Must Try

Compass Box Art & Decadence Blended Scotch Whisky

/ / Review, Scottish Whisky /

Compass Box Art & Decadence
Blended Scotch Whisky

49% ABV
$200
Website
Compass Box Art & Decadence Blended Scotch Whisky

What the Blender Says

Limited Edition
What Does Decadence ‘Mean’ to You?
Oscar Wilde wrote that “we live in an age when unnecessary things are our only necessities”. The age in question was the late nineteenth century, when the Aesthetic Movement gave rise to the Decadent Movement, where more was always more. Art was made for the sake of art; there were no ulterior motives. Similarly, a whisky like Art & Decadence may not be strictly a necessity – and that is the whole, glorious point.

FLAVOUR PROFILE
Rich and aromatic on the nose with red apples, waxed wood and wine notes. Creamy, with a liquorice aroma. Banana, toffee and custard blended with Sauternes. On the palate, notes of dried fruit – golden raisin, apricot, apple and plenty of vanilla. Lingering flavours of dark chocolate and fragrant oak.

SERVING RECOMMENDATIONS
Dinner’s final course – when the puddings, cakes, tarts, jellies, chocolates and cheeses emerge – is typically the moment for true decadence. This whisky compliments this very important juncture in the meal.

TECHNICAL DETAILS
Natural colour
Light 10 micron filter, not chill-filtered
A limited edition of 9,496
November 2023

LEAD WHISKYMAKER: James Saxon.

What Gary Says

Nose: Vanilla, honey, fresh baked vanilla cupcakes with buttercream frosting, banana and apples.
Palate: Thick mouthfeel with peaches and cream, pears, apples, apricots, vanilla, honey and slowly building oak spices.
Finish: Long and bright with tropical fruit notes, oak and a bit of spice.
Comments: Very nice! Fruity but with some savory spice notes to balance it all out. A few drops of water brings the fruit a tad towards citrus (maybe tangerines) but this drinks delightfully neat.

Rating: Must Try

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The Balvenie 18 Years Pedro Ximénez Cask Single Malt Scotch Whisky

/ / Review, Scottish Whisky, Speyside / ,

The Balvenie 18 Years Pedro Ximénez Cask
Travel Exclusive Single Malt Scotch Whisky

48.7% ABV
$250
Website
The Balvenie 18 Year Old Pedro Ximenez Cask Finish Travel Retail Single Malt Scotch Whisky

What the Distiller Says

The Balvenie Pedro Ximénez Cask whisky is a lively and summery single malt finished in casks which previously held Pedro Ximénez sherry.

Sherry is a popular cask type in Scotch Whisky, and this is the second sherry finished expression in The Balvenie range of finishes.

The first and second cask

First cask: American Oak
Maturation in traditional American Oak whisky barrels mellows the maturing spirit and imparts warming layers of honey and vanilla.

Second cask: PX Butts
Finishing in Pedro Ximénez butts, creates a fusion of sweet lavender, mandarin, fig and subtle clove.

A sweet climate
Pedro Ximénez is a white Spanish wine grape variety grown in several Spanish wine regions. The heat of the sun ripening the vines leads to a wine of intense, dessert-like sweetness.

The result
Finishing in Pedro Ximénez Sherry butts creates a fusion of sweet lavender, mandarin, fig and subtle clove.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Creamy, dark fruits including raisins, currants, dates, figs and spiced, stewed plums; hint of sulfur, smoke and a vegetal note.
Palate:  Fruity with raisins, dates, blood orange, toffee and chili spice.
Finish:  Long and slightly drying with smoke, fruit and pepper spice.
Comments:  Really interesting dram. It isn’t smokey per say, but the nose has more sulfur than I expected (not a lot, but wasn’t expecting any). While not hot at 48.7%, I preferred this with a few drops of water, which thickened the mouthfeel nicely and tamps some of the spice notes a bit.

Rating: Stands Out/Must Try

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Foursquare Exceptional Cask 2009 Aged Rum

/ / Other Spirits, Review / ,

Foursquare Exceptional Cask Selection Mark XVII
2009 Single Blended Rum

60%
$95
Website
Foursquare Exceptional Cask Selection XVII 2009 2009 12yr 60%

What the Producer/Retailer Says

Foursquare Rum Distillery is located on a former sugar plantation that dates back to approximately 1720, within the tiny Caribbean island of Barbados. The distillery was re-opened by the Seale family in 1996, distilling operations and blending are currently directed by Richard Seale, 4th Generation Trader/Distiller of R.L. Seale & Co.

