Compass Box The Peat Monster

My whiskey path led me to a prejudice against blended Scotch, starting with brands like Johnnie Walker, Dewar's, and Cutty Sark. Over time, I began seeing them as inferior, less engaging, and lower in quality compared to single malts. Occasionally, a blend would capture my attention, like the Dewar's 21 Double Double with its run finish, but such instances were infrequent. Generally, I’d only consider a blend if it came with strong endorsements. I’ve heard good things about Johnnie Walker Green, but for a $65 purchase, I usually opt for something else. In the last year, I did try Sheep Dip Islay and Compass Box Peat Monster, both featured on Whisky Advocate's Top 20 list. Sheep Dip Islay offered a great value; while a 750 mL bottle was $65 SRP, I found 200 mL bottles for $5. This allowed me to get 800 mL for $20. If that deal had lasted, it would have been a regular purchase, not necessarily for top-tier quality, but for the incredible price. Its aroma was reminiscent of Laphroaig, but the palate had a menthol/citrus taste like Cutty Sark – the aroma was appealing, but the palate wasn't my preference. Still, at $20 for 800 mL, it was an amazing value. I suspect I wasn't the only one who discovered this, as it sold out quickly and hasn't returned. Compass Box Peat Monster, however, carried higher expectations. It openly lists its components as Laphroaig and Caol Ila, and Laphroaig is my benchmark for Islay quality relative to price. However, I've seen reviews from other drinkers on this site comparing it unfavorably to Laphroaig 16 and Ardbeg 10. While the Laphroaig 16 comparison might be unfair, the Ardbeg 10 comparison is fitting, as both retail for $50-60. The challenge is thus set for Peat Monster: why should I choose your blend over those single malts? The simple answer is: you shouldn't. Having said that, two things are true: 1. I would gladly accept a pour if offered, and 2. I don't regret buying a bottle. Is it good? Yes, the expert review aligns with my experience. The aroma presents fruit, smoke, and a saline note – a pleasant nose. On the palate, it reminded me of a heavily diluted Kilchoman Machir Bay Cask Strength from earlier this year. The expert noted raspberries, but I tasted more like the freeze-dried strawberries found in Special K. While I wouldn't have thought of ham myself, the mention of it rings true, like a honey-glazed ham. I don't entirely agree about a medicinal finish; as a Laphroaig drinker, I find its medicinal quality muted in this blend, though a hint of band-aid might be present at the end. Overall, it's a solid dram, far superior to Sheep Dip, and enjoyable for extended sipping. However, it lacks distinctiveness. If it stands out, it's due to its sweetness, which is uncommon in most Islay single malts, rather than its peat. This brings me back to my initial point: as one progresses in their whiskey journey, blended Scotches become less appealing due to a lack of distinctive character. When well-made, they are so smooth they can be consumed almost unnoticed. That's perfectly fine. If this bottle were about $10 less, I might choose it over certain single malts in the $45-$50 range, such as offerings from Glenfiddich, Glenlivet, or even Highland Park 12 Year. But at $57, I'd consistently opt for Ardbeg or Laphroaig 10 (except for the one instance I purchased this). As mentioned, others have compared it to Laphroaig 16 and Ardbeg 10, which naturally make Peat Monster seem less impressive. My current open Islay bottle is Ardbeg 5. How does this compare? For smoothness, this is the better whisky, possibly even a bit more complex. It's certainly more refined, lacking the rough edges that I appreciate in Ardbeg (the 'Beastie'), as those are what make it unique. However, if Peat Monster were priced similarly to the 'Beastie' (around $37 on sale), I'd buy it often. But at $58, it won't be a regular purchase. Plus, it's hard to find locally; it was a special find from a trip to the Jersey Shore, and those stores have many other bottles I'm eager to try. So, farewell, Peat Monster. Once this bottle is finished, we'll be moving on to new discoveries.

