Compass Box This Is Not A Luxury Whisky, 4,992 bottles, 53.1% abv.

This blend is composed of 79% 19 year old Glen Ord from a first-fill sherry butt, 10.1% 40 year old Strathclyde from a refill American Oak Hogshead, 6.9% 40 year old Girvan from a refill American Oak Hogshead, 4% 30 year old Caol Ila from a refill American Oaks Hogshead. Supposedly the name was inspired by the painting "This Is Not A Pipe", wondering if tasters would recognize it as a luxurious whisky.

Nose: major caramelized wood, coffee, red fruit juice, after some time I get burnt bacon applewood bacon?, a light sweet smoke.

Palate: good body, initial palate is chemical, rotten bananas, mid palate is light wet old steamed lotus leaves, dark chocolate, wood polish, sweet-deprived prune juice, some wood. After a few sips, the caramel and chocolate is more dominant, and with even more time the wet old steamed lotus leaves flavors take over. Back palate is burnt coffee rinds, dark coffee, extremely dried fruit.

Finish: medium, burnt coffee rinds, earthy.

Wow, a very well executed blend, strong flavors, however favoring burnt or overdue coffee elements, something that can wake you up with flavor in the morning. The nose is quite nice, bordering Blair Athol levels. Satisfies all phases. It's what I imagined a very dried/boiled sherry would taste like.

Grade: B

Whiskyanalysis.com, 8.82 ± 0.45 on 13 reviews
Whiskyfun.com, Serge Valentin, sgp:562, 90 points
Thewhiskeywash, Joshua St. John, 82/100
Thewhiskeyjug, Josh Peters, 87/100
Whisky advocate, Jonny McCormick, 92 points
Timeforwhisky, Martin Eber, 93/100

Image courtesy of Eric Yee.

Eric Yee

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