Compass Box Experimental Grain Whisky
Whisky: Compass Box Experimental Grain Whisky
Country/Region: Scotland/Blended Grain
ABV: 46%
Cask: Oak
Age: N/A (Bottled Dec. 2021)
Nose: Creamy caramel and coconut milk, wispy smoke, whipped aquafaba, vanilla, wood, old coffee tins.
Palate: Medium-bodied, creamy, vegetal at times, wispy smoke, marshlands, vanilla, caramel, pepper, coconut.
Finish: Medium to long with slightly bitter caramel, cream, botanicals, and subtle charred wood
Score: 5-6 (75)
Mental Image: Vegan Cafe’s Belgian Waffle Weekend Special
Narrative & Notes: The aroma was loaded with creamy grain notes and a hint of wispy smoke. Caramel and nougat met coconut milk ice cream and whipped aquafaba for a series of creamy vegan delights. Lacquered wood sat further in the background, more like well-oiled walnut perhaps, with hints of vanilla bean, chicory, and old coffee tins. Medium-bodied, the influence of the peat stood out with slightly marshy notes of moss, burning bog, and fallen pine needles. Sweeter notions of whipped aquafaba and honey orange bourbon cakes arrived shortly thereafter, as more vanilla and caramel entered the picture. Plenty of cream, pepper, and stained wood lingered toward the end with a touch of dried coconut. The finish was medium to long with slightly bitter caramel, cream, botanicals, and subtle charred wood.
The funky peated single grain produced by Loch Lomond stood out on the palate after taking a low-key role on the aroma. Known as Rhosdhu, the peated grain whisky is actually malt, but distilled on a column still— due to the still type, it is considered a grain and not technically a single malt. It is the type of quirk that easily confuses people when they first come across it, but do not let that distract you from the fact that Loch Lomond has yet another product called Old Rhosdhu, which has nothing to do with Rhosdhu beyond the association with Loch Lomond… clearly there is room to make things more confounding to the newly initiated.
This had a flair for the funky, with a backbone of peated whisky from Loch Lomond’s column stills, yet it was generally a tame affair as the other single grain elements gradually pushed in on the palate. There was no way around the classic creaminess and vanilla-coconut profile, even if the peated elements nudged it toward acquafaba instead of whipped cream. The finish was a touch disjointed with cream, botanicals, and wood coming off with an edge of bitterness and occasionally feeling a touch soapy as they lingered.
Overall, unique and interesting, but not something I would look to have again.
