compass box scotch review

Waxy Clynelish malt up front, with dense nougat and peanut fudge. The charred plastic Laphroaig character comes through heavily and gets … The Hedonism Felicitas is another great face that Hedonism took in its history. And this is where I get to hop on my digital soap-box … By Richard Thomas. I completely agree with your last paragraph. Affinity is a blend of 37% Drouin Calvados, 30% John Glaser’s “Highland Malt Blend” – that’s Clynelish, Teaninich, and Dailuaine – from casks with a variety of toast levels, 13% blended scotch from a refill sherry butt, and 20% sherry finished Speyside single malt. Imagine maple syrup but made entirely out of juicy, red, sweet apples. The Spice Tree itself … Cocktails: Part One. Compass Box continues to price me out of the market, alas. Kudos to James Saxon as he is the Lead Whiskymaker in this project. Rating: B-Compass Box The Spaniard (Credit: Compass Box) There is a new whisky in Compass Box… I’ve become used to Compass Box charging a premium for its artistry, but this is not a $150 sip unless $150 is an irrelevant amount of money to you. This doesn’t really need water, so I wouldn’t bother. Fades with a dash of marzipan or bitter almond. I’ll go out on a limb and say the Calvados is around 6 years of age (which is typical for mid-level Calvados), the blended scotch is very old, and most of the single malts are barely in their double digits. In all seriousness, this is a very tasty dram. Nose: Light and apple-y, like a very fragrant hard cider. Introduced to the Great King Street range by Compass Box in 2014, the Glasgow Blend is a superbly full-bodied blended Scotch whisky. When Compass Box launched this whisky, they decided to give it no name, so the whisky could speak for itself. Very little tongue burn. If, like me, you scoff at anything over $100, you’d be better off to, I’m not a cynic either, but I was already thinking along similar lines before I got to the part where you wrote what a cynic might say. Right? Unfortunately, I cannot in conscience recommend a $150 blended malt, for Summer or any other time. Barrier filtration is the typical industry alternative to chill filtration and is necessary to remove bits of char and debris that come from the cask. Overall: The apple notes are subtle and harmonious on the aroma, which is fantastic. Affinity was released in the Spring of 2019, but there are still bottles floating around retailers for near the suggested retail price, which is a whopping $150. We are committed to making the world of Scotch whisky a more interesting place. It is perfect for the holiday season … Whether it is Hedonism, our Malt Whisky Collection, the Great King Street … As it sits in the glass, the fruit evolves through white peach, tart white (Rainier) cherries, and finally to caramel apple. Compass Box Rogues' Banquet is a fruit of last 20 … The palate mostly seems like your average Compass Box blended malt, and the finish is sparse but solid. Compass Box The Peat Monster is a good buttery whisky. If Compass Box continues its bartending program, we can expect to see an annual limited edition of The Circle (hence the “No. Fades with a bit of charcoal and a swath of licorice (anise). Compass Box was described in this space by Nikkhil as a “ boutique blending house,” in which review he also lauded the company’s transparency in terms of the blend components and their … Part of the Great King Street series, this is a sweetie of a blended Scotch. From light, delicate and elegant to rich, big and smoky, Compass Box cover the full spectrum of flavours to be found in Scotch whisky. Book Review: The American Whiskey Tasting Notebook The Peat Monster from Compass Box is still in my top scotch whiskies. Anise, again, and the first hint of dryness. Thanks to Debbie at The Collective PR for the sample. The Noob’s Top 10 Cocktails, The Balvenie (15 year) Single Barrel Cask #201, ScotchNoob Recommends: The Glencairn Glass, ScotchNoob Recommends: The World Atlas of Whisky, ScotchNoob Recommends: Whisky Advocate Magazine, Book Review: The World Atlas of Whisky by Dave Broom, Tullibardine (Alexander Murray: Polly’s Casks), Lagavulin (9 year) – Game of Thrones “House Lannister”, Boutique-y Whisky: Tomatin (11 year) Batch 4, Mortlach (15 year) – Game of Thrones “Six Kingdoms”. Review: Compass Box Phenomenology Drew Beard July 18, 2018 Phenomenology, one of the latest limited releases from merchant whisky bottler Compass Box, is a celebration of the idea that … Right. Finish: Medium-long. Finish: Medium length. I just can’t get behind a spirit drink that costs $150. Compass Box No Name is a limited edition of 15,000 bottles. Compass Box The Spaniard Scotch Review. I am no gourmand, but certainly a hedonists and a sincere follower of the brand. It is non-chill-filtered, has natural color and has been bottled at 48.9% volume (97.8 proof). A vein of black licorice (anise) is complemented by toasted caraway, rhubarb pie, and more truckloads of fresh and dried apples. Compass Box Hedonism Review – OVERALL Ok, so it’s not bad, but for me a grain whiskey needs some serious age on it before it gets to be more than a cloying caramel and coconut bomb like the Compass Box Hedonism. It's made with 33% Lowland grain whisky