One of Compass Box most popular expressions from the core range is the famous Peat Monster. It seems that the tentacle smokey creature had an origin story, which takes us to New York, where John Glaser created a peaty whisky that they called it "a monster" for the Goldstein Family at Park Avenue Liquor Shop in 2003. Then, with the recipe already done, they released the peat monster for ever. This is the cask strength version of that one, to celebrate its 20th anniversary. It is called, Peat Monster Origin Story. Bottled at 56.7%abv, it is described as Skyscrappers of smoke. On the nose, well delivered peat. Gooseberries, rubber, merthiolate, red chilli and caramelized onions. After a first sip, i got grapefruit and lotion for burnt skin. On the palate, it starts with a very fancy vanilla note, gooseberries, ashes and gunpowder. Corn flakes. After a first sip, flavor changed into a waxy white chocolate. Aftertaste is rich in peat. Gunpowder, fireworks, bonfire. Smoky stuff. Nice. Overall, i have the same critic for the cask strength version, that i had when i tasted the core range one: it is not THAT peaty. When you have a whisky called "The Peat Monster" you expect this to be something like a powerful Lagavulin or an Ardbeg Supernova. Actually it is a very velvety and easy to enjoy whisky, that most people would love and can be used as a first glimpse to the peat world for unexperienced drinkers. Not bad at all, just not a peat monster, my score for it is 89 over 100.
About this bottle
This bottling celebrates the 20th anniversary of the first iteration of The Peat Monster, a collaboration between NYC's Park Avenue Liquors and Compass Box. This anniversary release highlights American coopers by finishing about half of the whisky for 3-4 months in specialty American white oak barrels (toasted and light #2 char) made by Independent Stave Company. Also, the barrels had been shipped to Scotland and filled with grain spirit for a year. The blended malt whiskies are as follows: "Williamson Islay Malt" aged in refill American oak hogsheads (35%); malt whisky from Caol Ila aged 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 aged in French oak barrels w/heavy toast (1.1%). Only 9,126 bottles worldwide, it's bottled at cask strength of 56.7% ABV. Availability begins March 2023. (SRP $125)
Reviews
Showing the most detailed of 2 parsed reviews.
An intense, Blended Malt Scotch Whisky by John Glaser. It has an aromatic birth with notes of grain, wood, earth, tree fruits, spices, dried herbs & flowers; while a bold & slightly creamy life adds notes of crisp green apple, lemon curd, orange oil, vanilla & salted caramel; that led to a long & warm death with notes of cayenne pepper, oak, cinnamon, roasted almonds, salty seaweed, sooty barbecue smoke & tar. October 2023
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Same style and price bracket, best rated first.
