When choosing your bottle of scotch whisky, you might often see it listed as peated or unpeated and find yourself wondering, what is the difference? As with any whisky, there are different types of scotch, each coming with its own history, flavour profile, and aroma. It is essential that you know the difference between them, especially peated and unpeated, to find the perfect scotch for you. Today, we walk you through the differences between peated and unpeated scotch whisky to help you make your next whisky purchase.
What is peated whisky?
To understand what peated whisky is, you first need to know what ‘peat’ means. ‘Peat’ is partially decomposed vegetation like shrubs, grasses, and sphagnum moss formed in bogs over centuries. We know it doesn’t sound appealing, but it is essential to creating fantastic peated whisky. Distillers will burn peat under malted barley, allowing the smoke to infuse its phenolic compounds in the grain. It is these phenols that create a smoky, earthy, tar-like, or medicinal aroma that is found in peated whisky.
Phenolic compounds are typically measured in parts per million (PPM), with the levels differing between whisky bottles. Peated whisky is sold as ‘lightly peated’ with a PPM of 15 or less, while moderate peated whisky might have a PPM of 20 to 30. For those who want a distinct flavour, heavily peated whiskies will have a PPM of 30 or higher, in some cases exceeding 100.
When you see ‘peated’ whisky on a label, it refers to this process, which helps create a smoky and rich taste in the scotch whisky. You will notice some differences depending on the region of the scotch. Most distilleries will use local peat, which impacts the taste. For example, Island peat creates intense and medicinal smoke, while Highland and mainland peats usually produce earthy and more floral notes. These play a role in the final flavour of the whisky, and you must consider the distillery and its location when choosing your peated whisky.
What is unpeated whisky?
Unpeated scotch whisky is made using dry heat, often anthracite or gas, which prevents germination in barley. This method prevents the whisky from being influenced by smoke, resulting in a whisky that emphasises natural flavours and the malt and cask character. You will unlikely find an unpeated whisky smoky, and instead enjoy fruity, floral, and malty notes.
There are also plenty of distinctions in unpeated whisky, where the type of cask used by distilleries influences the flavours. For example, notes of dried fruit are found in whiskies made with ex-sherry casks, while ex-bourbon casks will deliver notes of vanilla. When choosing your scotch, consider the cask type to learn more about its flavour, and its location too. There will be some distinctions, with Lowlands focusing on delicate whiskies that are easy to drink, and the Highlands creating rich and full-bodied scotch whisky.
What are the differences between peated and unpeated scotch?
Now that you have an understanding of peated and unpeated scotch, let’s take a look at their differences. The main differences between the two are their flavour profiles and pairing notes. Understanding the differences between these will allow you to decide whether peated or unpeated scotch is the right choice for you:
They have different flavour profiles
The biggest difference between these whiskies is their flavour profiles. Peated scotch will be bold and smoky with a range of flavours including: medicinal, ash, tar, seaweed, and iodine. Peated scotch is usually complex, with underlying notes of fruit, sweetness, or salinity.
Unpeated scotch will have different flavours, focusing on barley and cask flavours like spice, nuts, honey, vanilla, and fruits. There is no smokiness in unpeated scotch, which allows the unique flavours and character from the distillery to become the focal point.
They have different tasting and pairing notes
Peated scotch’s bold and smoky character allows you to pair it well with hearty foods, where the smokiness enhances the richness of the dish. We recommend enjoying peated scotch with dark chocolate, rich cheeses, smoked meats, or seafood.
Unpeated scotch has a lighter and sweeter profile, which makes it perfect for pairing with fruity desserts, seafood, poultry, or pastries. When you choose your scotch, most distilleries will make their own recommendations for pairing depending on the specific flavours and notes of the scotch.
Find your new scotch whisky today
Now that you have a better understanding of the distillery process and flavours in peated and unpeated scotch, you can choose the perfect bottle to add to your collection. Fans of smoky and rich drinks will enjoy sipping on peated Scotch, while those who prefer a subtler taste will appreciate unpeated Scotch. Whichever you choose, we recommend visiting The Whisky Club to learn more about these types of scotch and make your selection. The Whisky Club specialises in finding rare and delicious scotches with unique flavours and profiles. Check them out to see some of the best scotch whisky on the market today!
