Cocktails with Peated single malt whisky
Peated single malt whisky is a single malt Scotch made from barley dried over burning peat, which gives the spirit its trademark smoky, phenolic character.
ABV40–46%
How it's used
As the base it sets the flavor of the whole drink, as in the Islay Old Fashioned or the Smoked Rob Roy. As a 5–10 ml float or a rinse it puts smoke over a milder blended Scotch or bourbon, as in the Penicillin. Even a small measure leads the aroma.
Substitutes for Peated single malt whisky
Another peated whisky
Takes the same amount, but smokiness varies. Ardbeg and Laphroaig are peated two to four times as heavily as Talisker or Highland Park.
Smoky mezcal
Also works, with a different kind of smoke.
Unpeated single malt or blended Scotch
Where it is the base, keeps the strength and body but loses the smoke.
Leaving it out
Where it is only a 5–10 ml float or rinse, you can skip it and keep the balance.
