Six peated Scotch whiskies ideal for someone looking for a smoky dram

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If you're a fan of whisky and are keen to take a further step into the world of Scotland's national drink and explore new flavours, then picking out a peated (or smoky) Scotch could be your next adventure.Big name brands like Ardbeg, Lagavulin and Laphroaig may sound tempting but they are robust whiskies, which can often seem a bit intimidating if you're not familiar with this style.To help find the right dram for you, we've selected six, let's say, more approachable, peated whiskies for you to sample first. (Distillery: Tomatin, Region: Highlands) It might be named after the mythical 'ghost dog' that supposedly haunted the village of Tomatin for hundreds of years, but there's certainly nothing for whisky newcomers to fear about this delightfully smooth peated single malt.Matured in a mix of ex-bourbon, ex-sherry and virgin oak casks, it's light and very creamy with just a little touch of smoke. (Distillery: Ardmore, Region: Highlands) Staying in the Highlands, the Legacy is a fantastic value introduction to peat from Ardmore.

A blend of 80 per cent peated and 20 per cent unpeated malt, it delivers a full-bodied burst of flavour that includes that iconic peat smoke and a fair bit of spice. (Distillery: Benromach, Region: Speyside) This Speyside distillery uses a very light, mainland peat to craft their whiskies.

Imagine soft fruits soaked in vanilla and then a slight wisp of smoke just on the finish.A fantastic all-rounder, it's a brilliant introduction to the peaty, smoky flavour. (Distillery: Bowmore, Region: Islay) For those in search of something a bit richer, the Bowmore 15 is the perfect dram from one of Scotland's most iconic distilleries.Popular, indulgent and excellent value, the Bowmore's fusion of