To help distinguish notes, I had Ardbeg 10 alongside this pour. I selected Ardbeg 10 as it's not part of the blend and is a well-known Islay standard. This blend primarily features Caol Ila and Laphroaig. Appearance: Very light, just a shade darker than Ardbeg 10. Nose: Abundant aromas. The peat smoke is prominent, accompanied by a lovely briny sea salt scent, reminiscent of handling lobsters. A tart green apple note and a hint of petroleum sweetness are also present. Rubbing it on your hands releases a fantastic peanut brittle aroma! I find the nose quite pleasing. Taste: It possesses a satisfyingly oily texture. That petroleum sweetness reappears, though less intense than in Ardbeg 10. Candied ginger and a touch of brine emerge, along with hints of burnt sugar. I appreciate the clean, non-meaty smoke, which is delicate like the subtle blue smoke from smoking meats, not heavy campfire smoke. Finish: Surprisingly long. A trace of burnt sugar sweetness and the tart green apple linger if you pay close attention. Overall: Impressive for its cost, this is a fantastic peated scotch! It would be an excellent introduction to peated scotch. The smoke is less intense than Laphroaig and less robust than Ardbeg; it's remarkably subtle! What could elevate it further? I'd prefer a more pronounced sea saltiness, similar to what's found in Talisker.

The aroma immediately brings roasted seaweed to mind. It's subtly smoky, quite savory, with a hint of sea salt. It evokes the feeling of a bonfire on a warm summer evening. Despite my efforts, no other scents are apparent on the nose. Perhaps because I generally steer clear of heavily peated spirits (like Lagavulin), preferring sweeter peat (such as Balvenie 14 Year Peat), I find the peat smoke overwhelms the palate. Nevertheless, I'll do my best to describe the flavor. Swirling this spirit in your mouth truly unlocks its complexity. My initial, quick tasting yielded only peat smoke. However, upon closer inspection, the fundamental character of the entire flavor profile is reminiscent of a beach bonfire. The saltiness from the nose persists but combines with slightly damp, burning wood. Mid-palate, dark chocolate merges with very tart raspberries, delivering a potent bittersweet combination. As the sweetness fades, the bitterness lingers. It has a somewhat medicinal quality that I found slightly off-putting, though thankfully it was brief as the finish returns to the briny, roasted seaweed and bonfire notes. I understand why this bottling is called "The Peat Monster" – peat smoke is obviously the primary characteristic. However, there are far more refined, intricate, and enjoyable ways to experience a touch of peat smoke, even if they come with a higher price tag than Peat Monster. For instance, Compass Box's limited edition - Flaming Heart - is quite delicious. As for this monster, it's perhaps just above average.

The aroma presents vanilla and coconut interwoven with peppermint, incense, and smoky ham. It tastes of sweet floral honey and barley sugar, with traces of grapefruit, finishing with ashy pipe tobacco smoke. The end offers more dark chocolate notes, complementing the charred peat undertones from the peat. It’s certainly a Peat Monster, but its value for the price is outstanding. Uncolored and unfiltered. There's a lot to appreciate here; it's intricate, with plenty of well-balanced smoke and sweetness. Give it a go if you enjoy Islay scotch (this whiskey is primarily Caol Ila and Laphroaig) or desire an intense experience! Additionally, the duty-free shop in Calgary's domestic terminal (YYC) boasts an impressive whiskey collection at exceptionally good prices for Alberta. I picked up some holiday presents (for others, too…) during my travels over the festive season.

3.0 stars - Good; 750 ml bottle Do you need a quesadilla maker? A quesadilla maker is a heavily specialized piece of kitchen equipment. It is $60 and often sits on a shelf seldom being used. But it does make damn fine quesadillas. This is the quesadilla maker of whiskey. A blend of Caol Ila and Laphroaig, I have to wonder what is the purpose? They both make good entry level malts. It will be near impossible to make something better than the sum of the parts. This is a damn fine whisky: oily, lemon drops, coal smoke, hay, menthol, brine. Caol Ila appears to dominate, which it tends to do in most blends. I will give it to Compass Box. They are never bad and never boring. This whiskey does exactly what it is supposed to do. It provides a well-peated drink that is both accessible and balanced. It is just hard for me to devote the shelf space to yet another specialized appliance.

Scottish distillery Peated Islay Whiskeys This past Thursday, a whiskey specialist led a beautiful workshop at the headquarters of ABS Minas (Brazilian Association of Sommeliers) on Islay peat produced by the Scottish distillery Caol Ila. ABS Minas partner, Ingá mineral water, kept all participants very well hydrated. In a blind tasting, peated examples of 4 different single malts and 1 guest blended malt were tasted. Despite not being produced by Caol Ila, this Single Malt was part of the tasting for comparative analysis purposes. It is a good Single Malt and even though it is peated, it failed to beat the Caol Ila whiskeys and came in last place among those tasted at the event. Congratulations to the participants for their performance in the race and congratulations to the organizer for this incredible event