While most distilleries primarily utilize casks which formerly held Bourbon from America or Sherry from Spain, the wood program at Compass Box is much more complex. You may think this means great spirit, but the process begins long before a still is even touched – wood is first and foremost. In response, Compass Box launched a 'Scotch Whisky Transparency' campaign to encourage greater transparency within the world of Scotch with other Scotch whisky producers – notably Bruichladdich – subsequently joined them in sharing full age component information about one or more of their blends. World Whisky Blend Sample That Boutique-y Whisky Company. Glaser founded Compass Box twenty years ago “to make the world of scotch whisky a more interesting place.” Back when he first launched The Peat Monster, whisky drinkers as a collective were not as big into peated whisky as they are now. COMPASS BOX DELICIOUS WHISKY LTD. - Free company information from Companies House including registered office address, filing history, accounts, annual return, officers, charges, business activity It all started when Mr. Glaser took an enology course during his final year of college, and was bit by the wine bug. Compass Box is a producer, bottler and marketer of a range of blended Scotch whiskies. After a few years doing different things in the wine industry, he moved to Diageo, the company that owns brands like Smirnoff, Johnnie Walker and Guinness. Size: 750ML Proof: 92 (46% ABV) Origin: Scotland Distillery: Compass Box Whisky Co. Compass Box is a small and growing Scotch whisky producer launched in 2000. There were only 690 numbered bottles produced in October 2000, and we have bottle number 345 directly from John Glaser’s company archive. COMPASS BOX WHISKY COMPANY. £24.95 (£35.64 per litre) Compass Box Artist's Blend Great King Street Half Litre. 'Juveniles' was blended with restaurateur, Tim Johnston to favour the tastes of the classic French cuisine of Juveniles Bistrot à Vins in the 1st arrondissement of Paris. Sign-in | Register Empty - £0.00 ; Buy Wine. It’s as much about spirit as science, and one of the most romantic epicurean experiences out there. Compass Box is a producer, bottler and marketer of a creative range of blended Scotch whiskies. Compass Box Whisky was founded in 2000 by American entrepreneur John Glaser, a former marketing director at Johnnie Walker. Also 12 year-old malt from the village of Port Askaig, Islay. The romance of the moors seems a world away when you’re avoiding traffic in West London, but that is where John Glaser, former Diageo giant, crafts whisky for his Compass Box Whisky Company, one of the most innovative and directional forces in the whisky world. 70cl / 42%. Browse all 142 review ratings and find the best Compass Box whiskey. In case you shop at amazon and we refer you, prices are the same as normal, as an amazon associate we earn a commission from qualifying purchases. Top products. When does a whisky label become art? Eight years later, with Hedonism Maximus we used exclusively older, rarer whiskies in pursuit of the indulgent, unctuous, august pleasure that we knew … Main menu. 'Delilah's' was created in partnership with the legendary Chicago punk bar owner, Mike Miller. 15cl / 45%. Compass Box Whisky – Hedonsim, Spice Tree, Peat Monster, Oak Cross, Asyla. Size: (5) 50ml Proof: 46% ABV Age: Varies Origin: Scotland Distillery: Compass Box Whisky Co. Compass Box is a specialist Scotch Whiskymaker. Win a bottle of the first whisky ever produced by Compass Box! As Compass Box set out on their mission in 2000 to reinvent the blended scotch category, they inspired a wave of collectors - new and old – that held not only an appetite for the blending process but also an appreciation for aesthetics and creativity. Meyrowitz Opticians the other day, we want to present you the world of John Rushton […], […] in Savoir Vivre, Spirits, Whisky Leave a reply After we reported about The Compass Box Whisky Company several weeks ago and presented our Whisky Tasting Basics Guide, we will today focus on the Compass […], […] Whisky Leave a reply A few weeks ago I wrote about my interview with John Glaser, founder of The Compass Box Whisky Company. Compass Box Whisky was founded in 2000 by American entrepreneur John Glaser, a former marketing director at Johnnie Walker. ... Compass Box Malt Whisky Collection. In 2005 Compass Box released a new Blended Malt Scotch Whisky called The Spice Tree in which the blend of single malt distillates had undergone a secondary partial maturation stage in casks containing additional, flat French oak inserts (also known as ‘inner staves’). Wine Type. Apparently, they argued, the oak being used did not meet the strict definitions of the industry, and thus could not be sold at “Scotch.” Well, after a slight re-formulation in the wood program, it’s back and better than ever. Sadly, most blended whiskies pay little attention to their grain base, relying on the small amount of malt for flavor. The Vinorium. My personal favorite might be the Spice Tree. 50cl / … 52. CHISWICK STUDIOS, 9 POWER ROAD LONDON GB. Often, these blends use inexpensive grain whisky for up to eighty percent or more of the blend, merely using malt whisky to lend its distinctive flavor to the final product. He started the company in 2000, based on his commitment to evolving practices in the industry to make great Scotch whisky more approachable and relevant to more people. By mixing heads and staves from different types of casks, which might have previously held various spirits or wines, and from different species of oak (French, Spanish, American, and