The Peat Monster truly lives up to its name, but probably not in the terms it was meant to impress, and I should mark it in the beginning, it dwells somewhere far from the Islay peat whiskies. It really is that type of a mighty beast that I would never want to face as it's powerful yet tricky and intelligent but still very young and consequently reckless and gawky. The aroma is full of heavy peat and smoke, which are combined with rich apple juice. The first nose is very masculine - with notes of fatty well-done steak, grilled onion and burnt wood (and I'm not throwing a barbecue party). Then come some heavy cigar smoke and smoldering ashes - that makes it a perfect match for a silent standing near a bonfire during a heavy rain somewhere in Cascades. In addition, some vanilla appears closely to an end. The peat and smoke are again dominant in the taste overshadowing all the other nuances. Also some great variety of hot spices here - cloves, cardamom, nutmeg, cayenne pepper. Some minerals, iodine, olives and pickles in the back. Also a few bitter medicinal notes and resin. The aftertaste is moderately bitter, full of hot spices again, not very salty with wooden tones and notes of fresh grass, neither long nor processive. In a rough and nasty conclusion, I would say that it was a nice experience but I doubt an idea of trying this exact version of Peat Monster any time soon. It is young, sometimes harsh and lacking depth in many directions but might be really enjoyable under some very certain circumstances in fact.