Scotch

Whisky Review Round Up: Compass Box Signature Range

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Whisky Review Round Up: Compass Box Signature Range

by Forrest C. Price
January 10, 2019

Tasting Notes:

About:

Asyla Blended Scotch Whisky, 40% ABV, 50% Lowland Single Grain, 40% Highland Single Malt, 10% Speyside Single Malt, 100% First Fill American Oak Oak Cross Blended Malt Scotch Whisky, 43% ABV, 60% Highland Single Malt, 20% Highland Single Malt, 20% Speyside Single Malt, 60% aged in First Fill American Oak, 40% aged in New French Oak The Spice Tree Blended Malt Scotch Whisky, 46% ABV, 60% Highland Single Malt, 20% Highland Single Malt, 20% Speyside Single Malt, 20% aged First Fill American Oak, 80% aged New French Oak The Peat Monster Blended Malt Scotch Whisky, 46% ABV, 37% Islay Single Malt, 34% Highland Single Malt, 29% Island Single Malt (Peated), 100% aged Refill American Oak Hedonism Blended Grain Scotch Whisky, 43% ABV, 60% Lowland Single Grain, 40% Lowland Single Grain, 100% aged in First Fill American Oak All of these whiskies can normally be found for between $50 to $100 per 750ml bottle.

Appearance:

Nose:

Asyla Bright with a subtle crispness of apple and pear. Reminds one of a cool breeze. Oak Cross Smells rich with classic notes of fruit and vanilla. The Spice Tree Like a warm mocha thats been spiced with clove and cinnamon. The Peat Monster As if you were to enjoy an orange drizzle dessert while sitting around a campfire near the sea. Hedonsim Smells delicate with a soft, creamy coconut that allows one to deeply inhale.

Palate:

experience in comparison. The Peat Monster is the remaining blended malt and contains whiskey from an Islay south shore distillery, a Highland malt, and a peated Island malt. The Islay single malt is the majority of the blend and knowing it is south shore limits the possibilities of sourcing to Ardbeg, Lagavulin, or Laphroaig. The Island single malt is the minority in the blend and since it is peated that too would seem to narrow the possibilities of which distillery Compass Box is sourcing from. If Glaser and Compass Box eventually get their way, they will tell us which distilleries they use. The two remaining blends, Hedonism and Asyla, each contain Lowlands single grain whisky. Hedonism is a 60-40 blended grain from two Lowlands distilleries. Asyla is a blended scotch that includes a Speyside single malt and a Highland single malt, in addition to the Lowland single grain whisky. Between the five whiskies all three styles of blended Scotch are represented and the three blended malts exemplify the versatility of flavors scotch can produce. Anyone interested in learning more about blended whisky would do well to explore the offerings of Compass Box. Compass Box Signature Range (image via Compass Box) Tasting Notes: Compass Box Signature Range Vital Stats: Asyla Blended Scotch Whisky, 40% ABV, 50% Lowland Single Grain, 40% Highland Single Malt, 10% Speyside Single Malt, 100% First Fill American Oak Oak Cross Blended Malt Scotch Whisky, 43% ABV, 60% Highland Single Malt, 20% Highland Single Malt, 20% Speyside Single Malt, 60% aged in First Fill American Oak, 40% aged in New French Oak The Spice Tree Blended Malt Scotch Whisky, 46% ABV, 60% Highland Single Malt, 20% Highland Single Malt, 20% Speyside Single Malt, 20% aged First Fill American Oak, 80% aged New French Oak The Peat Monster Blended Malt Scotch Whisky, 46% ABV, 37% Islay Single Malt, 34% Highland Single Malt, 29% Island Single Malt (Peated), 100% aged Refill American Oak Hedonism Blended Grain Scotch Whisky, 43% ABV, 60% Lowland Single Grain, 40% Lowland Single Grain, 100% aged in First Fill American Oak All of these whiskies can normally be found for between $50 to $100 per 750ml bottle. Nose: Asyla Bright with a subtle crispness of apple and pear. Reminds one of a cool breeze. Oak Cross Smells rich with classic notes of fruit and vanilla. The Spice Tree Like a warm mocha thats been spiced with clove and cinnamon. The Peat Monster As if you were to enjoy an orange drizzle dessert while sitting around a campfire near the sea. Hedonsim Smells delicate with a soft, creamy coconut that allows one to deeply inhale. Palate: Asyla Pillowy mouthfeel that booms with ripe fruit yet settles in savory on the finish. Oak Cross Exceptional balance of clove, bright fall fruits, and vanilla. Less rich than the nose would lead you to believe. The Spice Tree Somewhat bready with toffee ever present through the experience. Creamy and full-bodied, leading to full, long, whole finish. The Peat Monster Rich, like that of a salted caramel breve. Peaty enough so you know its there, but far from being strong. The peat is strongly subtle, if you will. Hedonism Decently creamy and definitely grainy. Slightly astringent but vanilla hangs out forever on the finish, making it pleasant.

