For many people, whiskey and warm weather don’t mix: peat, sherry, smoke and caramel aren’t exactly thirst-quenching flavors. But not all whiskeys are created equal, and some are sufficiently light and refreshing to stand alongside gin or vodka in a summertime bar.

The trick is knowing what to look for. Single malts from Islay, for example, tend to be heavy on the peat. Instead, seek the more delicate examples from the Lowlands region. Steve Ury, who writes the popular blog Sku’s Recent Eats, recommends Bladnoch, a Lowlands single malt “with a lot of malt that gives it a grassy quality that reminds me of spring.”