Compass Box Flaming Heart
Vatted malt, Compass Box
Vatted malt - Caol Ila, Clynelish, Linkwood
Pale copper
48.9% ABV
Dram
Nose: Peat, soy sauce, tobacco leaf, raisins, vanilla, smoke.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loose, watery.
Tasting: Bitter sweet. Vanilla, tobacco, raisins, smoke, peat, soy sauce.
Finish: Long. Walnut skins, peat, vanilla, tobacco.
Comments:
Big and bold. This is the second edition of Flaming Heart, a vatting of Caol Ila, Clynelish and Linkwood. Talk about a spectrum of hard to soft whiskies! The flavours are very distinct, and don't detract from each other, and it's perfectly possible to discern all three components. Yet the whole works very well.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
Wednesday, 25 November 2009
Compass Box Spice Tree (reissue)
Compass Box Spice Tree (reissue)
Vatted malt, Compass Box
Vatted malt - mostly Clynelish
Golden
46% ABV
Dram
Nose: Butter, orange peel, chillies, cloves, cinnamon, plums, hints of coconut.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loose, slightly astringent.
Tasting: Sweet. Chillies, orange peel, plums, cloves, cinnamon.
Finish: Long. Chillies, orange peel, cinnamon.
Comments:
In John Glaser's own words, this is "mostly Clynelish". It's the new, legal Spice Tree, matured in barrels with toasted French oak heads. Extremely innovative! It tastes different of course, with the spicy fragrance present in the old Spice Tree tempered by slightly bitter cinnamon bark. Still tasty, but I think I liked the older one best.
Verdict:
I like this.
Vatted malt, Compass Box
Vatted malt - mostly Clynelish
Golden
46% ABV
Dram
Nose: Butter, orange peel, chillies, cloves, cinnamon, plums, hints of coconut.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loose, slightly astringent.
Tasting: Sweet. Chillies, orange peel, plums, cloves, cinnamon.
Finish: Long. Chillies, orange peel, cinnamon.
Comments:
In John Glaser's own words, this is "mostly Clynelish". It's the new, legal Spice Tree, matured in barrels with toasted French oak heads. Extremely innovative! It tastes different of course, with the spicy fragrance present in the old Spice Tree tempered by slightly bitter cinnamon bark. Still tasty, but I think I liked the older one best.
Verdict:
I like this.
Compass Box Spice Tree (original)
Compass Box Spice Tree (original)
Vatted malt, Compass Box
Vatted malt - Teaninich, Dailuaine, Clynelish, Longmorn
Golden
46% ABV
Dram
Nose: Butter, butterscotch, oak, toast, cloves, orange peel.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens, loosens, slippery.
Tasting: Sweet sour. Chillies, cloves, butterscotch, oak, orange peel, hints of honeydew melon.
Finish: Long. Orange peel, lemons, butter, honeydew melon.
Comments:
This is the famous illegal Spice Tree - illegal because it was matured in oak barrels containing inner staves made of French oak, imparting an interesting spicy, clovey flavour. I feel really privileged to be able to try this. It's a vatting of fruity, light malts, infused with that great spicy, fragrant flavour.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
Vatted malt, Compass Box
Vatted malt - Teaninich, Dailuaine, Clynelish, Longmorn
Golden
46% ABV
Dram
Nose: Butter, butterscotch, oak, toast, cloves, orange peel.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens, loosens, slippery.
Tasting: Sweet sour. Chillies, cloves, butterscotch, oak, orange peel, hints of honeydew melon.
Finish: Long. Orange peel, lemons, butter, honeydew melon.
Comments:
This is the famous illegal Spice Tree - illegal because it was matured in oak barrels containing inner staves made of French oak, imparting an interesting spicy, clovey flavour. I feel really privileged to be able to try this. It's a vatting of fruity, light malts, infused with that great spicy, fragrant flavour.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
Compass Box Asyla "Mariage"
Compass Box Asyla "Mariage"
Blended malt, Compass Box
Blended malt
Light gold
43.6% ABV
Dram
Nose: Butter, vanilla, lemons, orange peel, plums.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, watery, slightly astringent.
Tasting: Sweet. Lemons, toast, orange peel, plums, vanilla Medium Honey, oranges, lemons, vanilla.
Finish: Medium. Honey, oranges, lemons, vanilla.
