SpiritsHigh confidenceStandard, well-documented spirit category.
Islay Scotch
Islay Scotch comes from distilleries on Scotland's Islay island, where malted barley is traditionally dried over peat fires, producing whisky with intense smoke, iodine, and maritime character. It is far more assertive than blended Scotch. A little goes a long way in a cocktail, often used as a smoky rinse or float.
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Common uses
- floated for a smoky aroma on stirred cocktails
- sipped neat for its intensity
Buying & storage
Keeps more or less indefinitely: Alcohol is preserving it. An open bottle keeps for a very long time, though aromatics do fade slowly.
Storage: keeps indefinitely, store upright away from light
In depth
Understanding islay scotch
How it is made, where it comes from, what it pairs with, and how it behaves in an alcohol-free drink.
Origin
Distilled on the Scottish island of Islay, historically peat-smoked using local turf.
Recipes
Cocktails containing this ingredient
Swap it
Possible substitutions
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