Whisky by Flavour - Peat - Medicinal

Peat is the culmination of soil and old vegetation which combine into a dense wet mud which is only formed in certain areas of the world, these areas are refered to as a Peat bog. However, not all peat has the same effect on our whisky. When the peat is burned the phenols are released and these provide the smoke which attaches to the germinating barley and ultimately impart the flavour to the whisky. Although, phenols themselves have sub divisions and the medicinal and iodine rich phenols are due to the cresol group in the form of (m-,o-). These phenols are developed in coastal peat bogs, likely areas previously under sea level. These phenols will also be identified as giving a TCP aroma to the final whisky, Laphroaig is iconic for medicinal peated Scotch whisky. when Peat is cut from bogs the characeristics will also vary depending on which layer it is in the earth therefore, each distillery must be very specific with the peat that they have cut and use in their kilning process.