Tag Archives: Compass Box

2025 Whisky Show – Compass Box

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At the 2024 London Whisky Show, we had such fun at the Compass Box stand. They were back in 2025 – so we had to stop by!

Now the secret of thriving at Whisky Shows is to pass over more than you pick! So, when we looked at the line-up at Compass Box, we knew we had to make a tough call – skip more than sip!

It was a popular stand – for good reason!  Always having an eye for a creative design aesthetic, this was on a royal scale!

What did we focus on this year?

  • Hedonism 2025 46% – GBP 85
  • Flaming Heart 25th Anniversary Edition (2024) 48% – 2025 Whisky Show GBP 130
  • Brûlée Royal 2025 49% – 2025 Whisky Show GBP 106
  • Metropolis (Sep 2023) 49% (Compass Box – Extinct Blends Quartet) – GBP 270

Let’s get on with the tasting, shall we? Spoiler alert! The Brûlée Royal was my top pick!

Hedonism 2025 46%

Hedonism is one of those whiskies that gets a polarised reaction. People either love it or don’t. What you have to understand upfront is that this is a blended grain, with no malt whisky. This requires some recalibration of expectations.

My first experience with Hedonism more than a decade ago was mixed – I simply couldn’t get past a pronounced coconut oil! A few years later, I most associated piña colada with an edition, likely from around 2016 / 2017! Then came a chance to try their 15th anniversary edition – I found it more interesting, yet I was still not entirely convinced.

Fast forward to the  2025 / 25th anniversary edition. What did we think?

Well hello! It was incredibly approachable on the nose – bananas, caramel, cream, and a bit of coconut there too! The best was the palate – it was an easy-drinking whisky, balanced and fun. Nothing off, just fresh, sweet, smooth, and enjoyable.

The story behind this edition goes:

Created as our first whisky in 2000, Hedonism has always defied convetion. It pays homage to the tradition of grain whisky distillation in Scotland, while pushing the boundaries of Scotch.

The Hedonism label has always proudly featured the image of a woman – something Scotch whisky had never done before, so for each annual release we commission a different female artist to bring to life the strength that our original label illustration represented. This year, for our second release, Argentinian artist Sofia Bonati, who creates striking female portraits that invite you into a dreamlike world, has reimagined the Hedonism woman once again.

The Compass Box folks describe this special 25th anniversary edition as:

Initial waves of caramel and powdered sugar, leading into a heart of pure peach puree, cocoa and pear. Chocolate mousse arrives on the palate, joined by nutmeg-inflected custard and cinnamon. The finish freshens to white grape, Fuji apple and vanilla.

What went into this blend? Though all grains, it is also a blend of older Hedonism too! Cameronbridge (46.7% 1st fill bourbon, another 1st fill bourbon 11.6%, 1st fill Marsala Barrique 2.8%), Hedonism vatted in 2022 (11.9%), Hedonism vatted in 2023 (16.9), Girvan (10.1%). Curious to know more? Check out their Factsheet with all the details!

Flaming Heart 25th Anniversary Edition (2024) 48%

Over the years, we’ve had a chance to sample their Flaming Heart 7th Edition and 15th Anniversary expressions. So what about the latest 25th Anniversary dram – their 8th edition?

Wow! This is indeed a departure! This is full-on peat with a big meaty nose, loads of peat and spice on the palate, finishing with even more peat and sweetness. This is no shy, retiring, nuanced dram. It is fun and fabulous, confident in its rocking character!

Their description of its flavour profile is:

Rich, oily smoke appears on the nose, supported by zingy spice. Hints of raspberry and apricot encircled by impressions of tarry rope. The palate is immediately dense as spices like clove, pink and black pepper and nutmeg arrive. Medicinal peat notes duke it out with bright and winey fruit. Finally, concentrated smoke that is at once woody and ashy with menthol and citrus oils.

This blend has a primary focus on peat with (48.1%), (35.5%), Williamson Islay Malt Blend (13.4%%), and a bit of (3%). Do check out their Factsheet full of more info!

Brûlée Royal 2025 49%

This was the new avatar – inspired by the Palace of Versailles chef François Massialot, who wrote in his 1691 cookbook Cuisinier royal et bourgeois a recipe for what became known as crème brûlée. The whole theme of the Compass Box booth this year was a nod to royal opulence!