so forth), Mr. Glaser can get the raw ingredients just right. With a talented hand and palate like Mr. Glaser’s, the possibilities for excellent blends are nearly infinite. Detailed Description Compass Box Affinity is a spirit drink made with Scotch whisky and calvados from Normandy, France. Compass Box has been pushing the boundaries of Scotch Whisky for two decades, starting with their first ever release, Hedonism – a Blended Grain Whisky that is a marriage of at least two different Single Grain Scotch Whiskies. Scotch Whisky is, in many ways, the liquid manifestation of the dual power and elegance of the countryside in which it is carefully crafted. Verified trades. The Scotch Whisky Association, a trade organisation that represents the Scotch whisky industry, felt that the use of such inner staves in the whisky maturation process was in contravention of the Scotch Whisky Regulations prevailing at the time and threatened legal action against Compass Box to halt the production of The Spice Tree. Compass Box creates Limited Editions in collaboration with notable restaurants, bars, and celebrated Bartenders. Customers buying a 50cl or 70cl bottle of Compass Box between the 15 th October and the 15 th November will go into a draw to win a bottle of the first batch of Hedonism. Compass Box is a specialist Scotch Whiskymaker. Compass Box Whisky. […] material thoroughfares some really amazing things await. Apart from whiskies, Compass Box also produces 'Orangerie', made from whisky infused with orange zest and spices. The company's whiskymakers select distillates from a number of existing Scotch whisky distilleries, with the selected whiskies then being blended together and the resulting blend matured further. Without good casks, even the best spirit will end up dull and flavorless. He originally launched the business from his kitchen, but today, over a decade later, Compass Box has an office and Blending Room in London, its own stocks of maturing whiskies in Scotland, and just over a dozen employees. At Compass Box, they put their whisky into custom created barrels made up from staves of different casks. Including The Compass Box Whisky gift set. Jill Boyd began blending whisky for Compass Box in 2018 and is building a capable reputation for creativity in the Compass Box style. The UK's Leading Australian Wine Specialist. Single Malt scotch only shot to popularity as a luxury commodity in the second half of the twentieth century, and what most people know as scotch whisky is actually a blend of malt and grain whiskies. [1] John Glaser's laurels include being a five-time recipient of Whiskey Advocate’s Innovator of the Year award. Detailed Description This beautifully packaged guide to the universe of compass box includes a 50ml serving of each of our signature expressions - Asyla, Oak Cross, The Spice Tree, The Peat Monster and Hedonism with a link to a series of tutored tasting videos, hosted by John Glaser himself. Compass Box only released 120 bottles of this whisky. [2] In response, Compass Box altered the production process for subsequent releases of The Spice Tree wherein the secondary maturation stage takes place in casks containing toasted French oak heads instead of the flat oak inner staves. Glaser felt that the beauty and elegance of top quality Scottish grain whisky was often overlooked in favor of the popular malts. This whiskeymaker is known for discovering unique whiskies which they used to create Limited Editions, such as 'Optimism', 'The General', 'The Lost Blend', 'Morpheus', the 'Canto Cask' series, the three-bottle 'Myths and Legends', and many more. Compass Box's main product line, called the Signature Range, consists of whiskies named 'The Spice Tree', 'The Peat Monster', 'Oak Cross', and 'Hedonism'. [2], More recently, in 2015 Compass Box again disagreed with the Scotch Whisky Association when attempting to release complete information about every component whisky used in its blends, a step which the Scotch Whisky Association claimed was prohibited by both EU and UK laws. 01622 859161. By combining different types of oak in one cask, with various levels of toast and char, Glaser ends up with a whisky that is almost like liquid fruitcake. As with most crafts, whiskymaking begins with the best ingredients. The company is based in London and currently has fifteen employees in the UK and four in the US. This is the first article in a series about Compass Box, how to get the most out of your whisky, and how to expand your spirits palate. As palates have changed, Glaser does not think whisky has to stay stagnant either. Eleven years later, Mr. Glaser is still doing things no other whiskymaker would dream of, pushing the boundaries of what truly high quality whisky can be. Jason, on the other hand, has been critical of the heavy-handed influence of parent company Bacardi. The company is founded on these principles by John Glaser: "I believe that people need to feel deeply and passionately about what they do--about the products they create and sell. Striving for transparency. Whisky Advocate says: Compass Box released a Magic Cask blended malt in 2006 whose focal point whisky came from a madeira barrique rather than a sherry butt, but this new whisky was created in honor of the company’s 20th anniversary in 2020, joining Rogues’ Banquet, Hedonism Felicitas, and Peat Monster Arcana in the celebratory lineup. The company is headquartered in Chiswick. In the meantime, you can watch two videos about whisky by Charles MacLean, one of the world’s leading authorities and author of a number of books on the matter. Northern