After a tasting of these fine blends I must say these great whiskies are incredibly complex and refined! These are definitely the very best blends I have sampled and we are pleased to have some bottles still available online and in our Chester shop.

Firstly the Spice Tree:
The Spice Tree from Compass Box is made from Highland malt whiskies which are aged in custom-made casks fitted with new French oak heads.

This oak is sourced from a mill in the Vosges which produces some of the highest quality cooperage oak for winemakers and the result is a fine, big whisky full of richness and a
spice-like complexity.

In April 2015, Compass Box’s, Spice Tree was named Best Blended Malt Scotch at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition.
Nose: Fragrant and extremely aromatic with notes of dried herbs, kicks from several spices, oak and delicious vanilla. Has a bourbon note to it and a peppery tang.
Palate: Gingernut biscuits with toffee spices, peppery tone to it with herbs and vanilla. All in all very rich and peppery.
Finish: Big and rich with a great kick of spice to it.

Next is the Hedonism Blended Grain Whisky:
A teriffic blended grain whisky from Compass Box.

Hedonism really is as enjoyable as the name suggests with a smooth and creamy offering.Overall supple & silky, with elegant, rich flavours of vanilla, toffee, coconut and cocoa.
Nose: From the first delectable introduction, Hedonism is all ripe fruit, fraises des bois and sponge cake. Hints of red pepper provide an interesting point to mull.
Palate: Very sensual, sleek and creamy. Black cherry and sweet spices develop with some cereal notes.
Finish: A spiced warmth, toasty, oak and some delicious milk chocolate.

On to the next stunning expression is This Is Not A Luxury Whisky!

The inspiration for this limited release is Rene Magritte’s 1929 work “Ceci n’est pas une pipe”, a Surrealist painting which challenges peoples’ perceptions of reality.

The reality is, these days we hear more and more commentators talking about ‘luxury’ whiskies which are presumably whiskies that are either rare or expensive, or possibly both.

On another level, a level considered being much more important. This limited release is all about the liquid, about the whisky in the bottle, which has been painstakingly sourced and blended and the engravement of enjoyment of this whisky will bring when shared with others.

This latter point is what we believe a ‘luxury’ whisky is and at Compass Box, this is what it believed that whisky, generally speaking is all about.

Availability:
Limited Edition release of 4,992 bottles.

Bottling Details:
Bottled in August 2015
Bottled at 53.1%
Not chill-filtered
Complex, rich, lightly smoky and opulent. Sultanas, sweet sherry and concentrated floral notes combine with deep demerara sweetness, cacao and lighter creamy coconut character. An inviting nose, fat and full-bodied on the palate with a long, lingering sweet-smoke finish.

Last but not least is the Peat Monster!

Created by the renowned John Glaser of Compass Box, for those who love big, rich, peaty and smoky malt whiskies, this is the whisky for you.

Bottled at 46%, “The Peat Monster” combines extremely smoky malt whisky from Islay with medium-peated Highland whiskies to create an approachable balanced monster.

Nose: Peaty with marked salinity, leans to Caol Ila in style. Slightly medicinal but deliciously fruity and sweet. Perhaps a little grainy.
Palate: Yet more peat and this time oak. Botanicals, floral, coppery and sweet with smoky bacon and satisfying hints of papaya.
Finish: A lingering sweetness with again, more peat. A floral aspect with roses and violets and a sweet kick of spice and finally oak.

Til next time,

Slainte
Pete