Whilst we had a mere sniff and swish, we remarked that this was one deliberately delicious dessert-styled dram! We thoroughly enjoyed the burnt caramel aromas, with the palate fun and creamy, and the finish nicely closing the experience.

Compass Box’s official tasting notes share:

Immediate Crème Brulée, which opens to custard Danish and scorched sugar brittles. The palate is thick with clotted cream, honeyed malt and broiled peaches followed by custard & Tarte Tatin. Pannacotta & gentle nutmeg spice followed by silken jersey milk, toasted sugar and banana split.

This is a vatted malt with (53.3%), (39%), (7.2%), and a touch of (0.5%). Whisky geeks should check out their Fact Sheet for more details!

Metropolis (Sep 2023) 49% (Compass Box – Extinct Blends Quartet)

We closed with the 3rd expression from their Extinct Blends Quartet. The idea here is to bring to our palate a time capsule. As I’ve also experienced, blends of earlier decades differ greatly from what is produced today.

We found it big, bold, yet balanced. Bursting with both pitted and tropical fruits, it was both lush and fresh, rich and rewarding. The finish was long and strong.

Their tasting notes:

Vanilla arrives first on the nose, followed by a medley of different honeys. Fudge, apricot and pineapple lead to fresh fig. A rich and very complex palate with sultana, apricot again and hints of smoky woodiness. A long and sweet finish, with a pleasing weight.

With Metropolis, the focus is on the urban of yesteryear. What more do we know?

Metropolis uses some of our rarest and most mature stocks. It centres around nutty and biscuity single malt from the Aberlour Distillery, aged in re-charred American oak barrels. This is supported by citrusy and vanilla-accented single malt from the Miltonduff Distillery. A blended grain parcel and a hint of herbal smoke courtesy of malt whisky from the Bowmore Distillery complete the complex recipe.

Our whisky guide shared that the Bowmore stock was more than 20 years old! For more details, check out their Fact Sheet.

And there you have it! Quite a range this year. Whilst my favourite was the Brûlée Royal, I really enjoyed the opportunity to try the Metropolis. The Flaming Heart shift in character to full peat was a departure, but it worked. The biggest surprise? How much we enjoyed the Hedonism!

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Whisky Show 2024 – Compass Box

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We are no strangers to Compass Box blends! So at the 2024 London Whisky Show, we were clear that we needed to make time to check out some of their latest expressions. We had no idea what kind of treat we were in for – thanks in large part to a most enjoyable exchange with Alex Driver – Whisky Educator for Compass Box.

Crimson Casks 46%

Wow! Spice and sherry! Think of a heavy rich Christmas pudding – chock full of soaked dried fruits and sweet spices. And on the palate? Full-bodied, plummy, yummy, spicy and fun. Closing with chocolate, toffee, and raisins with a hint of ginger. In short – it’s quite an addition to their range. It made me think of a cross between  Compaass Box’s Spice Tree and The Story of the Spaniard.

What more do we know? There is a lot of Glen Moray and a “distillery near the town of Aberlour” hint hint! AThis blend is part of the new core range – available for ~Eur 85.

  • 26.9% single malt from the distillery near the town of Aberlour aged in a first-fill oloroso sherry-seasoned butt (11-month finish).
  • 19.7% Glen Moray single malt aged in a first-fill oloroso sherry-seasoned butt (four-year finish).
  • 14.5% Benrinnes single malt aged in a first-fill bourbon barrel.
  • 11.3% Glen Moray single malt aged in a first-fill oloroso sherry-seasoned butt (four-year finish).
  • 8.4% single malt from the distillery near the town of Aberlour aged in a first-fill oloroso sherry-seasoned butt.
  • 7.3% Highland malt blend aged in a custom French oak barrel (heavy toast).
  • 6.1% Teaninich single malt aged in a first-fill sherry butt.
  • 5.8% Glen Moray single malt aged in a refill hogshead (Spanish red wine barrique).

Nectarosity 46%

After a celebration of sherry casks, we moved on to something a bit softer. From the initial whiff – I knew this was my kind of blend! Lovely! Soft toffee, creme brule, warm and inviting – like freshly baked goey pastries. On the palate, it led with sunny peaches, honey sweet, and fruity. It closed with butterscotch and a hint of nutty butter. Delicious! This was truly a dessert dram!

What more do we know? This is how Compass Box describes their process for Nectarosity:

Special American oak barrels are deployed twice. First to impart sweet spice to grain spirit, which finishes maturing in other casks. Once ‘prepared’, the barrels age malt whisky. We expertly blend these two characterful whiskies with selected others to dial up the fruit and toffee notes.

