Today marks the release of Son of a Peat Batch 02, the second installment in Flaviar’s mission to make a peated, blended malt scotch whisky based on the feedback of its members. According to the membership-based site, Batch 02 differs from its predecessor in that it is more mature and has a greater sherry emphasis.
The blend is composed of nine different single malts, which together straddle the Islay, Speyside, Islands, and Highland regions. The oldest of the malts is 20 years, and the casks used to age the blend’s components include hogshead, sherry casks, and used bourbon casks. It is non-chill filtered and contains no coloring.
The whisky pours a light gold, and has smoke, vanilla, raisins, and salted caramel chews on the nose. It’s sweet and salty from the get-go, pushing together peaty smoke with raisin before moving on to big, rich caramel at the center.
The sweetness peaks there, and is quickly swept away by a push of dry spice followed by tannic oak. These woody notes are succeeded by smoke, which doesn’t arrive as a peat bomb but instead behaves like a half-extinguished campfire taking its time to die down. This protracted, smoky finish is followed up by a final surprise: vanilla mixed with burnt, caramelized sugar, imbuing the conclusion with a crème brûlée-like quality.
It seems a rule of thumb that any blended scotch with “peat” in its name is going to be a smoke grenade in a glass. That’s not the case with Son of a Peat Batch 02, which certainly contains smoke but doesn’t allow it to run wild. This may prove a disappointment to true peat hounds, but those just dipping their toes into the peated waters—and most drinkers of Scotch whisky—will enjoy its rich contrast of sweet, salt, and smoke.
While the spirit officially launches today, it is limited to 2,000 bottles and will be allocated to Flaviar members via a lottery system. Enrollment in the lottery starts today, ends March 11, and will culminate in winners on March 12, all of whom will have the option of buying up to three bottles.
★★★
Stats:
— 42.7% ABV
— $65
