Compass Box Peat Monster is a blend of Laphroaig, Caol Ila, Ledaig, Ardmore and a highland malt blend. Bottled at 46% ABV with no filtering or coloring, this release is part of Compass Box's core line of expressions.
There’s wonderfully smoky, singeing heat at the back of the palate, though it feels like the Islay peat has been pegged back for the 2015 batch. A succulent and smoky finish to warm the soul.
Using only peated whiskies, but with different levels of peat smoke, doesn't create a super smoke bomb, but rather provides a layered and complex dram.
The palate is more robust; think shovelfuls of peat, though it pulls back just short of the overwhelm point, allowing hints of vanilla sweetness and grassy freshness to peek through.
The aroma is dominated with the fruity sweetness paired with the smoke and the palate comes together in a way that’s like apples drizzled with smoked honey. Though my favorite aspect has always been its crispness.
But it’s got lots fruit (largely oranges) and spice in there alongside the smoke; together that combine to create a surprisingly balanced Scotch, rare in the heavy-peat world where peat is prized over all else.
