The market · Spirits · France and the north-west

Islay scotch

Single malts from the island of Islay, off Scotland's west coast, many from barley dried over peat fires — smoky, medicinal and briny.

peat smoke · iodine · briny

Kinds

Heavily peated
The south-coast distilleries: tar, smoke, iodine.
Lightly peated or unpeated
From the north of the island: maritime, fruitier, gentle.

If you can't find it

Spirit shops.

  1. 1Mezcal
    A little less
    You lose peat for agave smoke — different, but smoke.

Goes with

honey syrupgingerlemon juicesoda water

Knowing it

Where to buy
A ten-year-old from one of the south-coast distilleries is the classic smoky style. A bottle lasts, used as a seasoning.
Worth knowing
Use it as seasoning, not base: a 5–10ml float on a honey, ginger and lemon whisky sour, or a few sprays from an atomiser over a stirred drink.

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