Compass Box No Name Vol 1
Blended Malt Scotch Whisky
48.9% ABV
$130 – $150
Website
What the Blender Says
For this, our peatiest whisky yet, we have decided on No Name.
The idea for this limited edition was sparked by the discovery of a parcel of casks of mature, heavy-peated single malt whisky from a well-known distillery located along Pier Road, in the Southeast of the island of Islay.
This whisky was given NO NAME to let the whisky speak for itself. It is massive in terms of the intensity and complexity peatiness, but tempered with hints of fruit character and an underlying sweetness.
The recipe is primarily sourced from the Pier Road distillery. The tempering single malt is from the Islay distillery in Port Askaig, with its more elegant, restrained peaty malt whisky.
To add dimension, fruit character and an ethereal element, we have added a small portion of malt whisky from a much-loved distillery in the Northern Highlands village of Brora. We finished things off with just a touch of malt whisky finished in French oak, providing a lovely underlying sweetness and richness.
AVAILABILITY: Limited Edition release of 15,000 bottles worldwide. Bottled September 2017.
FLAVOUR DESCRIPTORS: A bonfire-like smokiness on the nose with a peatiness that is by turns tarry and medicinal with hints of autumn leaves. A powerful smokiness and peatiness follow, accented by hints of ripe cherries, plums and spice.
What Gary Says
Nose: Peat fire on the coast with sea salt, smoked meat and dried seaweed, bit of tar, hints of vanilla and honey just under the smoke.
Palate: Sweet with peat and medicinal notes, pepper spice bite that fades into tropical fruit, bit of crème brûlée with nutmeg dusting.
Finish: Moderately long with smoke and subtle fruit notes.
Comments: On the nose this is clearly Ardbeg, and made me think more of an independent bottling of Ardbeg than a blend of any sort. With some time in the glass it opens up a bit more and unveils the complexity within. The palate is a bit of a roller coaster – starting sweet, then a bit of a harsh bite that then fads into more gentle spice notes. My first sip I wasn’t terribly impressed with – thought it was too much Ardbeg (which I enjoy), but letting it sit helped it more than most. A few drops of water also really open it up.