Try Two New Blends from Compass Box Whisky

By Matt Domino December 4, 2014

compass box new blends whisky gifts — Image used with permission by copyright holder

With cold weather settling in all over the country, now is the time to enjoy the smoky flavor of a high-quality scotch whisky. We here at The Manual are big fans of Compass Box Whisky, so we were delighted to find out that the craft whisky makers were releasing two new blends just in time for the holidays: The Lost Blend and The Glasgow Blend. Either of these two scotches would make a perfect gift for the whisky connoisseur in your life.

Compass Box’s Lost Blend is a limited edition release comprised of a blend of three single malt scotches. It is an homage to the company’s first ever, single malt blend, Eleuthera, whose recipe was retired in 2004. The Lost Blend is made up of a mixture of two fruity Highland single malts with a peaty Islay—the southernmost Island of the Inner Hebrides of Scotland—single malt. The result is a distinct flavor that comes on warm and strong, but leaves a sweet, lingering essence on the tongue as each sip fades.

Meanwhile, the Glasgow Blend is part of Compass Box’s Great King Street range of scotch, which is “dedicated to applying a contemporary approach to the creation of Blended Scotch Whiskies in the full-flavored style of the late 19^th century blending houses.” The Glasgow Blend is full of rich, round flavors with notes of dried fruit and wine. The blend is aged in a combination of sherry casks and ex-bourbon barrels with a small portion of new French oak finishing, Compass Box says to look out for spice and vanilla upon sipping. While we did notice the initial blast of spice, we couldn’t help detect a lingering, almost caramel taste through the finish. And now we plan on having a glass of this scotch after our own Christmas dinner.

It would be a cliché to say that a real man enjoys drinking scotch, so we’re not going to. But if you’re a man who wants to savor a quality moment in the middle of the holiday season madness, then Compass Box’s newest whiskies are for you.

Editors' Recommendations

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Matt Domino is a writer living in Brooklyn. His fiction has appeared in Slice and The Montreal Review, while his non-fiction…

Food & Drink

Wild Turkey Releases Two New Limited Edition Whiskeys

Wild Turkey is one of those Kentucky whiskey brands that doesn't really need to expand its core lineup. After all, what it's known for is quality and affordability, two things that sometimes can be hard to find together. In other words, master distillers Eddie and Jimmy Russell can confidently rest on their laurels. But over the past few years expansion is exactly what the distillery has been doing, with the ultra premium Master's Keep series and additions to the Russell's Reserve brand. Now you can look for two more whiskeys with flags flying under the Wild Turkey banner, one from the aforementioned Master's Keep series, the other a new barrel-proof rye whiskey that is part of the Rare Breed lineup.

Master’s Keep Bottled in Bond is the fifth release under this banner of pricey, limited-release whiskeys. It's a 17-year-old bourbon, and the second Wild Turkey release to carry the BIB designation (the first was the 15-year-old American Spirit released over a decade ago, according to the brand). “With our own Master’s Keep Bottled In Bond, we took the historic process and protocol of aging for four years to the next level and allowed the liquid to rest for 17 years,” said Eddie Russell in a prepared statement. “We aged and perfected this rare, 17-year-old bourbon in Wild Turkey’s Camp Nelson rickhouses. This expression is a nod to the past, both our own heritage and the heritage of American whiskey-making as a craft.” Per the BIB rules, the whiskey is bottled at 100 proof, at least four years old, and is the product of one distilling season from one distillery. It's rich and delicious, with a creamy mouthfeel and strong notes of tannin, cherry, chocolate, and prune on the palate. This bourbon was bottled just in time -- it might have gone south after another year or two in the barrel. But as it is, it's a winner. It's not cheap at $175 for a bottle, but for those willing to spend some cash on a high-quality, older-than-usual bourbon, it's certainly worth it.

Food & Drink

Mount Gay Rum’s Master Blender Unveils New Blends for 2022

Mount Gay Rum Trudiann Branker Master Blender

Trudiann Branker took over the reins as Mount Gay master blender less than a year ago, in April 2019. However, she has already been making her mark on the brand in ways that seem subtle but actually have a big impact. At a recent tasting in New York City, Branker talked about her respect for the tradition and history of the distillery, which has been around since 1703, making it the oldest licensed rum producer in the world. Mount Gay rum is made from three ingredients -- water, molasses, and yeast. It is distilled in both column and pot stills, and is aged in a variety of casks, the majority of which are American whiskey barrels. There are four main expressions, but Branker has focused on just two of them to make her mark as the new master blender.

Black Barrel has undergone what is perhaps the most significant change to the components of the blend. Branker has shifted the age range of the liquid from the previous two to seven years to three to seven years old. She has also increased the amount of pot still distillate in the blend. Finally, she has tinkered with what is arguably the core identity of Black Barrel. After initial maturation in ex-American whiskey barrels (the exact type are not disclosed), the rum is finished in heavily charred ex-bourbon barrels. That finish has been increased from four weeks to six months, allowing the rum to pick up even more intense notes of vanilla, spice, and banana.

Food & Drink

Here’s to the New Year: 20-Year-Old Whiskies to Drink in 2022

Whiskey in a glass

2020 is barely a month old, so it's a good time to consider some 20-year-old whiskies to drink in this first year of the new decade. Of course, many of these happen to be single malt Scotch, and for good reason. In general, you can age a whiskey for much longer in the temperate climate of Scotland than you could in Kentucky, with its extreme seasonal temperature swings, and still have it come out tasting good. This is because hot summers and cold winters force the liquid to interact with the barrel more, resulting in a whiskey that may become overly oaky and tannic over time. For this reason, most Kentucky bourbon is released below the 10-year mark, while the benchmark age for single malt is usually 10 to 12 years. There are some exceptions, of course, and these can be quite good if appropriate attention is paid to the barrels as they age. Here are ten whiskeys aged for two decades to try now -- provided you can find and afford them. (As a general note, the age statement refers to the youngest whiskey in the bottle, so there may be older liquid included as well).
Deanston 20 Year Old Oloroso

Deanston is a sometimes overlooked Highlands distillery that has an excellent range of single malts, including some organic expressions and this limited release 20YO. The whisky was matured in Oloroso sherry casks for two decades, and bottled at cask strength without color added or chill-filtration. There are notes of dried fruit and vanilla on the palate, followed by a hint of baking spice and prune.
BenRiach 20