The Big Peat is a blended malt whisky created by combining the malt essences from four renowned distilleries on the island of Islay. The company behind this exceptional blend is Douglas Laing & Co., which was founded in 1948 by Fred Douglas Laing. In the early 1970s, he handed the company over to his sons Stewart and Fred Laing, who ran it together for many years. In 2013, however, they parted ways, with Stewart founding a new company, while Big Peat remained with Douglas Laing & Co. along with other well-known whiskies.

For the production of Big Peat, the distilleries Bowmore, Port Ellen, Ardbeg and Caol Ila supply their distillates to the brand's headquarters. The island of Islay, known for its rugged moorland landscapes, shapes the unique character of the whisky with its sediment peat. As wood is a rare commodity in Scotland, peat is traditionally used as fuel, which gives the whisky its typical, smoky flavour. This flavour is a trademark of Islay whiskies and reflects the centuries-old tradition of whisky production.