and 67% malt whisky from … If you’ve got wads of cash to blow on the latest John Glaser art installation, then by all means buy a bottle. Compass Box No Name Review: Compass Box No Name is essentially Ardbeg with some Caol Ila and other stuff added to it. December 9, 2019 December 7, 2019 The Scotch Noob Reviews Leave a comment 7455 views Ok, so picture that you’re Compass Box master blender and visionary John Glaser. The Scotch Noob Reviews 15 Comments Oddly, I had reviewed the special-edition Spice Tree Extravaganza from Compass Box, but not the standard Spice Tree bottling. Compass Box: Affinity August 24, 2020 August 15, 2020 The Scotch Noob Articles 1 Comment 8230 views In a bit of a departure from my usual “whisky-only” reviews on this blog, I’d like to say a few words about Compass Box… The Drouin totally takes over the aroma – I forgot for a moment that this is under 40% Calvados. The Noob’s Top 10 Cocktails, The Balvenie (15 year) Single Barrel Cask #201, ScotchNoob Recommends: The Glencairn Glass, ScotchNoob Recommends: The World Atlas of Whisky, ScotchNoob Recommends: Whisky Advocate Magazine, Book Review: The World Atlas of Whisky by Dave Broom, Tullibardine (Alexander Murray: Polly’s Casks), Lagavulin (9 year) – Game of Thrones “House Lannister”, Boutique-y Whisky: Tomatin (11 year) Batch 4, Mortlach (15 year) – Game of Thrones “Six Kingdoms”. Please log in again. in B, Between $61 to $90, Scotch Whisky, Whiskey Reviews January 1, 2019 0. It is comprised of a majority of first-fill ex-bourbon Tamdhu, about 15% refill ex-sherry Clynelish, a little ex-bourbon malt “from Orkney” (which means Highland Park or Scapa – I’d guess HP since it’s peated), and a scant 1.5% of Compass Box’s standard French Oak cask Highland blend. There are notes of nougat, vanilla taffy, and white chocolate. Lovely, but very subtle. For a more accurate list of ingredients and the more stats on each barrel, check out the excellent fact sheet on CompassBoxWhisky.com. By Emma Briones. The Hedonism … Compass Box The Entertainer Scotch Review. I just wonder how much influence Bacardi has had on their business operations or if this was the plan all along: heavy on the marketing with premium pricing. Clocking in at over 75% Ardbeg it’s hard to say that it’s anything but … The Entertainer, a blended scotch from Compass Box (Credit: Compass Box) The Entertainer is a special, limited edition release from those innovative, artisanal whiskey-makers at Compass Box. The sherried components are very mild, providing slight fruit notes rather than a fruit … This fits the bill as a “Summer” drink – light and complex and fun. With Water: A few drops of water might make the aroma and palate sweeter, and they might bring out more dried apple, but it’s hard to tell. Compass Box is one of those producers that scratches many itches I have regarding whisky. Please log in again. What the Blender Says. The … You did however make me want to seek out a good bottle of Calvados on my next trip to Total Wine. Compass Box Double Single is a limited edition that was bottled in March 2017. Released in July 2019, the aptly-named The Circle No. Charcoal, oaky tannin, and waxy Red Delicious skins. 1, is a collaboration between Rosey and Compass Box whiskeymaker Jill Boyd. The Scotch Compass Box No Name … Maybe even a bottle of Spice Tree as well. Especially when 6 year-old Drouin can be found for less than $60 and the best Calvados I’ve ever tasted – Camut 15 year – was $120 last time I found some. Posted in blended malt, compass box, Scotch, Sherry, Whisky Tagged compass box, compass box review, compass box Spaniard review, compass box whisky, scotch, single malt, the story of the Spaniard review, whisky, whisky blog, whisky blog uk, whisky reviews, whisky reviews … Compass Box Spice Tree Review: Compass Box Spice Tree is a recreation of an old whisky Compass Box created that they can no longer make due to the unimaginative folks in the SWA (Scotch Whisky Association). Every time I evaluate another expression from the company, I get the nagging feeling that John Glaser is no longer making new whisky intended for me. After a series of challenges, the first annual winner, Rosey Mitchell of London’s Three Sheets, got to create a limited edition Compass Box blend. They did decide to use “Light 5 Micron Filtration”, which I’m guessing is a type of barrier filtration, but I haven’t heard of it before. After logging in you can close it and return to this page. 1”). The Compass Box Hedonism Felicitas basically represents the pursuit of pleasure and fortune, which perfectly sums up Compass Box’s role in the world of scotch whisky. A cynic might say this is basically taking an $60 Calvados and cutting it with scotch before marking it up to $150. Palate: Thick, syrupy body. Here’s another Compass Box Limited Edition (there are so many to choose from! Try without water first, and then add just a little to see how it changes for you. I do not detect any peat from the Highland Park (if that’s what it is). ): The Circle No. Cheers. In 2018, Compass Box created an industry program called The Circle with the goal of connecting the bartending trade with the blending trade to further education and creativity in bartending. are the words Compass Box uses