Peat is present all over the United Kingdom and its presence in the area has made it easy to make
peated whisky throughout the region. In basic terms, peat is earth that is made up of a variety of tree roots, grass, plants and soil that has been sitting in the same spot for centuries and, therefore, has become compacted. This peat is then burned as a method of flavouring a particular whisky. Originally, peat was a necessity, as it has been a fuel source in Scotland for a long time, but it is still used today to give the whisky its flavour. Scotch from the island of Islay is particularly known for its peaty flavour.