Compass Box is one brand that always catches my attention. Their lovely labels and very particular blends usually makes me more jugdemental of their expressions. That is why i often say that i like their whiskies but only a few have surpassed my expectations. Having said that, this "Menagerie" blend, was fantastic. A "Menagerie" is the french word for "House of Beasts", which was the Predecessor of the Circus. The Menageries started in the early 1700s in french farms, where people paid to see the animals. Then, as time passed, the business grew, and more exotic animals were shown in mobile cages. Even the Versailles Palace had its own Menagerie of wild beasts. This whisky is a blended malt made from: 17.1% Deanston, 42.7% Mortlach, 16.7% a Custom Highland Blend; 18.1% Glen Elgin, and 5.4% Laphroaig. Bottled at 46%abv, it is suppossed to be a dram that holds many exotic beasts of flavors and aromas. On the nose, peaty and interesting. Mint, permanent marker and a lot of Herbal notes. Moss. The Pineapple is the key note here, it is very tropical. Wet grass. After a first sip, the aroma changed into toffee, mint and orange juice. On the palate, it is a lovely whisky. Vanilla and pineapple. A metallic note that resembles licking a penny. Gooseberries, it is very acid. Feels milky; sugar syrup. Aftertaste is the best part. Chocolate, Silicone, glue, pepper, sulphur and mint. Crazy good stuff. Overall, this one lived to its expectations. A peaty, yet tropical whisky. Fruity and sulphuric but very balanced and pleasant. They truly achieved a house of tamed beasts here. I loved it, fully recommended, my score for it is 93 over 100.