The latest Blended Malt from the guys at Compass box is called ‘The Circle’, the whisky is is based around a parcel of fruity and creamy single malt from the Tamdhu Distillery in Speyside. This is supported by malt whisky from the Clynelish Distillery. A touch of peated malt whisky from an Orkney distillery and a small proportion of a French oak-finished blended malt whisky complete the recipe. What’s nice is that they have chosen to use an ex-bourbon cask from Tamdhu which mostly releases sherried whiskies, quite uncharacteristic… and some Clynelish of course 😉
The whisky is bottled at 46% Natural Color Light 5 Micron Filtration , and Not Chill-Filtered.
As always Compass box offer transparency about the ingredients of the blend as follows:
Compass Box, ‘The Circle’ , NAS, 46% , £120/US$150
Nose : It’s mostly like stepping into a bakery : Apple crumble, with lots of vanilla, sweet dough and plenty of malty cereal notes. Icing sugar, more barley sugar and then some more apple peel with a hint of wet cardboard.
Palate: Starts with Apple strudel, sweet pastries, cinnamon and lots of malty notes, cereals . bitter toasted wood, vanilla ice-cream and a hint of smoke.
Finish : Wee smoke, apple peel, buttered toast.
Conclusion : This is a very nice , easy drinking whisky, with a sweet pastry bakery notes, with the sweet apple, strudel / tart Tatin , vanilla and butter, there’s also a nice touch of wee smoke in the finish. Lovely sipping whisky, but the pricing is a bit steep for what you’re getting IMHO. Maybe we’re spoiled by Compass box..