As we sniffed, swished, and sipped, Alex shared how the blend reflects key components like Clynelish, Linkwood, Cameronbridge, Girvan, and Balmenach. It is available for quite a reasonable Eur 65.

Celestial 56%

From accessible and enjoyable to exceptional and rare – we entered the hallowed territory of extinct whiskies – the fifth and last of the series. Inspired by Whitehorse from the 1960s, this was a singular experience.

We were anticipating a peaty powerhouse, knowing it drew heavily from Ardbeg and Caol Ila, however, it was initially a bit shy in the glass, needing a bit of time to warm up before rewarding with citrus and peat. On the palate, there were many layers – different styles of peat, one on top of the other and yet exceedingly well integrated with none being too much. From herbal peat to cinnamon sweet peat, briney coastal peat to toast and butter, bonfire to smoked meats, charred pineapple to leather, it simply worked! For all the variety, it was a subtle combination rather than a cacophony. Even the finish was a slow, long, lingering…

Compass Box describes it as having “[a] ghostly peat note, abundant cask sweetness verging on gingerbread and stem ginger in syrup, and a floral fruitiness.”

This expression is – for quite obvious reasons – a bit heavier on the pocketbook. Last seen for around Eur 365, it likely won’t be available for much longer.

We closed with an experiment – a blend of blends from a special collaboration between Woven and Compass Box. It even had an Indian connection with some Paul John! It was a teasing treat – enough to convince us that such a collaboration is worth further exploration!

Curious about other Compass Box experiences? There have been more than a few! Including a couple of evenings devoted just to Compass Box!

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Compass Box Enlightenment 46%

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It has been awhile since I’ve sat down with a Compass Box blend… more than two years! And this opportunity came completely unexpectedly.

It was an August evening in Mumbai where a few of us from our original tasting group re-united for a special evening. I’d intended to simply share what I had recently opened during that trip. However to my very pleasant surprise, one of our lovely tasting companions came with three unique bottles for us to experience – what fun!

What did we think?

Compass Box Enlightenment 46%

  • Nose – A bit shy at 1st then blooms, has blown candles, waxy, honey, tobacco leaf, green peppercorn, black vanilla pod, lemon, fragrant – lightly floral and fruity
  • Palate – Good an spicy, lots of character, powerful, waxy and oily… the spice tamed… and softened into fruitiness – now more berry than apple or citrus, underneath it more of that delicate floral almost herbal quality
  • Finish – Fruity honey

We tasted it blind and began speculating about the cask – could it be French oak 1st fill? American? And where was the spice coming from? Was it a single malt or something else? Ah.. we were definitely having more questions than answers until the reveal!

And what a reveal – you have to appreciate Compass Box commitment to transparency – pushing the boundaries of what is permitted.

I brought a couple samples back with me to Germany, forwarded on to Paris to revisit some evening – hopefully in the not to distant future.

Here is what John Glaser has to say about Enlightenment:

Inspired by the writers, philosophers and scientists of the Age of Enlightenment it sets out to encourage the industry to consider the absurdity of a system that prevents producers from telling consumers exactly what has gone into the whiskies they are drinking.

And of course the whisky itself is something rather special. A blend of fruity, fragrant Highland Single Malt Scotch Whiskies, it is bursting with aromas of fresh orchard fruit, flavours of vanilla, soft spice and pear and an alluring apple peel waxiness on the finish. An uplifting, enlightening whisky with which to ponder the world of Scotch not only as it is but also as it could be.

What’s the recipe?

  • 48.2% Clynelish 1st fill American standard barrel – Bright apple, waxiness
  • 36.7% Glentauchers 1st fill American standard barrel – Fruity, herbal
  • 10.8% Balblair 1st fill American standard barrel – Perfumed, bright
  • 4.3% Mortlach rejuvenated American standard barrel – Muscular, weighty

And the official tasting notes?

Fresh, vibrant and uplifting with a mouthfeel that is moreish and mouth-watering. On the nose you will find bright apple and pear, vanilla cream and light violet; on the palate soft spice, gentle citric notes and more of that uplifting orchard fruit character.

Enlightenment is a limited edition blend bottled in April 2016 with 5,922 bottles. As for the price? Hard to say as it isn’t so readily available now.

What else did we try that evening?

