Compass Box The Peat Monster Cask Strength Origin Story Scotch Whisky
Compass Box The Peat Monster Cask Strength Origin Story Scotch Whisky is the 20th-anniversary tribute to one of the great peat bombs: a cask-strength blended malt bottled at 56.7% ABV, non-chill-filtered with no added colour, in a numbered release of just 9,126 bottles worldwide — and it is available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.
The story starts in 2003, when New York cavist Jonathan Goldstein of Park Avenue Liquor asked Compass Box founder John Glaser for an exclusive peat bomb; Goldstein called the result "a monster," and The Peat Monster went worldwide in 2004. Origin Story celebrates those Manhattan roots — the label artwork by American artist Mark Burckhardt nods to the city — and honours them with a finish in custom virgin American oak barrels from Missouri. Compass Box publishes the full recipe: 63.9% Caol Ila, 35% "Williamson" (industry code for teaspooned Laphroaig), and 1.1% Highland malt, with about half the blend finished three to four months in the custom Missouri oak.
Tasting notes (per Compass Box's whisky-making team): sooty barbecue smoke, green apple, bright citrus oils, and warming cinnamon on the nose; tar, smoked almond, vanilla, seaweed, saltiness, and cayenne pepper on the palate; big blasts of smoke, cinnamon, and tobacco with a rich mouthfeel and long finish.
Why buy Origin Story? Because it is the cask-strength, 20th-anniversary edition of Compass Box's flagship peated blend — at 56.7% against the standard 46% — with a numbered allocation that will not be repeated. Browse the Compass Box brand collection, more Scotch whisky, and other international spirits.
Serving note: add water slowly to find your preferred strength — the cask-strength frame takes it beautifully.
What does "Williamson" mean? Industry code for teaspooned Laphroaig, used because single malts blended across distilleries cannot carry the distillery name.
How many bottles were made? 9,126 worldwide — a limited, numbered release.
How does it differ from regular Peat Monster? It is cask strength at 56.7% ABV (vs. 46% for the standard), with a custom American-oak finish adding vanilla and cinnamon richness.
Is it chill-filtered or coloured? No to both, like all Compass Box whiskies.