Several months back I did a review of the Spice Tree release from Compass Box. I really enjoyed the whisky and, over the holidays, I just happened to receive The Peat Monster, another whisky from the Compass Box lineup. To recap what this company is all about, they create blended malt and grain whiskies in an ultra premium sense, with John Glaser at helm, who has a background in wine making as well as whisky. The Peat Monster follows Spice Tree very well and is definitely not for the casual whisky drinker. Combining elements from the Highlands as well as from Islay, we have in front of us a beast with gilded edges.
The Peat Monster has all the smokey flair that a seasoned Islay drinker will love, but there is a softer underbelly to this one. On the nose there is vanilla and toasted coconut followed up by the phenolic yet savory smoke. With the first sip there are light caramels and dark chocolate flavors, with herbaceous notes of cilantro and spices on top of green chilies. This turns into lemon and lime citrus and lingers on, fading gradually to a slightly waxy, campfire ash and black pepper finish, albeit a clean one.
The overall characteristics of this whisky are bold but balanced, something I've come to expect from Compass Box. The rest of their lineup explores different wood combos for aging and plays around with older single grain whiskies. Each bottle they offer is dynamic and well worth seeking out if you are in the market for something a little different.
Compass Box The Peat Monster is available at Siciliano's Market for $59.99.
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