Blended Malt Scotch Whisky
The Peat Monster
An elegantly smoky blend of layered Islay malt whiskies.
46% ABV · Natural colour · Not chill-filtered
Peat Monster
The Peat Monster is a Blended Malt Scotch Whisky. It is our smoky, peated blend.
It is made from layered Islay malt whiskies. Together, they create layers of sweet smoke and peat.
The Peat Monster is delicious neat, or shaken into your favourite whisky cocktail.
Taste
The Peat Monster tastes of sweet smoke and peat, with spiced apple, vanilla, and a hint of sea air.
The style is smoky and creamy, with a fruity palate. Bold but balanced.
Who we are
Compass Box is an independent Scotch whiskymaker, founded in London (UK) in 2000. We are not distillers. We are more than blenders. We are whiskymakers, and every decision we make is for the flavour.
We search Scotland for the finest aged whiskies from over 40 distilleries. We combine them to create flavours no single distillery could deliver on their own. We have created over 200 Scotch whiskies, including The Peat Monster.
For us, whiskymaking is a creative art, bringing together different ideas, styles and flavours. We also share the full recipe of every bottle we make, so drinkers know exactly what is in their whisky.
Peat Monster: The Perfect Serve
The Peat Monster is the original smoky float in the Penicillin, a modern classic cocktail created by Sam Ross at Milk & Honey in New York in 2005. A float of The Peat Monster on top adds sweet smoke to the lemon, honey and ginger.
The Peat Monster is made from layered Islay malt whiskies, each one great on its own. When combined by our whiskymakers, they create layers of sweet smoke and peat that no single distillery could deliver on its own.
How we make it
The Peat Monster is bottled at 46% ABV. We do not add artificial colouring, and do not chill-filter.
These are deliberate choices we make, to protect the natural flavour of the whisky.
See the full recipe for The Peat Monster below, including all component whiskies, and their different flavour profiles.
Recipe
| Distillery | Cask type | % |
|---|---|---|
|
Caol Ila Distillery Refill Hogsheads
|
Refill Hogsheads | 46% |
|
Williamson Distillery Refill Hogsheads
|
Refill Hogsheads | 35% |
|
Caol Ila Distillery Refill Hogsheads
|
Refill Hogsheads | 14% |
|
Caol Ila Distillery Refill Hogsheads
|
Refill Hogsheads | 3% |
|
Highland Malt Blend Custom French Oak Casks (Heavy Toast)
|
Custom French Oak Casks (Heavy Toast) | 1% |
|
Caol Ila Distillery Refill Hogsheads
|
Refill Hogsheads | 1% |
Our approach to whiskymaking
The whiskymakers
Angela D'Orazio, Michael Stephenson, and Samuel Travers are the whiskymakers behind The Peat Monster. Each brings different craftsmanship and experience to the process. Together, they create whiskies none of them could create alone.
How the Peat Monster recipe was created
We source component whiskies from over 40 distilleries across Scotland. From these, we chose the malts that offer the flavour profiles we want in Peat Monster.
The Peat Monster is made from six parcels of whisky.
Each distillery brings different character to the blend:
- Caol Ila Distillery, which brings clean, sweet and delicate smoke, with a little fruit
- Williamson Distillery, which adds smoke and maritime character
- A Highland malt blend, in very small quantities, which adds clove spice
Our whiskymakers select, taste, assess, and combine these malts until every flavour is in balance. This is what creates Compass Box The Peat Monster.
Tasting notes
Toasted vanilla toffee, ripe pear and citrus fruit. Sweet peat and seaweed bonfire.
Find out more
Colour
Straw with hints of gold.
Nose
Elegant coastal smoke with minerals and soft citrus. Lemon and green herbs lead, then iodine and a light medicinal tone follow after a moment. Underneath are toasted vanilla, pear and a whisper of honey.
Texture
Oily, slightly waxy and mouth-coating.
Palate
Spicy smoke with sweet fruit; no aggression whatsoever. A sweet arrival of citrusy fruits, vanilla and ripe pear before the smoke builds. Coastal salt with a gentle medicinal, seaweedy edge.
Recognition
Compass Box is the most awarded independent Scotch whisky brand in the world.
Peat Monster has been recognised internationally, including:
- 93 points - Whisky Advocate
- International Wine and Spirits Competition
- San Francisco World Spirits Competition
- International Wine Challenge
Where to buy
Peat Monster is available nationwide in Japan, at:
- Shinanoya
- Yamaya
- BIC Camera
- Liquor Mountain
- Independent retailers
How Peat Monster compares
If you enjoy peated single malts, The Peat Monster combines the sweet, clean smoke of Caol Ila with the maritime character of Williamson in one bottle. If you enjoy Scotch blends, Peat Monster is made entirely from malt whiskies, and offers full transparency about what is inside.
Serves
The Peat Monster Penicillin
The Penicillin is the best-known cocktail made with Peat Monster.
Recipe:
- Add 50ml Orchard House, 15ml ginger syrup, 15ml honey syrup and 30ml lemon juice to a shaker with ice.
- Shake.
- Strain into a glass filled with ice.
- Float 15ml The Peat Monster over the top.
Neat
In any glass, at room temperature. This is how to experience the full flavour of the whisky.
On the rocks
In a rocks glass with one large ice cube. The ice slowly softens the whisky and brings out its creamy notes.
Cocktails
Peat Monster adds sweet smoke to cocktails. Try it in the Compass Club, our peated version of the Clover Club, a classic gin, raspberry and lemon cocktail.
Food Pairings
The Peat Monster works well with salty, smoky and savoury flavours that match its sweet smoke.
Try:
- Oysters. The whisky's light sea-air character matches the salty flavour of fresh oysters. Pour a little Peat Monster over each oyster.
- Smoked salmon. The smoke in the fish echoes the smoke in the whisky.
- Grilled food, such as yakitori or grilled meat. Lightly charred, savoury food goes well with the sweet smoke.