Peat Monster

SnapShot: The Bold and the Blended (Compass Box)

SnapShot: The Bold and the Blended (Compass Box)

Our SnapShot series continues with an exploration of a company we’ve long been curious about: Compass Box Whisky. They have been on our proverbial radar for years but we only recently dipped our toes in with bottles of the Great King Street “Glasgow” and The Peat Monster. One reason is not wanting to plunk down the price of a bottle without trying any first, and none of the bars we normally frequent in the metro carry blends. Hey, don’t blame us for having standards. The set featured here is an elegantly put together kit, with the 50ml vials feeling especially generous. There was also a snappy foldout filled with info-graphics attempting to distill the tastes and sources of each whisky into something digestible, walking the edge between too much for beginners and not enough for the more curious. We tasted the entire set in the space of about one hour in the order of the following.

Compass Box Peat Monster

Compass Box Peat Monster

John Glaser and Compass Box have been pushing the bounds of scotch since the beginning, often winning awards and angering conglomerates along the way. One of their long staples (Signature Range) has been the Peat Monster. This monster is, despite the name, not built to overwhelm. Rather, the stated purpose is to take those Islay elements and enrich them with fruits and malt. In other words, to create something that is far more than a two-dimensional scotch. There is also a 2013 release of a 10th anniversary edition of the Peat Monster we hope to try in the future. We also raise a special glass to John Glaser, as he is a native son of Minnesota.

Guest Post: Peat Monster

Guest Post: Peat Monster

Guest post! We are debuting a collaboration review with our very first guest blogger, Shane Kinloch, focusing on the Compass Box Peat Monster. We’re not sure if guest blogging will become any kind of thing, but it was a fun idea and we were glad to try it out. Thanks Shane! Shane’s blog, WhiskyDad, is full of whisky news, reviews, and meditations about the larger panorama of life from Australia/Tasmania. We heartily recommend you check the rest of his blog out. Incidentally, you can find our own views on the same malt there, or check them out closer to home here. Now, without further delay, let’s get to the scotch!