Compass Box’s Peat Monster celebrates its 20^th anniversary with a cask strength release. Boasting randomized custom labels designed by American artist Marc Burkhardt, the bulk of the whiskies in the blend were aged in American oak and nearly half were finished in custom-made Independent Stave Company American oak barrels to further celebrate America’s influence on this iconic Scotch.

A portion of the whisky was finished 3–4 months in custom Independent Stave Company barrels made from virgin American oak air-dried for 2 years, lightly charred to level #2, and seasoned for 1 year with grain spirit in Scotland. On the nose, sooty barbecue smoke, green apple, and citrus oil with an underpinning of warming cinnamon precede a tarry palate of smoked almond, vanilla, and cayenne pepper with seaweed salinity.