First up in our mini malts session was a blend from Wemyss.

While I’ve seen all sorts of compelling reviews on whiskies from the independent bottler Wemyss, this was my first foray into their offerings. It was a complete impulse buy in London at The Whisky Exchange, and one I do not regret.

Wemyss Peat Chimney 12 year 40%

Here’s what we found:

• Nose – Such a briney peat greeted us. dry with vanilla, salty with a decidedly maritime twist, seaweed, salty caramel, light chocolate.
• Palate – Mild, organic mulchy peat, great starter whisky with such an easy to sip kind of peat
• Finish – Warm peat, seaweed salt, sea mist

Overall, it was one of the saltiest peat whisky I’ve tried. We joked that it was like standing on a wind swept cliff in Scotland, breathing in the salty maritime sea air.

What was interesting was we returned back after some time and the peaty salt had shifted to such sweetness with burnt caramel.

It is reputed to be a vatting of 16 different whiskies with a “hefty slug” of 12 year old Islay malt.

Here’s what the Wemyss folks have to say:

Peat Chimney uses an Islay signature malt to give top notes of sweet smoke, salt and peat.

We sampled from a closed miniature in October 2017… a full bottle would set you back around $60.

And what else did we sample in our merry mini malts evening?

• Big Peat 46% (Douglas Laing)
• Longrow 46%
• BenRiach Quarter Cask 46%
• Ledaig 10 year 46.3%

And here’s more malt miniatures from my The Whisky Exchange:

• Auchroisk 1996/2014 46% (Gordon & MacPhail)
• Glencadam 15 year 46%
• Glen Keith 1993/2011 46% (Gordon & MacPhail)
• The Arran 14 year 46% – Still to sample!

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