Scottish Whisky

Compass Box Flaming Heart 15th Anniversary

/ / Review, Scottish Whisky /

Compass Box Flaming Heart 15th Anniversary Blended Malt Scotch Whisky
48.9% ABV
$100
Website
FH15th
What the Blender Says:
‘Every great achievement is the victory of a Flaming Heart.’ – Ralph Waldo Emerson

Since we launched the Compass Box Whisky Company back in 2000, we have always aimed to experiment, to innovate and to explore where others wouldn’t in the world of Scotch. No whisky is a greater example of this ambition than Flaming Heart.

First released in 2006, Flaming Heart was the first whisky to combine the rich, complex spice of Scotch aged in new French oak with the evocative peat-fired smoke of Islay malt. It created a genre-defying style that was mouldering, spicy, complex – and so popular that we re-released it three more times in the years that followed.

In this our fifteenth year, we felt compelled to revisit this unique style one more time. Our anniversary release is a huge, layered, long-lasting mouthful of a whisky to enjoy late into the night. Brooding, indulgent and older than ever before, this is a whisky born of oak, smoke and fire – with a big heart all of its own.

Availability: Fifteenth Anniversary Limited Edition release of 12,060 bottles. Bottled in July 2015.
Flavour Descriptors: A unique interplay between spice, sweet and smoke characteristics. Sweet fruits and wood-smoke on the nose. Fat and full-bodied on the palate with a spicy sweetness and a brooding complexity that is rich, sweet and addictively decadent.
Recommendations: This is a whisky for late nights, for after dinner, for camping under the stars. Drink it neat or pair with rich cheeses, fine cigars or your favourite rock song turned up to 11.
Bottling Details: Bottled at 48.9%, Not chill-filtered, Natural colour

What Richard Says:
Nose: A rich earthy and oily smoke rises out of the glass backed by a sweet fruitiness.
Palate: A rich citrus and stewed stone fruit sweetness punches out of the gate mixing with a slightly burnt vanilla cream. Soon the palate is transitioning though a spicy black peppercorn and chipotle spiciness into a lovely campfire sooty smoke.
Finish: This one just settles in for the long haul. “Long, lingering finish” only begins to give you a clue. That smokey palate is more subtle on the finish and fades like an elegant guest making the rounds of goodbyes on his way to door at the end of the party.
Comments: Wow! As much as I liked the last Flaming Heart edition I think I like this one even more. This really is a stellar example of John Glaser’s art. Even those who like scotch but maybe shy away from the smokier expressions might want to give this one a try. It could be a gateway toward the smokier drams.
Rating: Must Try

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This Is Not A Luxury Whisky

/ / Review, Scottish Whisky /

Compass Box This Is Not A Luxury Whisky Blended Scotch Whisky
53.1% ABV
$200
Website
TINALW
What the Blender Says:
This is not a luxury whisky. Or is it?

The inspiration for this limited release is René 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 one level, similar to the role Magritte’s painting played in the art world, this release is about getting people to consider for themselves what a ‘luxury’ whisky is. On another level, a level we consider much more important, this limited release is about the liquid. This is about the whisky in the bottle, which we have painstakingly sourced and blended, and the engagement and enjoyment and pleasure 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 we believe whisky, generally speaking, is all about.

Availability: Limited Edition release of 4,992 bottles. Bottled in August 2015.
Flavour Descriptors: 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.
Recommendations: This particular luxury has been designed to be consumed, not preserved on a shelf. Use it to celebrate life’s little victories – a new job, a chance meeting with a friend, the conclusion of an enjoyable dinner. Above all else, share and enjoy.
Bottling Details: Bottled at 53.1%, Not chill-filtered, Natural colour

What Richard Says:
Nose: Rich fruity aroma that reminds of cognac with the slightest back smokiness.
Palate: Viscous with a canned apricot sweetness mixing with a subtle sherry impact and smoked melon rind.
Finish: Slightly herbal with fading vanilla cream and a dusting of cocoa powder.
Comments: Luxury? Oh yes. While it stands in the shadow of the previous release The General this whisky is not slouch in it’s own right. There is more fresh, sweet fruitiness with a subtle smoky flavor. Another sterling success for Compass Box. Bravo!
Rating: Must Buy

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Longmorn 20 Year Berry Bros & Rudd

/ / Review, Scottish Whisky, Speyside /

Berry Bros & Rudd Longmorn 20 Year Old Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky
55.6% ABV
$99.99
Website

What the Bottler Says:
Built on the site of an old chapel (actually the name Longmorn derives from “Lhanmorgund” meaning “place of the holy man”) the Longmorn Distillery was founded by John Duff (owner of Glenlossie Distillery) and two associates, Charles Shirres and George Thomson in 1894, together with its neighbour Benriach.