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Compass Box – Whisky de Table 40%

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We closed with a Compass Box blend created specifically for La Maison du Whisky – something to capture an easy drinking experience like having a chilled glass of white wine with dinner.

Naturally our host followed the serving suggested serving instructions to chill the bottle… first in the fridge and then a bit of time in the freezer to ensure the whisky was properly cooled before sampling.

And then we sampled blind before the reveal…

Whisky de Table 40%

  • Colour – More like a pale white wine than whisky
  • Nose – Intense bubblegum fruit, dates, raisins, strawberry confectionary, lots of musk melon… the after the 1st sip, rose, wine fruit and sweet
  • Palate – Wow! The peat was so pronounced! Then it settled into a lovely honey – a balance of peat and sweet in perfect harmony.
  • Finish – Pure peat

It was such a contrast between the aromas and palate. Yet still such a people pleaser – easy to settle back and quaff.

What do the folks at Compass Box have to say? We suspect we tried the 2017 Whisky de Table No. 2:

The second edition of our Scotch whisky made to be shared and enjoyed like a traditional Vin de Table. The effusive distillery characters leap from the glass, unobscured by the heavier effects of maturation, providing a drink that is full of energy, versatile and beguiling. Serve chilled straight from the fridge like you would a white wine. This batch was made for the French market and released exclusively through La Maison du Whisky.

I found it quite different than my experience with the 1st edition. In case you are curious? Here are notes from my earlier brushes with this whisky:

Before Whisky de Table we tried :

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Compass Box – The Double Single 46%

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Consider what you get mixing together a single malt with a single of grain? Well… if you have the exceptional blending prowess of the team at Compass Box, you would bring to the world of whisky The Double Single.

We sampled completely blind… served from a freshly opened bottle at room temperature. What did we think?

The Double Single 40%

  • Nose – Quite a contrast – very fruity and nuts, red plums, red berries, star anise, sour berry pulao, starch, tangy, even a bit of lavender, leafy, something beyond grape but not yet a raisin… all before the 1st sip!
    • After 1st sip – sweet lime, slightly funky wood, grape kool-aid…
    • After more time shifted into stewed apples
  • Palate – A lovely chilli spice and more, cloves, peppers, quite robust with loads of personality and a citrus twist
  • Finish – Smoke and wood char, spice… long and lingering

While there was absolutely no need to add water… we did… simply curious. And…? The water did wonders! 

  • Nose – Fruit and vanilla cream, oranges, yum!
  • Palate – A lovely meetha paan, all flavours sharpen, cutting the spice a tad, enabling a whole kaleidoscope of flavours to emerge, particularly aniseed
  • Finish – Still long and lingering with a light spice, aniseed remains

Above all, we were impressed by the incredible balance between the different elements. 

For those of us who have had The Double Single before, it didn’t disappoint. For those who hadn’t, just another reminder that Compass Box knows their stuff.

Curious what the folks at Compass Box have to say? Just check out what we thought when sampled early 2018  The Double Single.

Our latest Compass Box trio evening also included:

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Compass Box – Hedonism Quindecimus 46%

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Up first in our latest exploration of Compass Box was Hedonism… But no ordinary edition… this was Quindecimus – their 15th anniversary special limited edition. It has an absolutely lush, gorgeous label that simply screams nuance, complexity, with a vintage, feminine vibe.

Our host did his homework and knew this blended grain would take some coaxing and time to unfold… so he poured our glasses a half hour before we sat to start tasting.

We sampled it completely blind… and what did we think?

Hedonism Quindecimus 5689 46%

  • Nose – Started with soft caramel, light butterscotch, lemon, a bit astringent, sticky glue, wet grass, touch of kumquat, vanilla, sandalwood, a medicinal hint…
    • After the 1st sip some hazelnut, sweet grass joined, honey came increasingly to the fore, bread pudding and custard, with loads of butterscotch
    • Even more time and it took on such a lovely desert with cream and that fabulous butterscotch again
  • Palate – Citrus sweet… on the next sip there was chilli joining the sweet
  • Finish – Oddly flat and a bitter
  • Water – A mixed response – found it made it even more flat and left a bit awkward finish, others thought it added more character, with sweet and sour on the palate and a strong coconut quality

We set it aside and moved on to the other whiskies of the evening….

When we returned to it, there was strong butterscotch and coconut on the aromas… however, the palate and finish simply didn’t live up to the promise of the aromas.

