Top Notch Affordable Peated Single Malts

An Oa (pronounced an oh) is a peated Islay single malt comprised of whiskies that were aged in several types of casks of including Pedro Ximenez, virgin oak, and ex-bourbon. These whiskies were then married together in a large French oak vat in Ardbeg's Gathering Room. The whisky is named for the Mull of Oa located on the Oa peninsula. This is the most southwesterly point of Islay. This Ardbeg release marks the first permanent addition to their portfolio in close to ten years. Bottled at 46.6% ABV, this is non chill-filtered. Released September 2017.

The Scots are no strangers to hard work, but the lads at Springbank take it to the nth degree. 100% of their production is handled on site including floor malting the barley, aging, and bottling. Distilling 2.5 times is quite unexpected to say the least. In keeping this maverick theme, they also have never chill-filtered or added natural color to their whisky.

The Ardbeg 10 Year is something of a benchmark for the Ardbeg distillery. The peat level is on the higher end of the scale at 55 parts per million or ppm. It is bold, it is masculine, and it is not hiding its true character in heavily sherried casks. Just saying "Arrrrddd-beggg", sounds as if you are headed into battle; giddy up, partner!

Far from a shrinking violet, Laphroaig 10 Year is loud and proud, get used to it. They have managed to produce a whisky showcasing the sights and aromas of the island. The peat, burned to dry the malt, is abundantly clear as is the seaweed found lapping the shores just steps from the distillery. That sweet salty sea air found on Islay is woven throughout their whiskies. NOTE: This is sold at 40% abv or 43% abv depending on your market.

Lagavulin 9 Year House Lannister is one of eight single malts Scotch whiskies made to commemorate the eighth and final season of Game of Thrones. Set to hit shelves in the fall of 2018, this Islay single malt was aged 9 years and bears the sigil for House Lannister--a golden lion.

In 2017, Highland Park created new packaging and added names to their standard age statement products. Their 12 Year gets the added moniker of Viking Honour. The new labels and bottles will be rolled out over the remainder of 2017. While the bottles and packaging are getting a makeovers, the whiskies will retain their current flavor profiles. Highland Park is renowned for the peat they use and for their exclusive use of ex-sherry casks. The climate on the Orkney Islands is quite windy and sea swept creating a dismal environment for trees. As such, the Orcadian peat bogs have more heather, grass, and plants than those on Islay. Highland Park 12, first released in 1979, uses about 20% 1st-fill sherry casks.

This expression from Suntory's Yamazaki Distillery is a blend of various single malts that have aged in casks of American oak, Mizunara (Japanese oak), sherry oak, and French oak casks that previously held Bordeaux wine. Some peated single malt is also blended in. Released in 2014, Yamazaki Distiller's Reserve carries no age statement.

There was a time when up to seven registered (and several illicit) distilleries existed on the Isle of Skye -- now only Talisker remains. The peat level is a moderate 16-22 ppm (Phenol Parts per Million) and their 10 year old is aged primarily in ex-bourbon casks which they constructed to a larger hogshead size. Talisker 10 Year is bottled at a very appreciated 45.8% ABV.

Released in August 2016, Kilkerran 12 Year is the highly anticipated flagship whisky from Mitchell's Glengyle Distillery in Campbeltown. Since Hedley Wright, great-great nephew of Mitchell himself re-opened the distillery in 2004, they've been releasing experimental "Work in Progress" whiskies while waiting for this one to mature. Lightly peated and double-distilled, 70% of the single malt aged in first-fill ex-bourbon casks and the remaining 30% matured in sherry. Non-chill-filtered without added coloring, it is bottled at 46% ABV.

Port Charlotte 10 Year is a permanent addition to Bruichladdich's portfolio and replaces the multi-vintage Scottish Barley bottling. Made using 100% Scottish barley from the Inverness Shire region. This 10 year old bottling matures in a variety of casks: 65% in 1st fill American whiskey, 10% in 2nd fill American whiskey, and 25% in 2nd fill French wine casks. Port Charlotte bottlings are the heavily peated single malt line distilled at Bruichladdich with the barley peated to 40ppm. Bottled at 50% ABV, it is non-chillfiltered and has no color added. Available beginning May 2018.