Finish:

Comments:

Compass Box Whiskey Company will always keep you on your toes. They openly embrace going against traditional methods of scotch making. They continually push the envelope of what can be considered Scotch and also fight to end the traditional secrecy surrounding how some scotches are made. The Compass Box Signature Range would be a great introductory flight for anyone interested in wanting to know more about scotch.

Since being launched in 2000 Compass Box Whiskey Company has been pushing boundaries, ruffling feathers, winning admirers, and taking on the establishment of the Scotch Whisky Association. Founder John Glaser, five-time recipient of Whiskey Advocate’s Innovator of the Year award, is an American businessman that originally got his start in wine. Headquartered in Chiswick, just to the west of Fulham and south of Wembley, Compass Box has released over 15 expressions, but they consider five to be a part of their Signature Range. Never distilling their own whisky and sourcing from at least a dozen distilleries, Compass Box is a boutique craft blender.

The Signature Range consists of two Highland blended malts, a Lowland blended grain, a blended malt, and a blended scotch. A Speyside distillery is also included in each of the Highland blended malts, with two of them – Oak Cross and The Spice Tree – having very similar properties in that they both have the same whiskey proportions from distilleries located in Alness, Brora, and Carron. Where they differ is in their oak aging. Oak Cross is majority aged in American oak, while The Spice Tree is aged primarily in French Oak, giving the latter whisky a spicier, more rich palate experience in comparison.

The Peat Monster is the remaining blended malt and contains whiskey from an Islay south shore distillery, a Highland malt, and a peated Island malt. The Islay single malt is the majority of the blend and knowing it is south shore limits the possibilities of sourcing to Ardbeg, Lagavulin, or Laphroaig. The Island single malt is the minority in the blend and since it is peated that too would seem to narrow the possibilities of which distillery Compass Box is sourcing from. If Glaser and Compass Box eventually get their way, they will tell us which distilleries they use.

The two remaining blends, Hedonism and Asyla, each contain Lowlands single grain whisky. Hedonism is a 60-40 blended grain from two Lowlands distilleries. Asyla is a blended scotch that includes a Speyside single malt and a Highland single malt, in addition to the Lowland single grain whisky.

Between the five whiskies all three styles of blended Scotch are represented and the three blended malts exemplify the versatility of flavors scotch can produce. Anyone interested in learning more about blended whisky would do well to explore the offerings of Compass Box.

Tasting Notes: Compass Box Signature Range

Vital Stats: Asyla – Blended Scotch Whisky, 40% ABV, 50% Lowland Single Grain, 40% Highland Single Malt, 10% Speyside Single Malt, 100% First Fill American Oak

Oak Cross – Blended Malt Scotch Whisky, 43% ABV, 60% Highland Single Malt, 20% Highland Single Malt, 20% Speyside Single Malt, 60% aged in First Fill American Oak, 40% aged in New French Oak

The Spice Tree – Blended Malt Scotch Whisky, 46% ABV, 60% Highland Single Malt, 20% Highland Single Malt, 20% Speyside Single Malt, 20% aged First Fill American Oak, 80% aged New French Oak

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The Peat Monster – Blended Malt Scotch Whisky, 46% ABV, 37% Islay Single Malt, 34% Highland Single Malt, 29% Island Single Malt (Peated), 100% aged Refill American Oak

Hedonism – Blended Grain Scotch Whisky, 43% ABV, 60% Lowland Single Grain, 40% Lowland Single Grain, 100% aged in First Fill American Oak

All of these whiskies can normally be found for between $50 to $100 per 750ml bottle.

Nose: Asyla – Bright with a subtle crispness of apple and pear. Reminds one of a cool breeze.

Oak Cross – Smells rich with classic notes of fruit and vanilla.

The Spice Tree – Like a warm mocha that’s been spiced with clove and cinnamon.

The Peat Monster – As if you were to enjoy an orange drizzle dessert while sitting around a campfire near the sea.

Hedonsim – Smells delicate with a soft, creamy coconut that allows one to deeply inhale.

Palate: Asyla – Pillowy mouthfeel that booms with ripe fruit yet settles in savory on the finish.

Oak Cross – Exceptional balance of clove, bright fall fruits, and vanilla. Less rich than the nose would lead you to believe.

The Spice Tree – Somewhat bready with toffee ever present through the experience. Creamy and full-bodied, leading to full, long, whole finish.

The Peat Monster – Rich, like that of a salted caramel breve. Peaty enough so you know its there, but far from being strong. The peat is strongly subtle, if you will.

Hedonism – Decently creamy and definitely grainy. Slightly astringent but vanilla hangs out forever on the finish, making it pleasant.

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