Midnight Peat is the latest release in the Pure Scot range of blended whiskies. But before we dive in too deeply, let’s give this whisky some context…..
A small ripple went through the Scotch whisky industry back in 2015 when Bladnoch distillery – one of the last bastions and namesakes of the “old school” Lowlands whisky region – was sold to an Australian. David Prior, an entrepreneur who’d made his fortune in the yoghurt business, became the first Australian to own a Scottish distillery, and Prior wasted no time in revitalising both the distillery and the brand.
One of the offshoots of Prior’s injection into the Scotch whisky world was the creation of the ‘Pure Scot’ brand – a blended whisky aimed chiefly at the bar and cocktail scene. Pure Scot makes no secret of its Australian pedigree, and whilst it’s very much a Scotch whisky, the brand has philanthropic links to organisations such as Citizens of the Great Barrier Reef, and Greening Australia. Pure Scot also recently joined 1% for the Planet, committing to donating at least 1% of its sales each year to environmental initiatives.
The Pure Scot brand currently has a number of different releases in its portfolio, expanding out from the original “Signature”. In addition to the Virgin Oak release and some Limited Edition bottlings, the latest member of the Pure Scot team is the teasingly named “Midnight Peat“.
Midnight Peat has been finished in casks of ex-peated Bladnoch for a period of six to nine months. Finishing whiskies in casks that previously held peated spirit is nothing new (Glenfiddich’s Caoran Reserve being one of the first examples in the early 2000’s), but the majority of releases that go down this path make a virtue of the peated casks previously having held Islay whisky. In contrast, Midnight Peat’s ex-peated casks held peated spirit from Bladnoch – the same distillery that presumably forms the backbone of the malt component in the blend.
Whisky & Wisdom recently sat down with a bottle of Midnight Peat and put it through its paces. Our thoughts as follows:
Pure Scot – Midnight Peat – 44.5% ABV
Nose: The first nosing is light and clean; not much in the way of oak or cask influence – just clean cereal. However, with time in the glass and a bit of swirling/agitation to release the volatiles, the dram slowly comes to life. I’m not sure too many tasters would reach for descriptors in the peat family if this were tasted blind, but knowing the background behind it, there are very subtle hints of charcoal and forest floor notes. These are markers of peat influence, no doubt, but they’re very light – as you’d expect, given the source.
Palate: The palate is lively and has some fascinating licorice and fennel notes to complement the grain. There’s a very pleasant sweetness to the blend, almost like a teeny-tiny waft of earthy peat was somehow infused into vanilla icecream. Again, it’s very clean and soft, with perhaps some honey sweetness to go with the vanilla. The slightly higher ABV of 44.5% carries a little bit of extra spice and texture, giving the finish a touch of heat….
Finish: Extremely clean, the finish is very spirit led, with more vanilla in the mix.
Comments: Pure Scot has always been a very “straight” blend, hanging its hat on its Lowlands roots as a lighter-styled whisky that’s never intended to challenge or portray too much oak or spice. The grain-to-malt ratio is an interesting mix, with the grain definitely doing the heavy lifting and laying down a strong bed of cereal (presumably wheat?) and vanilla. The contribution of peat is there but it’s reclining in the shadows, and “midnight” is an apt adjective for something that’s less obvious in the light of day. The influence of the ex-peated casks is intriguing more than definitive, and fans of the “regular” Pure Scot will find this an enjoyable variation on the theme. Those who aren’t keen on the smoky Islay malts needn’t worry, and may actually find this a small stepping stone. Whilst the casks used for finishing previously held peated spirit, this is not an Islay dram. It’s merely a midnight kiss – and a seductive one at that.
Cheers,
AD
Midnight Peat is available directly from www.purescot.com and from select retailers, with an RRP of $80