With the reveal, our host admitted that after so much effort to track this down, have it shipped to the US, then brought to India, the actual experience was a bit of a disappointment. I’ll also admit to having mixed reactions to Hedonism – certainly interesting but not always bang on the mark, for me at least.

What do the folks at Compass Box have to say?

Fifteenth Anniversary Limited Edition release of 5,689 bottles. Bottled in February 2015.

Flavour Descriptors The combination of grain whiskies from different distilleries and of varying ages has created extraordinary complexity and juxtapositions of flavour. Indulgent yet lively, unctuous yet light, you will find a deep, sweet caramel coconut succulence combining with exultant tropical fruits.

Recommendations Drink this whisky as any true Hedonist would – however you like it, whenever you feel like it and in whatever quantity you deem appropriate. We particularly enjoy Quindecimus paired with sweet desserts or Highland fudge.

The blended grains are a combination of North British, Port Dundas, Dumbarton and a mystery blend aged more than 32 years.

After Hedonism, we continued on with :

And just in case you are curious? Here are notes from the earlier brushes with a different version of Compass Box’s Hedonism:

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Compass Box Trilogy – Hedonism, Double Single, Whisky de Table

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By now it is quite clear we are no stranger to Compass Box and the way they have transformed what the whisky world thinks of blends.

What was on the menu this evening?

We sampled completely blind with each carefully served to bring out the most of each unique whisky:

Just be patient over the next few days to learn more bout what we discovered!

Check out a few other Mumbai evenings devoted to exploring Compass Box:

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Compass Box Great King Street Glasgow Blend 43%

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Our Whisky Ladies November session quite randomly ended  up with a trio of Highland drams plus the delicious Compass Box Great King Street Glasgow Blend.

As a tasting group, we were no strangers to Compass Box and its whole new calibre of blends. In an earlier session we had even tried a limited edition Great King Street blend – the Experimental Batch.

Here is what we thought of the peaty Glasgow version…

Compass Box Great King Street Glasgow Blend 43%

  • Colour – Light straw
  • Nose – Nutty, lightly smokey, old furniture, autumn leaves, some spice, a bit of minerals, some vanilla, biscuits
  • Palate – Simply superb! Coffee, sweet berries, beautifully well rounded, some basil, a bit woodsy
  • Finish – Wood smoke, cinnamon, cloves

Overall we enjoyed our wee nip of this blend and the small bottle was completely polished off!

Here is what the Compass Box folks have to say:

In his 1930 book “Whisky”, Aeneas MacDonald teaches us that Glaswegians historically preferred fuller bodied and more flavour-packed whiskies than people in other parts of the world. So what better name for a whisky such as this?

You’ll find here a rich vein of peaty-smokiness, underpinned by sherry cask-aged whiskies, full of dried fruit and wine character. The palate is full and round, with a sweetness typical of whiskies from our company.

You can also see exactly what this blend is made of, courtesy of the fabulously transparent disclosures of Compass Box.

Here is what else we tried:

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Whisky Ladies “Bar Bottle” – Glenmorangie, Old Pulteney, Compass Box, Ardmore

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We had different plans for this evening – a much anticipated combined night with our Bombay Malt & Cigar gents… However it was not do be so what to do instead?

We thought why not reach into our bars and see what was available to share…

Here is what we unearthed:

It turned out every bottle could be purchased (at one time) at duty-free and yet each was certainly a cut above the standard travel retail fare.

It also just so happened that each had a touch of smoke… from a mere hint with the Old Pulteney and Glenmorangie to a more pronounced puff of peat with the Compass Box Great King Street Glasgow Blend and Armore Triple Wood Peat.

In an unplanned twist, all three single malts were also from Highland distilleries… with the delightful Compass Box blend a terrific foil with some highland whiskies too.

Overall it proved to be a most enjoyable quartet and a good reminder to not dismiss what you may find when perusing airport wares – at least in some select airports around the world!

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The Vault Fine Spirits trio at KODE

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Sometimes you have an opportunity to re-discover familiar drams in a completely different setting familiar friends…

That is exactly what happened one fine evening many months ago in Mumbai at KODE with Keshav Prakash featuring a trio from The Vault Fine Spirits Collection.

We began with a distinctly light then shifted gears completely to peat and closed with a sherry sweet. No serious tasting notes as this was purely an evening to quaff and enjoy with others who appreciate a good dram.

Other Vault whiskies normally found at KODE include:

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