Peat
Can anyone tell me what the cigar note/flavor peat is akin to?
I just had a cigar that's supposed to have peat in it, and I'm trying to figure it out.
I just had a cigar that's supposed to have peat in it, and I'm trying to figure it out.
Comments
Did you get any of that in the stick?
Peat = smell some peat. if you don't have peat, try dampened dead grass or leaves.
Other flavors which are similar are used intermixed as well.
From Wikipedia: Peat is an accumulation of partially decayed vegetation matter. Peat forms in wetland bogs, moors, muskegs, pocosins, mires, and peat swamp forests.
ick. Thanks for the replies that likened it to something else. I think I did taste it.
So are we talkin PEAT, as in the garden additive PEAT MOSS?
I don't know about you fellas, but a fine well groomed garden in the morning sunlight is a very natural and relaxing smell, IMO.
Of course, I worked in a garden center for 5 years and let me tell you! The aroma of a warm summer morning with CRAZY hot gals strolling around in their bikinis with beads of sweat that glycine in the light, looking for flowers and additives for their gardens...
"But wait" she'd say , "Who will help me carry this heavy bag of shite to my car?" I bellowed back "I'll take care of this!" I tear open my shirt like Fabio and hoisted both her and her sacks of shite up on to my shoulders and took them to her car...
Ah, those were the good ol' days...
Scotch = the barley is heated with a peat fire, thus giving the Scotch it's 'peaty' flavor, and making it "Scotch". Otherwise, it's pretty much just Irish Whiskey. Both single malts and blends should have a peaty flavor if they are truly scotches, since the malted barley would have been exposed to a peat fire. I don't know a whole lot about scotches beyond J. Walker, Chivas and Glenlivet, but I would try a decent Scotch to expose myself to a peat flavor. It would probably be much more pleasant the stuffing your face in a handful of peat!
There was a thread dedicated to Scotch on here recently - you could probably find some good recommendations from someone more knowledgeable than me.
SOME Single Malt Scotches are created using peat somewhere in the process. I happen to have a bottle of one in particular. A bottle of Signatory Vintage 7 year. Very earthy and smokey.
I will not speak for all scotches, as I am no expert.
I always thought that a peat fire was what made scotch "scotch". I even found verification of this on the internet. But I discovered a very disturbing fact today -- the internet lies!! The b astard!
Anyway, I found this site. It may not be the most official reference, but it does quote the UK law for producing what is officially considered scotch. And while peat is what originally made scotch unique, it is not 'officially' required for a libation to be considered scotch.
link:
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1556118/what_makes_scotch_scotch.html?cat=22
"The United Kingdom defines "Scotch" whisky by law. The Scotch Whisky Act 1988 requires Scotch to be made from malted barley and, if other grains are used, they must be whole (not malted). The mash, fermentation, distillation and maturation of the whisky must all occur in Scotland, making it impossible to produce the whisky in the U.S. Scotch must be matured in an oak cask no larger than 700 litres for at least 3 years. The final product must have an alcohol content of at least 40% by volume (80 proof), although 43% is the norm. Ironically, the step that gives Scotch its distinctive flavor is not one of the legal requirements for its production. During malting, peat is smoldered under the barley. Peat is a sod of decaying grasses cultivated from the Scottish moors. The smoke permeates the malt and imparts that flavor to the finished whisky. Although peat material can be found in other parts of the world it would not likely have the same characteristics found in the Scottish sod."
Damn, I need a drink. Maybe I'll just stick with that Diet Mountain Dew and vodka everyone has been raving about...eeehhhh, or maybe not.