Tag Archives: Flaky Pastries

Compass Box Hedonism

Blended Scotch grain whisky – 43%ABV – $70 – $80 | £47 | €53

Compass Box is currently celebrating 10 years in business — 10 years of creating fantastically innovative Scotch whisky blends.

This particular blend is a mixture of grain whiskies – no malt.  Most blended Scotch whiskies are a mixture of malt whisky (whisky from a barley) and grain whisky (other grains, corn, etc…).  This, as mentioned, is a blend of 100% grain whiskies.  An interesting animal indeed.

Many people, for a variety of reasons, have a bias against whisky blends.  Yes, some are pure shite — some are good for mixed drinks only — some are decent — some are good and Compass Box blends, in my opinion, are just top notch (and put many single malts to shame).  Here’s a link to all of the Compass Box whiskies I’ve reviewed so far.

So, how does this blend rate?  Right good if you ask me:

On the nose The color tells me it’s Scotch whisky (very light in color, perhaps a light gold like the water in a pot after boiling corn).

The initial whiff gives it away – it’s a grain whisky.

She noses like a bourbon – sweet gingerbread notes. Nutmeg is here to.

I’m getting, now, some interesting notes of pineapple.

Oak was there from the get go but it just hit me now.

Coconut cream and vanilla bean.

On the mouth Buttery smooth mouth feel with hints of creamy milk chocolate and flaky pastries.

More gingerbread, less nutmeg.

Light nuttiness to this (almond perhaps?).

Finish Very pleasing burn on the back of the tongue and back to some of those bourbon type notes I got on the nose.

However, there are some great melted caramel & toffee notes that appear as well. Yum!

In sum One for the bourbon drinkers out there for sure (perhaps it’ll help turn them on to Scotch whisky).  I’ve had some single grain Scotch whiskies, this is my first blended Scotch grain whisky and I have to say, this is quite the nice whisky!  I’d reach for this in the dead of summer and, hold onto your seats, may even enjoy this over some ice!  I imagine this would help make an amazing julep!

Special thanks goes out to Robin Robinson for the sample!