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Fall 2018 – Compass Box

 

Michael Klassen hosted this night, which was a five whisky tasting flight, from Compass Box. This night had all the glasses pre-poured and we could nose and taste at our own leisure.  Compass Box is known around the world as a premium artisanal blending house.  Led by their master blender & founder John Glaser, Compass Box has had a strong hand in bringing Scottish blends up off the “bottom shelf” and rightfully giving them a spot next to the best of the single malts.  Crafting a scotch blend can be every bit an art as a chef preparing a magnificent entrée, and these five bottles represent the core range of Compass Box.  The first round was served at freezing temperature on the recommendation of our contact at Compass Box in Scotland…meanwhile the rest of the flight was served traditionally.  Mike made up information sheets as placemats that told us the composition of each whisky, without giving away the brand or bottle name.  Everyone found it very informative and a valuable experience!

All of these whiskies are non-chill filtered with natural colour (no E150 Caramel colour added).  Percentages in parenthesis are the amount of that ingredient in the overall composition of the blend:

  • Compass Box – Hedonism – 43% ABV
    • Grain whisky from Cameron Bridge aged in first fill American oak (66%)
    • Grain whisky form Port Dundas aged in first fill American oak (32%)
    • Grain whisky from Port Dundas aged in rejuvenated hogshead (2%)
  • Compass Box – Asyla – 40% ABV
    • Malt from Teaninich aged in first fill American oak (23%)
    • Malt from Linkwood aged in first fill American oak (22%)
    • Malt from Glen Elgin aged in refill hogshead (5%)
    • Grain whisky from Cameron Bridge aged in first fill American oak (50%)
  • Compass Box – Oak Cross – 43% ABV
    • Malt from Clynelish aged in first fill American oak (60%)
    • Malt from Dailuaine aged in first fill American oak (20%)
    • Malt form Teaninich aged in first fill American oak (20%)
    • These three malts were vatted to create a “Highland malt” which were then aged for a further 6 months in one of the following:
      • First fill American oak (60%)
      • Highly active hybrid barrels with vanilla toast (40%)
  • Compass Box – Spice Tree – 46% ABV
    • The same “Highland malt” found in Oak Cross was aged instead for a further 2 years in one of the following:
      • First fill American oak (21%)
      • Highly active hybrid barrels with vanilla toast (25%)
      • Highly active hybrid barrels with infrared toast (22%)
      • Highly active hybrid barrels with mocha toast (32%)
  • Compass Box – The Peat Monster – 46% ABV
    • Malt from Laphroaig aged in refill hogshead (40%)
    • Malt from Ledaig aged in refill hogshead (20%)
    • Malt from Caol Ila aged in refill hogshead (13%)
    • Malt form Ardmore aged in refill hogshead (26%)
    • “Highland malt” blend aged 2 years in french oak burgundy toast hybrid barrels (1%)

It is notable that Compass Box Asyla is no longer available due to an inability to source the appropriate ingredients.

This night we decided to make our group more formal, and adopted the name Niagara Whisky Society. We agreed to setup this website and develop a structure for the group.  This was our largest turnout so far, with thirteen people, including two new faces.

 

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