One of Compass Box's most sought-after core range releases is the renowned Peat Monster. It appears this smoky creature's origins trace back to New York, where John Glaser crafted a peated whisky, dubbing it "a monster" for the Goldstein Family at Park Avenue Liquor Shop in 2003. Subsequently, with the recipe established, the Peat Monster was released permanently. This particular bottling is the cask strength iteration, commemorating its 20th anniversary, and is named Peat Monster Origin Story. Bottled at 56.7% ABV, it's described as delivering skyscrapers of smoke. On the nose, the peat is well-present, with notes of gooseberries, rubber, merthiolate, red chili, and caramelized onions. After an initial taste, I detected grapefruit and lotion for sunburned skin. On the palate, it begins with a refined vanilla note, gooseberries, ashes, and gunpowder, followed by corn flakes. After a subsequent sip, the flavor evolved into waxy white chocolate. The aftertaste is rich in peat, featuring gunpowder, fireworks, and bonfire smoke. It's quite pleasant. Overall, I have the same critique for this cask strength version as I did for the core range expression: it's not exceptionally peaty. When a whisky is named "The Peat Monster," one anticipates something akin to a powerful Lagavulin or an Ardbeg Supernova. In reality, it's a very smooth and approachable whisky that most individuals would enjoy, serving as an excellent introduction to peat for those new to it. It's not bad at all, just not a true peat monster. My rating is 89 out of 100.
Compass Box The Peat Monster Cask Strength: Origin Story
4.16 Good
Whiskey Scotch Scotland No age statement 56.7% ABV
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About this bottle
This cask strength bottling, at 56.7% ABV, marks the 20th anniversary of the initial Peat Monster release, a collaboration between Compass Box and NYC's Park Avenue Liquors. Highlighting American coopers, approximately half the whisky was finished for 3-4 months in specialty American white oak barrels from Independent Stave Company, which had previously held grain spirit in Scotland for a year. The blend comprises "Williamson Islay Malt" in refill American oak hogsheads (35%); Caol Ila malt whisky in refill American oak hogsheads (34.2%), American oak bourbon barrels (17.9%), and refill puncheons (11.8%); and Compass Box's Highland Malt Blend in French oak barrels with heavy toast (1.1%). Just 9,126 bottles were produced globally, and it became available in March 2023. ($125 SRP)
Reviews
Showing the most detailed of 2 parsed reviews.
An intense Blended Malt Scotch Whisky from John Glaser. It begins aromatically with notes of grain, wood, earth, tree fruits, spices, and dried herbs & flowers. A bold & slightly creamy middle adds notes of crisp green apple, lemon curd, orange oil, vanilla & salted caramel. It concludes with a long & warm finish featuring notes of cayenne pepper, oak, cinnamon, roasted almonds, salty seaweed, sooty barbecue smoke & tar. October 2023
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