given the 48.0% ABV, adding a small measure of water is likely to reduce the initial phenolic intensity, potentially making the sweet red fruit notes derived from the wine cask influence more prominent.
Pricing & Market Dynamics (GBP)
The Original RRP (GBP): GBP 49.00. Current UK retail range (GBP, incl. VAT): Sold out in primary retail. Recent UK/EU auction range (GBP, hammer): Not stated by the producer.
Price Snapshot
| Channel | Date | Bottle spec | Price (GBP) | Notes |
| Retail (RRP) | Not Stated | 50cl, 48% ABV | 49.00 | Original Retail Price |
| Auction (Hammer) | Current | 70cl, 48% ABV | 45.00 | Lowest recorded auction bid (Proxy) |
| Retail (Estimated) | Current | 70cl, 48% ABV | 65.00 | Typical specialist retail price (Proxy) |
Pricing stratification: This limited 50cl bottling at 48.0% ABV is positioned above the standard 46% ABV core range (70cl price of GBP 40.00), but below the high-strength annual Christmas releases.
Liquidity & sourcing note: Liquidity is moderate and consistent due to the strong brand following of Big Peat. Sourcing is primarily through specialist auction or secondary retail channels.
Distillery/Bottler Snapshot
Douglas Laing, acting as the bottler, is one of Scotland's most respected independent bottlers. The Big Peat brand effectively captures the signature heavily peated, medicinal, and maritime character of Islay malts (Caol Ila, Bowmore, Ardbeg, Port Ellen), serving as a high-fidelity showcase for the region's profile.
Sourcing
Target formats/eras to prefer: The specific 50cl, 48.0% ABV Édition Méditérranée bottling.
Red flags to avoid: Confusion with standard core releases or other thematic World Tour releases from the brand.
Condition thresholds (fill/box/labels): Pristine label and packaging required for collector value.
Margin/velocity expectations — qualitative: Consistent velocity with reasonable margins achievable due to the limited edition status.