Comments:
A special edition of Asyla, bottled for La Maison du Whisky, one of the great whisky shops around. This is 50% Cameronbridge and 50% malt - Linkwood, Glen Elgin and Longmorn. This was more robust than other Compass Box whiskies, with soft fruit and vanilla. The malt is very restrained and unobstrusive.
Verdict:
I like this.
Blended malt, Compass Box
Blended malt
Light gold
43.6% ABV
Dram
Nose: Butter, vanilla, lemons, orange peel, plums.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, watery, slightly astringent.
Tasting: Sweet. Lemons, toast, orange peel, plums, vanilla Medium Honey, oranges, lemons, vanilla.
Finish: Medium. Honey, oranges, lemons, vanilla.
Comments:
A special edition of Asyla, bottled for La Maison du Whisky, one of the great whisky shops around. This is 50% Cameronbridge and 50% malt - Linkwood, Glen Elgin and Longmorn. This was more robust than other Compass Box whiskies, with soft fruit and vanilla. The malt is very restrained and unobstrusive.
Verdict:
I like this.
Compass Box Magic Cask 2006
Compass Box Magic Cask 2006
Vatted malt, Compass Box
Vatted malt - Linkwood, Clynelish
Amber rose
46% ABV
Dram
Nose: Coconut, molasses, butter, strawberries, raisins, cherries. With water, sweeter, more strawberries.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens, slippery, astringent.
Tasting: Sweet. Oranges, molasses, strawberries, raisins, cherries, red wine. With water, more red wine, quite tannic.
Finish: Long. Oranges, strawberries, raisins, cherries.
Comments:
A special bottling for the Liquor Control Board of Ontario. It's a mixture of 16 yo Linkwood aged for an additional year in a Madeira cask, and 14 yo Clynelish. Very winey and fruity, nice slippery thick body. Water opens it up, makes it taste sweeter, and more like the Madeira it contains.
Verdict:
I like this.
Compass Box Eleuthera
Compass Box Eleuthera
Vatted malt, Compass Box
Vatted malt - Caol Ila, Clynelish
Pale green gold
46% ABV
Dram
Nose: Wet stones, peat, soy sauce, leather, pears, lemons, hints of smoke.
Mouthfeel: Light body, airy, volatile, watery.
Tasting: Bitter sweet. Peat, soy sauce, leather, pears, raisins, hints of smoke.
Finish: Medium. Smoke, peat, walnut skins, raisins.
Comments:
This is the 1st release of Eleuthera. It's a mixture of 20% Caol Ila and 80% Clynelish, and it's beautiful. There is a flinty, minerally hard heart, overlaid by the great Caol Ila flavours of soy sauce, peat and smoke, and then layered over with lots of lemony fruit. Lovely whisky.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
Vatted malt, Compass Box
Vatted malt - Caol Ila, Clynelish
Pale green gold
46% ABV
Dram
Nose: Wet stones, peat, soy sauce, leather, pears, lemons, hints of smoke.
Mouthfeel: Light body, airy, volatile, watery.
Tasting: Bitter sweet. Peat, soy sauce, leather, pears, raisins, hints of smoke.
Finish: Medium. Smoke, peat, walnut skins, raisins.
Comments:
This is the 1st release of Eleuthera. It's a mixture of 20% Caol Ila and 80% Clynelish, and it's beautiful. There is a flinty, minerally hard heart, overlaid by the great Caol Ila flavours of soy sauce, peat and smoke, and then layered over with lots of lemony fruit. Lovely whisky.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
Compass Box Hedonism
Compass Box Hedonism
Vatted grain, Compass Box
Vatted grain - Carsebridge, Cambus
Light amber
43% ABV
Dram
Nose: Butter, vanilla, bananas, soy sauce, leather, peaches.
Mouthfeel: Light body, thickens slightly, loose, watery.
Tasting: Sweet sour. Butter, vanilla, bananas, coconut, leather, peaches, pears, hints of lemons.
Finish: Long. Tangy, vanilla, peach.
Comments:
This is the first release of Hedonism. It's vatted grain whisky - a mix of Carsebridge and Cambus. It's got the smooth, light, elusive softness that I associate with grain whisky, but also a great depth of flavour. It's almost bourbony, with lots of sweet fruit. Tasted at a Compass Box retrospective tasting.
Verdict:
I like this.
Vatted grain, Compass Box
Vatted grain - Carsebridge, Cambus
Light amber
43% ABV
Dram
Nose: Butter, vanilla, bananas, soy sauce, leather, peaches.
Mouthfeel: Light body, thickens slightly, loose, watery.
