Compass Box The Peat Monster Arcana

As a big fan of the original peat monster blends I’ve been eagerly awaiting the drop of this arcane version to Canada. I expected these to be similar in many ways, but nothing could be further from the truth. The nose is subtle, decadent and only mildly smoky, forcing you to not take a sip but slow down and explore. This is stark contrast to the classic which jumps up and down screaming at you to pay attention to its peatiness. After taking some more time you’ll discover deep malted barley in addition to some fruity undertones. The palate is richer than the classic as well, first delivering the earthy namesake, but then springing to life with baking spices and char that instantly transports me to a bourbon glass. It will then take you back to Scotland where the Ardbeg influence delivers those wonderfully chewy umami flavors. Finish is medium, with oak and pepper being the dominate players. This is much more complex then the original, however like having 2 kids who are different, I love them both for different reasons. One of the monsters is bright, shiny, loud and smoky, and the other is mellow, rich and earthy. At the price of 121 dollars CAD, it is probably overpriced, but I’m glad I was able to snag a bottle if indeed this is a limited release.

Lemon, vanilla pound cake, and milk chocolate play wonderfully with seaweed and sweet meaty peat smoke. A little soft for 94 proof, it’s not as potent as the standard peat monster. There’s an oaky quality here as well but the toasted buttery flavor expected from French oak aging fails to make an appearance. It’s thoughtful and delicious and I would recommend it to the rebels who like a slightly smoother peat experience.