Despite winning early acclaim for the quality of its malts within the whisky world in those days, John Duff was caught up in the middle of the great recession and he was forced to sell the distillery to John Grant (from Glen Grant). In the early 1970’s, Longmorn merged with “The Glenlivet” to create “The Glenlivet Distillers” and was subsequently acquired by Seagram in 1977.

The distillery now belongs to “The Chivas and Glenlivet Group” that have been bought by the French group Pernod-Ricard in 2001. Longmorn is one of the few distilleries that never ceased production, it even survived the grain shortages of the Second World War.

Longmorn’s malt whisky is highly prized by blenders at least as highly as those of its sister distilleries Glen Grant and The Glenlivet. Much of the production is snatched for blends, very little is marketed as single malt. It is appreciated for its complexity and smoothness of texture. It is noted for its cereal-grain malty character and its perfumed bouquet of honeyed and floral notes.

What Richard Says:
Nose: Rich, sweet dark fruits, and a slightly dry maltiness.
Palate: Sweet like a mixture of stewed and poached fruits. Grassy with notes of creme de menthe.
Finish: Dry, malty…almost hoppy and a little hot.
Comments: This expression is a little less balanced and less complex than other expressions of Longmorn I’ve tried. It is still very enjoyable and I would recommend picking one up. Longmorn seems to only be fully appreciated by blenders. Take a chance on one and I would be surprised if you are disappointed.
Rating: Stands Out

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Shieldaig Highland

/ / Highland, Review, Scottish Whisky /

Shieldaig Highland Finest Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky

40% ABV
$17.99 (Total Wine Exclusive)
Website
Shieldaig Highland Single Malt Whiskey

What the Retailer Says

Highlands, Scotland- From an island off of the Highland coast.This unique Single Malt brings the brine and smoke to a region known mostly for more delicate malts. Rich, complex and slowly matured. Best enjoyed straight up or with a cube or two of ice.

What Richard Says:

Nose: A hint of smoke with a more vegetal and briney backbone.
Palate: Dry, salty, and savory. It’s more than a little bland.
Finish: “Smooth” if you go for that kind of thing. Really it is uninspiring and leaves you with nothing to note.
Comments: This bottle (and Shieldaig brand) are bottled for Total Wine by Ian Macleod Distillers. This is typical of ultra low cost private label bottles. By that I mean unoffensive but unremarkable. If you need a super cheap scotch then this is probably as good as any other $18 bottle. But that doesn’t mean I would buy it.

Rating: Probably Pass

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Auchentoshan American Oak

/ / Lowland, Review, Scottish Whisky /

Auchentoshan American Oak Single Malt Scotch Whisky
40% ABV
$39.99
Website
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What the Distillery Says:
Triple distilled and matured solely in American bourbon casks. The result: a Lowland Single Malt Whisky with the sweet aromas of vanilla and coconut – along with the signature smooth, delicate, Auchentoshan taste.

Tasting Notes

To The Eye: Bright gold.
To The Nose: Bourbon vanilla and coconut with layers of zesty citrus fruit.
To The Tongue: Refreshingly smooth yet lively with vanilla cream, coconut and white peach.
To The End: Crisp with sugared grapefruit and a hint of spice.

What Richard Says:
Nose: Vanilla sugar, orange marmalade, fruit cocktail, and a little sherry.
Palate: More fruit cocktail, a little melted vanilla ice cream (the cheap stuff not vanilla bean), and sweetened condensed milk.
Finish: Spicy with a lingering grassy finish.
Comments: Auchentoshan is one of those funny drams that has to hit me just right when I drink it or I’m completely turned off. When I’m in the mood it’s great. When I’m not I want just about anything else. The tasting sessions with this American Oak were all right on. A sweet, smooth, and easy drinking dram. Very nice, if a little underproofed.
Rating: Stands Out

We would like to thank Beam Suntory for sending us a sample to review.

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