Europe. In 2005, Glaser launched The Spice Tree. It was nearly 20 years ago, at the annual event WhiskyFest. The man behind the brand is John Glaser, an American ex-pat who after many years in the wine trade entered the world of Scotch whisky. I mentioned that I would be following up with a tasting of the samples he was kind enough to […], © Copyright 2010 - 2019 - Gentleman's Gazette LLC, Book review: The History of Men’s Accessories by Nicholas Storey, Drinking Differently – The Compass Box Whisky Company. History. He started the company in 2000, based on his commitment to evolving practices in the industry to make great Scotch whisky more approachable and relevant to more people. That the more information we can share with our customers about the Scotch whisky we produce, the better. [citation needed], Coordinates: .mw-parser-output .geo-default,.mw-parser-output .geo-dms,.mw-parser-output .geo-dec{display:inline}.mw-parser-output .geo-nondefault,.mw-parser-output .geo-multi-punct{display:none}.mw-parser-output .longitude,.mw-parser-output .latitude{white-space:nowrap}51°29′35.6″N 0°16′44.2″W / 51.493222°N 0.278944°W / 51.493222; -0.278944, Contravention of Scotch Whisky Association regulations, five-time recipient of Whiskey Advocate’s Innovator of the Year award, Scotch Whisky Regulations prevailing at the time, http://compassboxwhisky.com/greatkingstreet/greatkingstreet.php, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Compass_Box&oldid=995362138, Companies based in the London Borough of Hounslow, Articles with unsourced statements from June 2020, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, 2010: Gregg Glass, Shortlisted for 'Young Whisky Ambassador of the Year Icon', Whisky Magazine's Icons of Whisky Awards, 2007: Compass Box Whisky, Winner of 'Innovator of the Year', Whisky Magazine's Icons of Whisky Awards, This page was last edited on 20 December 2020, at 17:01. There is no malt at all. An innovative marriage of Calvados and Scotch whisky, John Glaser’s latest Compass Box creation, Affinity, balances fruity, ripe apple notes against rich spices. I first had it at a tasting in London, and immediately sought out Compass Box’s other offerings. Instead, Hedonism combines a handful of great grain, giving it a creamy, custardy taste and mouthfeel that is unlike any malt I’ve ever had. London Finds – Old Hat and John Rushton Shoes — Old Hat,John Rushton,Vest,Waistoat,Shoes — Gentleman's Gazette, Compass Box Whisky Tasting Notes — Single Malt — Gentleman's Gazette, Whisky Tasting Basics – How to Guide — Glencairn,Whisky Glass — Gentleman's Gazette. Thanks for bringing this brand to my attention. Our first bottling – the original Hedonism – explored a brave new world of flavour previously uncharted in the world of Scotch. We are committed to making the world of Scotch whisky a more interesting place. Discover our range of Compass Box whiskeys at The Vinorium.co.uk. Since its inception in 2000, Compass Box Whisky Company has been stewarded by John Glaser, one of the most progressive and innovative whisky blenders of his generation. After a few years doing different things in the wine industry, he moved to Diageo, the company that owns brands like Smirnoff, Johnnie Walker and Guinness. Eleuthera the very first vatted malt released by Compass Box Whisky Company. So you can understand my confusion at hopping on London’s District Line, turning off the Chiswick High Street, and entering a nondescript industrial park to visit one of the world’s most talented whiskymakers. Typically it combined 15 year-old malt whisky from the village of Brora, aged in re-charred hogsheads. Outside the Signature Range, they produce a range of Blended Scotch whiskies called 'Great King Street', within which there are two products: 'Artist's Blend' (a rich, round, fruity blend) and 'Glasgow Blend' (a bold, smoky, sherried whisky made in the style historically favoured by Glaswegians). It all started when Mr. Glaser took an enology course during his final year of college, and was bit by the wine bug. £23.95 (£15.97 per 10cl) Signature Blend #1 Bright Grass Boutique-y Rum. Compass Box reviews on Connosr. Using whiskies from Craigellachie Distillery in Speyside and a selection of Highland distilleries, the fruity, tart Calvados from Domaine Christian Drouin mingles with malty, spicy vanilla notes of the whisky. Compass Box Whisky Company Laboratory. But unlike most fruitcake, you’ll find yourself coming back for more. Also in the mix is 10th Anniversary Hedonism, an expression made in 2010 using Invergordon single grain that was originally distilled in 1971. Compass Box only produced 618 bottles of this blend, of which only 120 were made available for retail. While Glaser has had his disagreements with the Scotch Whisky establishment over the years, he's gone from being a rebel to being one of the industry's most respected whiskymakers. Since we launched the Compass Box Whisky Company in 2000, we have always believed there can be a certain elegance in excess. Inspired by the writers, philosophers and scientists of the Age of Enlightenment, this blend of fruity fragrant Highland Single Malt Scotch Whiskies is bursting with aromas of fresh orchard … It sounds like the start of a folk tale, but that’s how I first met the founder of boutique Scotch company Compass Box Whiskey. Out of the Box Fashioned as an artisan whisky maker, Compass Box lends a contemporary edge to the age-old art. Since launching The Compass Box Whisky Co., we have always been firm believers in the spirit of enlightenment. 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