Compass Box NAS Peat Monster (46%, OB, +/-2009)

From John Glaser, Whiskymaker:

Complex and Multilayered

A malt whisky for real peat heads, and for lovers of complex, multilayered whiskies. What makes it fit into the Compass Box house style is the balance of richness and subtle sweetness that the old casks of Ardmore provide to the smoky-peaty Islay malts. This is the great benefit of combining single malts from different distilleries. We are not limited to the produce of one distillery. Like a wine maker blending grape varieties, we can create layers of complexity. And, as of late 2007, we’re introducing even more complexity by adding some south shore Islay malt to enhance the peatiness and earthiness. As with all our whiskies, several months of marrying before bottling allow the flavours of each of the whiskies to knit together.

Peat Monster is part of the Signature Range from Compass Box. Each is made from casks chosen individually, cask-by-cask, to ensure perfect maturity. The casks are combined according to recipe and returned to wood for “marrying” up to 12 months before bottling. Steps like these enhance complexity, flavour integration and soft mouth feel. Extra steps, but we think they’re worth it.

For those who love big, rich smoky-peaty malt whiskies, this is your whisky. Peat Monster combines very smoky and peaty whiskies from the island of Islay with rich, medium-peated Speyside whisky. The result is a balanced, very drinkable peaty malt.

www.compassboxwhisky.com

W.I. tasting note;

The nose is of peat smoke right off, no prisoners, no malt, oak just a charge up the face and into the head. After a moment to gather the senses there is now earthiness and sweetness in the form of milk chocolate (think of the aromas of a chocolate bar that has been accidentally left in the sun); altogether it is vey nice. The taste is malty, peated along with some oak spice and dry cocoa (not the sun enhanced milk chocolate) and some hints of fruit (tinned & not berries) and a hint of heather which floats in and out. Again this is very good and very drinkable. The finish is of bbq’d pork rind, more of the chocolate oak, dryness, some hints of sweetness and some gentle peat that carries on for quite some time. At the tail end of the finish there is  the sudden arrival of a little bit of orange to mix with the chocolate and peat; like an Islay Terry’s Chocolate Orange.

C$58

Score 87 points