while describing this whisky. With only 2200 bottles produced, Compass Box Hedonism Felicitas is looking like to be sold out soon! It takes awhile for the sherry notes to appear – mostly as dried apple and slightly bitter grape skin tannins. More nougat, but only a whisper of the fruit notes from the aroma. Every g-ddamn one of them has been north of $150), you might not know that Affinity is actually a “spirit drink”, which is the only legal way to label a blend of Scottish whisky and French Calvados (apple and/or pear brandy). in B, From $121 to $150, Scotch Whisky, Whiskey Reviews December 6, 2012 0. The palate mostly seems like your average Compass Box blended malt, and the finish is sparse but solid. Whiskey Review: Breuckelen Brownstone Six Year Malt The Spice Tree from Compass Box is tasty, but the overwhelming perfume aroma gave me a headache. I received my tasting sample thanks to Debbie at The Collective PR. I really wanted to see what good Calvados and good scotch could do together. The Scotch Compass Box … Like most good Calvados, there is a thick layer of chewy dried apple as well as a thick coating of caramel. Floral, with a ton of honeysuckle and clover flowers. After logging in you can close it and return to this page. Cocktails: Part One. Some bitterness (oak and/or charcoal). Aside from simply enjoying the many very-to-exceptionally good whiskies they create, I … If you have had excellent Calvados… then you know there are better ways to spend $150. It is non-chill-filtered, has natural colour and has been bottled at 46% volume (92 proof). If you haven’t been following the flurry of Compass Box releases lately (and why should you? “Sunshine in a glass” is a very accurate description. Compass Box whiskies represent the full spectrum of flavours to be found in Scotch, featuring full-flavoured malt and grain whisky, such as Rogues' Banquet, Hedonism, The Peat Monster, Artist's Blend, … Suffice it to say this isn’t young whisky – or super old: nothing is over 21 years of maturation. The blend is bottled at a robust 46% ABV without added color or chill-filtration. A cynic would say that, but I’m not a cynic. If you’d like to know the ages of these components, you are free to email hello at compassboxwhisky.com to ask (I’m not allowed to disclose them here). Unlike most Calvados, there is also a dose of bright, sweet, tart fresh apples – that smell in the air when you cut into a fresh green apple. A bit of marketing BS, no doubt, but it has to be said: the bottle looks great and mysterious… However, there are bolder peated whiskies than this whisky. The company was founded in 2000 by John Glaser, an American who … Nose: Dense, heady, unctuous apple brandy. Compass Box The Spaniard Review: Overall and Score These might be fightin’ words, but this reminds me of the Glenmorangie Milsean … but better. The palate and finish both get a little more tart bite. Palate: The Calvados is (once again) in the forefront. With Water: A few drops of water bring the dried apple notes to the aroma, but mute some of the subtle floral notes. Yup. Vibrant character and juicy, delicious palate is how I can sum up my review … Overall: As a lover of Calvados, I’m not too torn up that this “blend” is really a one-Calvados show. Compass Box Whisky is a Scotch whisky blending house started by John Glaser in 2000. “In a collection whose stated aim is amassing whiskies that offer both rarity and serious drinking pleasure, it is wonderful to see so many Compass Box releases represented amongst these … When we conceived the idea for Rogues’ Banquet last year, we felt that a collection of our favourite Compass Box personalities and an opulent liquid would be the ideal … The final blend is bottled at 46% ABV with no added color and with no chill-filtration. Rating: B. Together, they created a blended malt scotch whisky that they describe as “Sunshine in a Glass”. If you’re dying to know what Speyside malt that is (or the ages of any of the components), you’ll need to email them to ask. On subsequent tastings, I find a nice thick layer of sweet malty barley (like breakfast cereal) here. You’re sick and tired of the SWA and the EU/UK labeling laws keeping you in “the box… The login page will open in a new window. In other words, if you’ve never had excellent Calvados then you will love this. Compass Box The Peat Monster Review – OVERALL. The login page will open in a new window. The sherried components are very mild, providing slight fruit notes rather than a fruit-forward character. “All Calvados, All The Time.” Still, It makes me a little wistful that the general conceit of this spirit didn’t come through. 1. Compass Box are a blending company that creates some of the most intriguing scotch whiskies on the market. In a bit of a departure from my usual “whisky-only” reviews on this blog, I’d like to say a few words about Compass Box’s limited edition Affinity. Compass Box – 3 Year Old Deluxe October 31, 2016 The Scotch Noob Reviews 7 Comments Any of my long-time readers know that I’m a squealing fanboy when it comes to Compass Box… Aroma is rich and elegant with dark fruity … Whiskeymaker Jill Boyd there are better ways to spend $ 150 December 6, 0! 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