Compass Box - Enlightenment


The good people at Compass Box were kind enough to send a sample over from one of the recent whisky releases called Enlightenment. There are in total 5922 bottles produced after bottling at 46% in April 2016. It is non chill-filtered, natural colour and available around 60 pounds per bottle they tell us. Compass Box also reveals the make up of this blended malt. The total liquid volume consist out of 48,2% from Clynelish (first fill american standard barrel), 36,7% from Glentauchers (first fill american standard barrel), 10,8% from Balblair (first fill american standard barrel) and 4,3% from Mortlach (rejuvenated american standard barrel). So what does John say is the story behind this blended malt?

‘There is no desire more natural than the desire for knowledge.’ – Michel de Montaigne 

Since launching the Compass Box Whisky Co., I have always been a firm believer in the spirit of enlightenment – that the more information we can share with our customers about the Scotch whisky we produce, the better. Alas, it transpires such beliefs fall foul of current EU and UK regulations, which prevent us from sharing information about the age of every component whisky used in the creation of our blends. This whisky, Enlightenment, is our response to these regulations. Inspired by the writers, philosophers and scientists of the Age of Enlightenment it sets out to encourage the industry to consider the absurdity of a system that prevents producers from telling consumers exactly what has gone into the whiskies they are drinking. And of course the whisky itself is something rather special. A blend of fruity, fragrant Highland Single Malt Scotch Whiskies, it is bursting with aromas of fresh orchard fruit, flavours of vanilla, soft spice and pear and an alluring apple peel waxiness on the finish. An uplifting, enlightening whisky with which to ponder the world of Scotch not only as it is but also as it could be. 

John Glaser, Whiskymaker

Ok. Time to see what I can find in it. Lets start with the nose. Waxy red apples and other fruits, vanilla pods, fudge, liquorish, raisins, brioche, cinnamon, cookie dough, clover honey, banana, raspberry, cheese cake, chocolate orange bonbons with some crunchy sweet almost marzipan notes through it. On the palate sweet and thick fruity notes. Waxy and sweet feeling. Fruit syrup, freshly made apple juice, blood oranges, chocolate, spices, hint of pink grapefruit, some salty fudge note also going around in here and lots of vanilla creamy notes. It just keeps going, and reminding me of lovely sweet notes of different cakes with lush fillings and fresh fruits on the sides. Lovely dram and will be looking for a bigger bottle for sure! Scoring it an 8,5 out of 10. It is very sweet, but so nice! Fresh, sweet, orchard but also tropical fruity, citrus, thick, waxy, spicy... lovely. Thanks for sharing Compass Box! 

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