Tasting: Sweet sour. Butter, vanilla, bananas, coconut, leather, peaches, pears, hints of lemons.
Finish: Long. Tangy, vanilla, peach.
Comments:
This is the first release of Hedonism. It's vatted grain whisky - a mix of Carsebridge and Cambus. It's got the smooth, light, elusive softness that I associate with grain whisky, but also a great depth of flavour. It's almost bourbony, with lots of sweet fruit. Tasted at a Compass Box retrospective tasting.
Verdict:
I like this.
Wednesday, 18 November 2009
SMWS 121.22 (Arran 11 yo 1996/2008)
SMWS 121.22 (Arran 11 yo 1996/2008)
2008, SMWS
Single malt - Islands
Dark amber
58% ABV
Dram
Nose: Caramel, butterscotch, raisins, smoke, redcurrants, leather, molasses, hints of rum, hints of palm sugar.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, hot, tingly, slippery.
Tasting: Sweet. Redcurrants, raisins, molasses, palm sugar, chillies, smoke, butterscotch.
Finish: Long. Chillies, leather, caramel, redcurrants.
Comments:
Sweet, smoky and spicy. Loaded with fruit and sweet things, including the caramelly sweetness that one only finds in palm sugar. Excellent whisky.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
2008, SMWS
Single malt - Islands
Dark amber
58% ABV
Dram
Nose: Caramel, butterscotch, raisins, smoke, redcurrants, leather, molasses, hints of rum, hints of palm sugar.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, hot, tingly, slippery.
Tasting: Sweet. Redcurrants, raisins, molasses, palm sugar, chillies, smoke, butterscotch.
Finish: Long. Chillies, leather, caramel, redcurrants.
Comments:
Sweet, smoky and spicy. Loaded with fruit and sweet things, including the caramelly sweetness that one only finds in palm sugar. Excellent whisky.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
SMWS 46.12 (Glenlossie 27 yo 1978/2006)
SMWS 46.12 (Glenlossie 27 yo 1978/2006)
2006, SMWS
Single malt - Speyside
Amber orange
55.1% ABV
Dram
Nose: Orange peel, coconut, pine, mint, marzipan, hints of leather.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, slipper, astringent, thickens.
Tasting: Sour. Lemons, orange peel, coconut, pine, mint, hints of mayonnaise, hints of leather.
Finish: Medium. Butter, pine, coconut, orange peel.
Comments:
Tart, leathery, smells a little like a new car. Not very meaty, although the tag line promised roast pork! Reminds me more of cake and sweet desserty things...
Verdict:
I like this.
2006, SMWS
Single malt - Speyside
Amber orange
55.1% ABV
Dram
Nose: Orange peel, coconut, pine, mint, marzipan, hints of leather.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, slipper, astringent, thickens.
Tasting: Sour. Lemons, orange peel, coconut, pine, mint, hints of mayonnaise, hints of leather.
Finish: Medium. Butter, pine, coconut, orange peel.
Comments:
Tart, leathery, smells a little like a new car. Not very meaty, although the tag line promised roast pork! Reminds me more of cake and sweet desserty things...
Verdict:
I like this.
SMWS 38.18 (Caperdonich 12 yo 1994/2007)
SMWS 38.18 (Caperdonich 12 yo 1994/2007)
2007, SMWS
Single malt - Speyside
White wine
59.4% ABV
Dram
Nose: Vanilla, butter, green apples, black pepper, lemons, hints of smoke.
Mouthfeel: Light body, tingly, volatile, warm.
Tasting: Sour salty. Vanilla, raisins, green apples, black pepper, lemons, smoke, hints of pineapples.
Finish: Short. Lemons, black pepper, pineapples, chillies.
Comments:
Tart, yet smoky. Light and refreshing Caperdonich, a touch less fruity than the other ones I've had. Don't add water - it brings out a rather harsh element of coconut.
Verdict:
I like this.
2007, SMWS
Single malt - Speyside
White wine
59.4% ABV
Dram
Nose: Vanilla, butter, green apples, black pepper, lemons, hints of smoke.
Mouthfeel: Light body, tingly, volatile, warm.
Tasting: Sour salty. Vanilla, raisins, green apples, black pepper, lemons, smoke, hints of pineapples.
Finish: Short. Lemons, black pepper, pineapples, chillies.
Comments:
Tart, yet smoky. Light and refreshing Caperdonich, a touch less fruity than the other ones I've had. Don't add water - it brings out a rather harsh element of coconut.
Verdict:
I like this.
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