Compass Box Peat Monster is a vatted malt whisky (all malt blend) that combines big burly Islay and Mull whiskies with gentler, more mildly peated, Highland whisky. Seeing as how Compass Box regularly uses Caol Ila and Clynelish I imagine they’re the Islay and Highland whiskies at work in current versions. As for the Island of Mull, there’s only one distillery there which is Tobermory whose peated single malt is Ledaig.
However, this is one of the very first edition of the Peat Monster and it’s rumored that only one of the above was at play in this blend. If you read that and guessed Caol Ila you’d be correct and its counterparts are rumored to be Laphroaig and Ardmore. Though with how light the peat comes across in this whisky I’d have to venture a guess that a lot more Ardmore was used than Caol Ila which was in turn used more than Laphroaig which is a peat monster in its own right.
Compass Box Peat Monster Info
Region: Scotland
Blender & Bottler: Compass Box
Age: NAS
ABV: 46%
Price: $70
Compass Box Peat Monster Review
EYE
Honey
NOSE
Light… very light. Peat and honey go toe to toe with light notes of tropical fruit, apples, graham and a few slivers of wood cheering them on.
PALATE
Imagine drinking a really light Ardbeg 10 and you have the idea. Honey, peat, light bit of tropical leaning fruit, vanilla, toffee and a whisper of wood.
FINISH
Nice but short. Peat, smoke, malt, wood and sweetness.
BALANCE, BODY & FEEL
Nicely balanced, thin ethereal body with no hint of heat.
OVERALL
I’ve had several different versions of the Peat Monster and this is by far the least monsterous of them all… more like a peat goblin or peat kobold. It’s light all around and the peat doesn’t pack a punch, which was surprising, but it was still fun to see where the Monster got it’s start and to know how it’s grown over the years. I’ve always wanted to try this one and I’m really glad I got to. May not be monstrous, but it sure was memorable. Definitely recommend trying it if you get the chance.
SCORE: 87-89/100 (Range due to a single glass & not tasting at home)
