Compass Box The Peat Monster

This is solid. Not too peaty and has a nice mellow overall taste. Layered and complex, I can taste hints of honey thus far. Full, rich, and sweet.

My expectation were high on this one. Perhaps the one with the old brown label (Laphroaig matured in a refill hogshead (40%), Ledaig matured in a refill hogshead (20%), Caol Ila matured in a refill hogshead (13%), Ardmore matured in a refill hogshead (26%), and a Highland Malt Blend matured in French oak Burgundy toast barrels (1%) would be a better drink with Ledaig and Ardmore being part of the blend. Unfortunately I can no longer find it. This particular whisky has (Caol Ila matured in a refill hogshead (64%), Laphroaig matured in a refill hogshead (35%), and a Highland Malt Blend (1%).) I am not a big fan of Call Ila which is one of the components of Jonny Walker. And if I want Laphroaig, I will get single malt Laphroaig. So not sure what was the idea of creating this blend.

I've been waiting for a compass box bottle to show up in Canada for a long time. I'm excited to finally have a bottle. I made a small flight to compare alongside Talisker distiller's, Talisker 10, Ardbeg 10, and Laphroig QC. On the nose, the peat monster is comparable to the strength of ardbeg initially. It doesn't have the overt fruity sweetness like the taliskers have, but it also doesn't have the strong medicinal iodine like Laphroaig. For me, the peat monster is more like a dusty grassy honey than berry fruit. The palate of the peat monster is actually really pleasant. The peat is not overpowering, and there is plenty of bourbony sugary sweetness immediately. It stays a bit dry and dusty through the finish. 46% doesn't punch you in the face, and it finishes with just a friendly warmth and the peat comes back through as a sweet smokiness. The sweetness isn't fruity to me, I can't quite pick out the exact sweetness. The finish is more like a highland to me, almost like glenmorangie with the warmth, the peat seems to flash at the start, and then totally give way to sweetness. It doesn't stay on the back of your tongue like Ardbeg or Laphroig. As it sits open more, it leaves you with more sweetness than peatiness, maybe it's honey-apple sweetness at the very end. It's not very peppery, maybe mildly briney, but mild compared to the talisker, and the peatiness isn't effervescent like in the other islays. It's great, I'm really happy with it, it's not particularly complex, but it is very friendly and refined. Compared to cutty sark prohibition, the peat monster is much richer, sweeter, fuller, and more enjoyable. Something about it, even though it doesn't have miles of complexity, it's perhaps one of the most drinkable peated scotches I've had. Maybe I'd suggest this to someone curious about peated scotch. Certainly no complaints. Cheers!