Whisky : Peat Faerie 3rd ed.; SMWS Blended Scotch

Country/Region : Scotland/Blend (Islay + Speyside)

ABV : 50%

Cask : Ex-Bourbon

Age : 10 Years

Tasting : Neat in a Glencairn @ Friend’s Patio

Nose : Bright and slightly creamy citrus; white nectarines, peaches, and lilikoi/passionfruit custard.  Faint hints of green apple or apple sauce along with subtle spice and smoke.

Palate : Peat appears on the palate with a slightly mineral phenolic bite that quickly fades behind gentle oaky spice.  Ginger and mace are generally subordinate to a rich floral vanilla bean which borders on being sweet creamy vanilla bean ice cream.  The body is light and breezy like the fluttering wings of a faerie.

Finish : Medium length floral honey notes which drop quickly to a low murmur. 

Score : 5

Mental Image : Tinker Bell dressed as Big Peat for Halloween.

Something Better : Compass Box No Name 1st Ed. (more prominent peat, stronger flavors)

Something Similar : Compass Box Peat Monster (similar lighter profile, citrus, less vanilla)

Something Worse : Johnnie Walker Double Black (more sherry & smoke, less finish)

Notes : Mild and tame; the Peat Faerie is the most restrained of all mythical peat creatures.  

In fact, it’s so delicate and flitting— perhaps just the the wings of a fairy brushing against your face— that it makes Compass Box’s Peat Monster actually seem quite monstrous.  I would be fascinated to know which distilleries comprised this blend (though I imagine it might vary between the three batches released so far).  This certainly is not the viscous oily peated malt that I was expecting, even at 50% it lacks a lot of oomph or punch.  It is not the sort of proper punch-you-in-the-face dram my wife prefers— its a tickle of the feet.  I doubt even at cask strength there would be much there.

The Peat Faerie actually reminds me a bit of Alexander Murray’s Kirkland Signature expressions; malty fruit on the nose and plenty of oaky spice and vanilla notes on the palate.  The Peat Faerie is probably in a class above but that might only be thanks to some additional complexity from the peat notes or just the higher bottling strength (50% vs 46%).  

Though one would hate to waste a $100+ bottle in this way, I thought this blend seemed the perfect whisky to enjoy during a hot summer evening on the rocks.  The chill from the ice might restrain the peat even more and give some of the fruity notes on the nose a chance to come out more on the palate.  It sound like a refreshing treat— stone fruits and vanilla ice cream— cooling and light while the air is still heavy from the summer sun.