Exceptional Cask Selections represent the unique, and rare offerings of Foursquare Rum Distillery that Richard has hand selected – his personal projects only released when he feels they are of exceptional quality. These are one of a kind expressions, available only for a limited time, and showcasing truly unique approaches to both Rum blending and maturation.

Barbados- Mark XVII from Foursquare Rum Distillery. A single blended rum, aged for 12-years in Ex-Bourbon casks. No color, sugar, additives, or filtration. Rich and assertive character with notes of dark cherries, cranberry, orange peel, caramelized pineapple, and dried peach.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Coconut, almonds, confectionary cotton candy, mango, dried fruit, vanilla, cocoa and floral.
Palate:  Warm and sweet, vanilla, brown sugar, caramel, cinnamon pastry, bit of ginger ale and sour fruit notes.
Finish:  Short to moderate in length, drying with vanilla.
Comments: This nose is just amazing; so different from anything I’ve nosed (my brain immediately thought “OMG – this is Almond Joy in a glass!”) The palate is very nice, but this is one of those pours where I enjoyed the nosing more than the tasting – although the tasting ain’t bad either.

Rating: Stands Out/Must Try

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Ron Navazos Palazzi Cask Strength Rum Oloroso Casks

/ / Other Spirits, Review /

Ron Navazos Palazzi Cask Strength Rum
Oloroso Casks

51% / 51.5% ABV*
$100
Website
Rum Navazos Palazzi Rum Cask Strength Oloroso Casks

What the Producer Says

* Note that there were two releases of this, in July 2013 and July 2014; not sure which my sample came from.
Rum Cask Strength Oloroso Casks.
Bottled July 2013 & 2014. 1500 bot (each year)
A PM Spirits exclusivity.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Molasses, dark fruit notes, plums, raisins, brown sugar, burnt crème brulée with a hint of nylon rope.
Palate:  Creamy mouthfeel with fruitcake, raisins, plums, apricots, caramel, toffee and vanilla.
Finish:  Short to moderate in length, drying with dark fruit.
Comments: First I apologize for not knowing the exact provenance of this particular sample I’m reviewing (the two vintages could be wildly different, although the only distinction made by the producer is the year and ever-so-slight difference in proof). First world problems to be sure, and given this was released 10+ years ago – chances of finding this in the wild are fairly low (but sharing the review in case you’re at a friend’s house and you spot it, eh!).
I’m not a big rum guy, but DAMN! This is just delicious! A bit of water didn’t change it too much, amps the dark fruit on the nose. Just lovely – the sherry cask on the nose is very ‘scotch-like’, and if more rum I tried was anything like this, I’d be getting into rum a lot more.

Rating: Must Try

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Glenfarclas 15 Year Old 95 Proof Exclusive to The Whisky Exchange

/ / Review, Scottish Whisky, Speyside / ,

Glenfarclas 15 Year Old 95 Proof Exclusive to The Whisky Exchange
Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky

54.2% ABV
$110-$120
Website
Glenfarclas 15 Year Old 95 Proof Exclusive to The Whisky Exchange Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky

What the Retailer Says

A 15-year-old Glenfarclas single malt, matured in ex-sherry casks and bottled exclusively for The Whisky Exchange. Aromas of spiced sponge cake, dried fruit, Danish pastries, green apples and custard fill the nose, followed on the palate by notes of apple jam, plump raisins, sticky dates, baking spices and brown sugar that linger in the finish.

Tasting Notes (courtesy of Billy Abbott, The Whisky Exchange)
Nose: Sultana-and-raisin-studded spiced sponge cake, dusted with brown sugar and a touch of nutmeg. Danish pastries and tarte Tatin follow, along with freshly sliced green apples and custard.
Palate: Apple jam and Eccles cakes – sticky raisins, brown sugar and sweet pastry. Brighter sultana fruitiness develops, contrasting against rich dates and baking spices.
Finish: Dark brown sugar and raisins linger. Old polished oak and soft spice builds.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Dark fruit, hint of spent matches, oak, earthy mineral note.
Palate:  Thick mouthfeel, raisins, cherries, brown sugar, cloves, pepper spice, caramel and cinnamon.
Finish:  Moderate to long, drying with fruit notes.
Comments:  I haven’t been a huge fan of Glenfarcalas, which for me that spent matches/sulfur note can be overwhelming sometimes. Don’t get me wrong – this has that same note on the nose, but it isn’t as prominent. I prefer this dram with a bit of water, which brightens the nose and brings the fruit notes out more (raisins and maybe grilled peaches), as well as thickens the mouthfeel which is surprising given how thick it is neat. It also brings out more cream fruit with baked pears. Definitely in my top tier of Glenfarcalas offerings!

Rating: Stands Out/Must Try

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