Hacking Whisky: Why The Best Peated Scotches Taste The Way They Do

Peated whiskies are quintessentially Scottish. Indeed, they are part of the indelible DNA of Scotch malt whisky. They’ve also proven to be very popular with consumers. Today, you can find peated malt whisky from Ireland to Australia. Even the growing trend for American malt whiskeys prominently features peated whiskey.

Peat is an accumulation of partially decayed vegetation. It develops in areas where organic matter is covered by water before it can fully decompose. The resulting material can build up over thousands of years to form peat bogs hundreds of feet thick. The phenomenon is also known as muskegs in North America.