Whiskey Review: Compass Box The Peat Monster

s tend to gravitate more towards the delightful flavor found in single malts. The one major exception for us is Compass Box. The brand began just sixteen years ago when John Glasser, an American living in the UK, wanted to create a blend that would appeal to a new era of whisky drinkers. First, its important to note that blended whisky brands like Compass Box do not produce their own whisky. Instead, they purchase barrels from other companies and blend those barrels together to create an entirely different whisky. Compass Box purchases whisky from all over Scotland, but most commonly they blend whisky from Ardmore, Caol Ila, Clynelish, Dailuaine, Glen Elgin, Laphroaig, and Teaninich. Compass Box The Peat Monster is a blend dominated by Caol Ila and Ardmore. The result is a delightful scotch. As with most peated scotch, it may not be for everyone, but the blend softens some of the raw peaty flavor just enough to make this a nice introduction to peated whisky for someone just beginning to dabble. Matt Color: Straw, nearly clear Nose: Peat dominates the nose (in a good way), smoky burn, faint freshly cut grass, sea salt Palate: Can almost chew the peat, lots of smoky burn, salt Finish: Long with a sweetness that really helps balance out the peat With water: Less burn in the nose, grassier, fresh. Softens everything in the palate Score: 84 Jim Color: Pale straw Nose: Peat, smoke, burn, salt, grass Palate: Ash, smoke, peat, and salt Finish: Long and sweet at the end With water: No burn with the nose, younger smelling with more grass. Palate turns to watery peat. Score: 80